Rutland Water MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (90 votes). | 11 to 20 of 30 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 |
2012 race reviewed by: abradypus
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: 26.2 miles and no medal!
In full: Very wet and very cold. This, I don't mind. However, when I finished, I wanted (a) a medal and (b) someone to lead me to my dry clothes in my drop off bag. There was no medal, and the people giving out the (frankly empty) goody bags didn't know where our kit bags were. Despite the fact that they were in the tent right behind them. Something that took a very long time to find out. Fat Feet can't plan the weather, but they should be able to plan how they'll treat their runners if the weather is grim. Great race, spoiled by the post-finish care.
Date of review: November 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Hilary Cox 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Fantastic trail course, poor value and organisation
In full: I agree with many of the other 2012 reviews: it's a great venue with amazing scenery (even in the pouring rain!) but you feel short-changed by the steep entry fee. What did Fat Feet spend the £35 fee on? There were no road closures; teenage army cadets manned all the stations (and they were fantastic; no portaloos; water in cups (actually they could have saved even more here and used rain water, ho ho!); no medal (why would I want a "technical" vest that doesn't even commemorate the actual race?!); no First Aid after the start; poor bag storage; poor/non-existent transport back to Sykes Lane car park (after 4 hours of v wet and cold running, it's no fun having to walk 30 mins to get to your car!)
As previously reported - it's no frills and that's fine...if you've paid £10 to enter.
I will do it again, but probably the day before the 2013 race, when the course is marked out but I don't have to pay: I'll bring my own 9 bar and ask my mum to make me a certificate!
Date of review: November 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: BigJohnson
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Potential to be a great race - but too expensive & no medal
In full: The route itself is a good one, and on any other day, I'm sure it would be beautiful. But the rain & cold made it truly miserable. The marshalls around the course were great, firing out encouragement.
The downsides for me :
* Far too expensive for a small event
* No medal
* No toilets at start - they were closed at Sykes Lane.
* 20 minute walk to start is too far
* Course clocked at 26.45 miles
* No contingency for poor weather - no undercover protection at the finish.
* Inadequate bag store (only a small carry bag accepted) - especially in that weather, when lots of dry/warm clothes would have been required.
Date of review: November 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Miserable Bleeder
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very Disappointing
In full: This was the second time I've done this event, so I knew about the cattle grids and toilets etc etc.
What was criminal today was the almost 'complete' lack of event support (The poor suffering cadets aside), given that the weather was horrendous I would have expected more support and/or first aiders.
I passed one guy who had hurt his knee, after asking I promised to mention his plight at the next marshalling point.
Only trouble was, I couldn't find any one. The next guy I came across was 'The Timing Mat' guy.
People could have died in those conditions.
Deeply disappointing and potentially dangerous.
Date of review: November 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Mattyla
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: No frills - what you see it what you get
In full: Lots of negative comments about organisation, atmosphere, goodie bag and value for money - all are valid up to a point - however IMO running a marathon is all about the course and if you are of a similar mind then you will have to go a long way before finding a more scenic, undulating, varied and ultimately satisfying marathon challenge. If Fat Feet address some of the gripes then this would be a must do.
Date of review: November 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Rosemary Close 4
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Such a disappointment, should be so much better
In full: Can't believe that such a fabulous venue as Rutland Water was wasted. The weather was appalling, which no-one can control, but the main problem with this event was the feeling of being short-changed. For the price, it simply does not represent value for money. There are no toilets at the start line, I only occasionally spotted gels, nothing else in the way of food, terrible 'goody bag', terrible vest (why would I want to advertise Fat Feet, rather than the Rutland Water Marathon?)and the certificate was completely pointless.
I really hope the organisers raise their game,it is hard to see that there are many repeat-entrants after this year.
Date of review: November 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: skitrirun
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Like the course itself plenty of ups and downs. Sadly apart from the cadets mainly downs
In full: No toilets open at Skyes Lane car park and after a long walk to the start, no toilets there either.
With mile markers at only every 3 miles and no evident course marking, there were occasions where I wasn’t sure I had gone the right way or that the people I was following hadn’t gone the wrong way.
Unbelievable number of cattle grids to cross, many you had to cross as there were no open gate next to them.
My relief after finishing was soon replaced by disappointment in that I along with others received a goodie bag that didn’t seem to match the Herculean efforts we felt we had put in, then over 30 minutes waiting for the bus transfer back to Sykes Lane car park. It would appear only one minibus was in operation.
In all I agree with the other comments posted here, especially regarding the only real positive element; the support from the enthusiastic cadets.
Date of review: November 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Xena_X
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: fab location for a challenging trail marathon
In full: now that the feeling has returned to my hands and I have stopped shivering, I can say that I had a great race yesterday. The location is just great, the conditions made it hugely challenging, with constant rain and a very wet and muddy route. A cup of coffee and somewhere dry to get changed at the end would have been great, getting changed out of my wet kit in the car without the use of my hands was tough! not a pb course (also slightly over marathon distance, my garmin recorded 26.6 miles; maybe I staggered a bit after mile 22..) but if you want something different and prefer scenery and your own company to crowds etc, this is a low key event and when I have done it before in good weather, outstanding.
Date of review: November 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: neil hopwell
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Scenic but never ever worth £35 due to 'fat feets' shortfalls!
In full: What a lovely setting with a scenic and very challenging route! This had the potential to be the race of the year due to its setting but the organisers clearly saw this as a vast money making exercise!I've sent fat feet an email and left feedback on runners world!
In this day and age no toilet facilities, water in cups and a generic vest top with no reference to the marathon along with a blank certificate was clearly a cheapskate effort and in fairness I've partaken in local club runs for less than a tenner with greater facilities and rewards.
A wholly disappointing race but with potential for so much more. You really need to up your game 'fat feet' and look after your customers or rebrand yourself 'fat wallet'.
Just worthy of note were the cadets and marshalled who despite the weather did a grand job with what they had in the terrible weather.
Date of review: November 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: MarmiteClaire
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Could have been wonderful
In full: As has been said before the weather was not the best but this was outside the organisers control. The cadets were wonderful, handing out water and gels and providing support all the way round.
The course does not lend itself to mass support but those who did turn out were most appreciated clapping us round.
The venue itself is spectacular and it could be an absolutely wonderful event.
The downsides: no space blankets at the end, no medal. Given the (lack of) facilities and goody bag provided it seem hard to justify the entry fee but then I don't know how much Anglia Water charge to organisers to allow the event to take place.
Date of review: November 5, 2012
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