Blacks Single-Track Trail RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (19 votes). | 11 to 19 of 19 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
2010 race reviewed by: frobester
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A good first-time race for Blacks, which could be improved.
In full: More marshalls, better signing, a course route before the race, and a bit more encouragement from some of the marshalls that were around the course, would all improve what actually wasn't a bad start.
Some explanation would also be useful as to why the race entry fee was so uncompetitive compared to other events. And was the "goody bag" (a plexiglass jar) plus contents really worth £25, as the marketing blurb said?
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: eatuptrails
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent race, brilliant atmosphere, really good value for money - best and most useful goody bag i have ever got at an event. Very well sign posted
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: eyedubya
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: steps at bison hill were brutal
In full: My first trail run and i loved it. I thought the organisation was fine given that it was the first time it had been held - I have been to much worse. Stunning scenery. The route seemed clear and the marshalls efficient to me - but that isn't good about the leading group so perhaps that marshall had an unforgiveable "moment". Ref a couple of gripes mentioned by others below; I saw the medics in an ambulance / SUV parked between tents and I don't think we were at any time that far from where they could get reasonable access; directions? once you know that you are going to the NT site on Dunstable Downs then I don't see how that could have been hard to find? My gripe would have been that I had to stop and queue for water but to be honest I needed the rest after Bison Hill. I can't grumble about the value though - I won free entry! My major complaint would be about fellow runners listening to music. Normally I hold no strong views on this debate but in a race where it helps to be able to hear the Marshall's as well as see them it would have stopped the guy three in front of me going the wrong way and then holding the rest of us up as he fell trying to correct himself.
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: The Egg
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Steep price - gerat course and scenery - need to iron out some problems
In full: This was home territory for me - so regularly run all or parts of the course, so no surprises for me, and could walk to the start from home. Seemed good atmosphere and organisation pre-the race, although a route map prior to the event would have been useful.
Scenery and course both excellent even though I still haven't managed to run up the steps at Bison hill in training or in this race!!!
Just felt that it was overpriced (even allowing for the goodies) and lack of marshalls in some strategic places caused problems (I understand that the lead group on the 10K missed a turn and only completed 8 and a bit kms).
Need to iron out the kinks and provide better value for money (or reduce the cost).
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Neil Pearson 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Really enjoyed it, very well organised. As it was a single trail track run think its funny someone is saying there isn't much room and complains about potential for injury. Think you need to stick to nice flat wide roads.
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Claire Campbell 6
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Amazing scenery, hard course, bit pricy.
In full: I did the 5km which had a lot fewer entries than the 10 but the single-track sections were still busy enough. I was doing it for fun but for a good time you needed to get to the front right from the start. 5km course was well signed with arrows but as previously mentioned there was a lot of potential for injury and no marshalls at all on most of the course. The scenery was amazing, the facilites at the National Trust Centre were great but a few signs to the event on the road for non-locals would have helped. The goody bag was good but the entry fee was steep. I'd do it again but think entries need to be more limited, or re-route the course on wider tracks.
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: lemsip
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: leading ten runners sent wrong way
In full: Great venue, after finding it. Great course, hilly and pretty.
Was in the leading group, and the few marshalls en route did not direct us around the course, for the 10k run, finished 5th, but myself and 8 others taken off the results... We ran past the one marshall where we should have turned left but went straight on, could see the course in the distance. 200 mile round trip
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Pete Matthews
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: not bad for a first effort
In full: It wasnt bad for a first effort but i think there are areas that could be worked on.
1. Some signs on the road to point to the race would have been nice, and more than one person directing the cars in the carpark would have helped.
2. Massive lack of marshalls on route, i think i saw 5 over the full 10k, with 3 being at the water point. Not a huge problem but i dread to think what would have happened if someone had taken a nasty fall.
3. Apparently there was first aid at the finish. I think they must have been in disguise. Again nothing major, but i fear what may have happened if someone would have need assistance at one of the remote points.
4. More info on the route pre-race would have been useful.
5. Sharp corners need more guidance than a single arrow. When your looking down to avoid rabbit holes it far to easy to miss one. Tape would have helped.
6. Caution runners signs for the other members of the public would have helped. It may have saved the shock that i gave a walker as i stormed past.
Nothing major, but for the price i think it could have maybe been a tad better.
Date of review: October 17, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: jpd6
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice course with lovely scenary
In full: Enjoyable race with lovely scenery. Very nice goody bag with useful items, makes a nice change to getting another t-shirt!
Date of review: October 17, 2010
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