mbna Chester Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (442 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Bruce C
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A new benchmark for organised distance running!
In full: Simply superb ... from the pre-race sign up, regular comms throughout build up, scheduled training runs, through to the day itself no detail had gone un-noticed and dealt with in a throroughly professional manner.
The day itself was fantastic, with the whole operation on the racecouse running like clockwork.
The course was excellent with a good mixture of the city sights and then out in to the countryside to get into your rythymn. Fantastic support from the villages too, helped no end by the masterstroke of printing names on the numbers.
Then a great finish along the spectator lined river and finish infront of the granstand. Superb !
Definately one to go on every self respecting runners 'must do' list.
Date of review: October 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Adrian Thorp
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: October 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Boston Hatter
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Cracking race - ticks all the boxes
In full: I probably won't say anything thathasn't been said before. Great course, both in the city and country (some very des res's along the way); excellent organisation and great support. The names on the number was a great touch - it definitely gives you a lift. It was very different to Windermere, which I did in May, but equally enjoyable. The only quibble I have: more loo papaer in the Gents please! Well done to Chris and Andy. I should be back next year.
Date of review: October 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Lance Ball
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: fantastic. Will be back next year
In full: Excellent organistaion. Quite surprised that almost all of the roads were completely closed in both directions for the whole race making it very safe. Atmosphere was great. I wasn't 100% fit and found it a real struggle, but the support was just fantastic from all of the locals. Names on the numbers makes a big difference and certain that this will start becoming the norm at such events. Much more undulating than previous year, but a much more scenic and enjoyable route. Only very minor gripe is the use of the village inside the racecourse which is a little bit of a gamble. If the weather is good then it's much easier for specctators and finishes just to be inside the open course where it's easier to find everything and get to each other. As is the arrangement at the half marathon. The race course village is just a bit too much of a maze, although could have been considered a really smart move if it was pouring with rain. You can't win really, if you change it, it's bound to rain next year! Good quality medal plus a good technical t shirt that was long sleeved for a change which I really liked.
Date of review: October 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Eric Davies
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good support round the course and names on vests for all - but hillier than advertised!
Date of review: October 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: barry tone
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: chilled out chester
In full: top day. very scenic city.
book hotels early though as no trains to chester arrive in time to get there for the race start. Hotels pretty expensive if not booked early. An 11 am start would be better to allow people to arrive on time.
Date of review: October 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: John Davies 38
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fantastic orgnisation, great course and support in villages. Well done to orgnisers and volunteers who made it a great day
Date of review: October 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Melanie van Oss
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great !
In full: Excellent organisation
Nice route - barely noticed the hills
Good support from marshalls and spectators
Drinks good, sports lid would be good on the water
Goody bag - great
Car park - good to get on, awful to get off, needed marshalls directing the queuing system further up the field - some cars didn't move for ages whilst the ones nearest the exit got out very quickly.
Great funnelling system once runners had finished
Enjoyable race would do it again if I wanted to do another marathon.
Date of review: October 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Devon Runner
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great event - everything went like clockwork. Highly recommended
In full: My first marathon and I suspect that it will be hard to top. Course was lovely and not too daunting. Crowds out and about were brilliant and I loved the finish at the racecourse. Well done all involved!
Date of review: October 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Simon Bonfield
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised, beginner friendly, but watch out for the climbs!
In full: Overall a fantastic race for my first marathon. Very well organised, plenty of friendly and helpful volunteers everywhere. Loads of people came out to cheer you at all the little villages along the way.
Lovely setting for the start and finish, yes occasionally you were stuck out in the countryside but for me I prefer that than going through towns and 'sights'. It is beginner friendly and I'm sure for more experienced runners it does have PB potential, but just a warning to first timers (like me) those climbs in the second half of the race really do sap the energy if you werent prepared like me!
Overall I would do it again and hope that they dont ruin it by turning it into a larger event, a few thousand is about right as the car parking system was already creaking at the edges. We decided to wait it out and spent the afternoon cheering on the runners coming in after 5 and 6 hours.
Date of review: October 12, 2011
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