BUPA Great North RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Sarah Carroll
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Special run and excellent organisation excepting location of baggage coaches at the start. It took me over half an hour to drop my bag and get to the start pen due to a very narrow path. Organisers - please create a 2-way system.
In full: After a boiling hot summer and complaning of heat in every race/ traning run I have done since June, I decided to trust the weather forecast and leave sunscreen, glasses and hat out of my race bag. Inevitably it was hot and sunny and today I have a pink face and sore eyes. Crowd support and organisation are first-class (except baggage buses). Very friendly event topped by the Red Arrows fly-past. I would definitely do this race again. The course is surprisingly undulating which took more out of my legs than expected but that's what you get when you train beside rivers and rarely run on hills!
Date of review: October 2, 2006
|
|
2006 race reviewed by: Larry Wilson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: SOme problems -but all in all a great day!
In full: As some of the other comments have covered the organisation of the colour codes for starters was dodgy. I was not able to get anywhere near where I should have been. Having to dodge slower runners meant I lost a good 10 mins of my time. Having said that -a great day
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: paul seddon 5
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: fantastic day out!
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Knox
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: I like the mass participation events, but as races go my ratings reflect how I think it compares
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: R D Runner
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice T-Shirt and medal some other nice touches but there are better 13.1mile run out there.
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: betsycoe
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good t shirt and medal, shame about the crowding
In full: This is the first time I have run the GNR and it was a good day out. The t shirt and medal were good and the water stops and feed stations were frequent.
My only gripe (and it is a big one), why do people insist on putting massively over optimistic completion times on their applications? At the 3 mile stage I passed numerous walkers who were all sporting red, orange and green numbers. These people end up as obsticles to the runners who are capable of running at the pace they specified! If you are unsure put a slower time down and give the faster runners a chance.
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: IronChimp
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Third time and definitely the best yet. How big were the walls in the pens! Brilliant!
In full: I've run it for three years on the trot, and each time I come away looking forward to the next years.
The crowds were fantastic, goodie bag well stocked, lots of water/ drinks and the finish was clockwork (all as always).
However, what made the run for me was the size of the walls in the pens. It made it literally impossible for the slower runners to integrate themselves with the faster runners, thus cutting down the potential for them to, inadvertantly I'm sure, interfere with those of a more lithe-er ilk. One bod managed to scale the fence, to which we all gave him dirty looks, another tried it and got shouted down at by one particularly vociforous geordie (good on yer lad). No-one else tried it!
The downside was you couldn't get out easily, which led to me having to stop late in the race to pee after hanging on for more than enough miles. Nevermind. I think it was worth it for a smooth start.
What can I say - the run goes from strenght to strenght. Other halves take note. (yes Bristol, I'm looking at you). Biggest yes, and probably the best. Love it.
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: ian bar
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: good run, seems more organised than 2 yeras ago...something just doesnt feel righ ttho??
In full: dont get me wrong its a big event, and u should do one for the experience and to put it in ur collection etc..but i dunno what just doesnt sit well with me bout it!! great senery at start but that kinda dies a death later on
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Clare Anderson 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic day. Organisation much better this year. Crowd were great
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Katrina Foley
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Absolutely fantastic - the best half marathon I have done by a long chalk. Orgnanisation brilliant. Atmosphere brilliant. Crowds brilliant - what more can I say. Definitely up for this next year.
Date of review: October 1, 2006
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
