Events

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A good race, not outstanding.
In full: Bit of a panic to actually get to the start on time due to the traffic and he fact I had to pick up my number which hadnt been posted to me.
Some good distance markers (Miles, km and halfway) on the course which were accurate as well. A nice course with a couple of small inclines.
Fast results service.
A good race, but if there were any more entrants, it would probably be too many?
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Scenic
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Reasonable race
In full: Agree with some of the negatives...certainly pens at the beginning would have helped...not enough people on the water stations and not enough notice before them. Lucozade was too close to the water station ay mile 6....so I missed it. The STUPID woman watching with the yappy dog who decided to run ahead of her friend who was running....dog nearly tripped me a couple of times!!!!! Not enough signage at the end showing where to go....I just hoped ( correctly it seems) and followed the masses to the baggage hall. Really enjoyed the first half..passing through some very nice areas, but the second half was just mostly alongside dual carriageways.
Overall have done better races...and worse...but not by much!
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Where was the Lucazade at Mile 6?
In full: Third time I have run this race and this time the organisation at the water stations was disgraceful. Not enough helpers to distribute the water and please remove the bottle caps as you have done in previous years. What happened to 5k,10k,15k and 20k mats that provided us with a split time?

Finally I won't even mention the fiasco at the funnel at the end of the race......

Come on organisers show us what you can do rather then show us what you cannot!!!
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Only my second event, nice scenery, friendly marshals & an enjoyable course
In full: Having been roped into running this event by a friend 8 days beforehand we turned up at 9:35 & joined a queue of about 10 cars to get into a car park, followed the signs to baggage & put my number & chip on, there were alphabetical sheets of paper in the baggage area so Ieft my bag under the sheet for N & went to the start at about 10, had to queue for the loos for 10 minutes which was ok considering the number of entrants.

The start straight wasn’t segregated for times so I found a place about ¾’s of the way back as I was aiming for a 1h55, as it happened I spent most of the race overtaking people so maybe should have gone closer to the front, something to remember next time. The course was well marked & accurate to the info my GPS provided, some sections were only 4-5 people wide which meant overtaking often had to be done by running on the verge or adjacent paths/roads, there were plenty of marshals who were cheery & encouraging, I was amused by the kids who’d been allowed out with a whistle and seemingly stood blowing it all morning!

Having only run a local club race before it was really nice to have a crowd along the last half mile to the finish, there was a bit of a queue at the chip drop-off & final water point but I happily munched on the energy bar & drank the last bit of my Camelbak whilst we shuffled through. I did initially struggle to work out how to get back to the baggage area but a quick look at the OU map next to the finish helped me figure it out, a sign would probably have helped.

There was a queue leaving the car park to turn right so I just turned left & went a different way – something that’s quite easy on a grid system of roads!

I would definitely run this one again, If I was looking for a pb I’d start nearer the front or maybe run at a smaller event, as it was I only really did it for the mileage & experience which was overwhelmingly positive.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: First time, and will be back again - for sure
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: P*ss-up in a brewery springs to mind...
In full: Arrived in the area at 9:20am, yet didn't park until 10:20 due to the queues caused by lack of signs. No staggered start, the marshals may as well not have been there for their deafening silence, the drinks stations were each manned by a maximum of 2 or 3 bored looking kids, I didn't see a baggage area, my girlfriend said there was only one person serving refreshments in the shop/cafe area, and the finish was very narrow and badly organised.

However, if you can look past all that, it's a definite PB course, apart from the crosswinds blowing next to the lake and main roads. I enjoyed it, despite the fact that the organisation was nothing short of appalling.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Well worth the effort
In full: I thought this was a well organised, smooth race. Got there 9.45 no problem, asked a car park marshal where the actual start was and got a helpful reply, easy. Friends had warned me it was bit narrow for the first couple of miles and towards the end so as it was a PB attempt I made sure I started closer to the front. Expected finish time markers would have been useful for a race of this size especially with lots of beginners around, shame there wasn't a starting horn or hooter would have made for a better atmosphere witha teh crowds of spectators at the start, bottles were great but they did seem a bit short of volunteers, I thought the support around the course was also pretty plentiful, and I thought the route was pretty scenic, ceratinly a lot better than I was expecting and arrow markers on the floor seemed adequate, I'd definitely do this again.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Enjoyed it and a PB too
In full: Enjoyable course, busy but not crowded, set a PB. Bit chaotic at the finish - not enough space for chip removal and only one person handing out medals.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Not bad, good PB potential, need better notification of the start and some pace markers and the begining.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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