mbna Chester Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (442 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: PDC Plod
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Excellent organisation, great City location and fantastic course and support
In full: The organisation of this race was excellent throughout. Chester is a great city to host a marathon, so well done to Chris and Andy who organised the event. I hope this becomes a regular fixture on the marathon calendar. The course is not completely flat, but what made it testing was the short hill at mile 24, which inevitably hurts. Convenient having parking on the racecourse so close to the start and finish, with slight drawback of build up of cars getting in and out. Having the finish on the racecourse gives lots of opportunities for spectators to feel part of the event. Overall, will definitely be back to do it again.
Date of review: October 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Oles46
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Best organised event I have run
In full: Smooth start, great blend of city/country. Took 20+ minutes off PB, worth paying a bit extra for such a well thought out event. thanks and see you again!
Date of review: October 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: ian ingham
| | 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: Great organisation with a very scenic route.
In full: Worked well for me as this was not so small that you ended up running on your own but not so big that the logistics were troublesome. I stayed at the holiday inn express at the racecourse which helped and appreciated the use of the showers at the race course. Really can't fault any of the organisation - maybe water with a sports cap would have been good but not a big point. Reallybwell done to the organisers !
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Ian Richards 22
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent race well organised and well marshalled, plus excellent scenery, recommend most highly.
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: michael duffield
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Almost Enjoyable !
In full: The people of Holt who came out and cheered - 10pts.
The liveliness of the teams manning the drinks stations - 10pts.
The two cows (fresian types) who joined in the race with a bit of a sprint in the field alongside - 10pts.
The schoolgirl who rode her bike in the middle of the road against the flow at mile 4 - 0pts.
The crowds along the 'rows' and the finish - 10pts.
The residents of rural houses who sat in their drive on deckchairs with bowls full of jellybabies - 10pts.
The silly 'disney' corall for the photo at the end - 0pts
The T shirt and goody bag - 10pts.
The actual punch-up fight that my wife witnessed between 2 blokes as spectators tried to cross the finish line to get to the village - 6pts
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Krissy64
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Downs then ups and overall a great event
In full: As others have said the organisation was excellent, as was the support, marshalling and route. I especially liked having my name on my number and also being greeted by one of the race organisers as I progressed through the finish funnel.
Room for improvement is minor but I may as well state these things: First gripe was lack of signage to the race and also in the race village - we ended up asking for directions several times for such things as baggage tent, showers, etc. During the race my only real concern was the fist drinks station that also had energy drinks - you had to decide which side of the road to take depending whether you wanted water or energy drink. This was potentially dangerous as runners were crossing over when they realised they had taken the wrong option for their particular requirements. From then on both water and energy drink were on the same side so it didn't cause a problem. A few undulations that wasn't expecting were next gripe - especially at mile 24. I don't mind hills normally but the problem is when you are expecting NO hills and you hit one you are like WTF whereas normally you would just take it in your stride! Finally the finish was great but after a quick shower all I wanted was a cup of tea and something to eat before setting off on the long drive home. There was nowhere obvious to get such a thing near the showers/carpark despite a good walk round so we ended up driving to the nearest Subway. I thought that the race course eateries missed out on a killing all being closed. Maybe a few burger vans in the carpark would be good for next year - there is nothing like running a marathon for getting the appetite up!
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: SoS_flyer
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Probably the best marathon out there...
In full: What a fantastic race, this one has just about everything you could wish for. It's a proper running race organised by runners for runners and it does it all...
Course is fast but undulates and keeps the interest all the way, it's PB territory but you have to work for it.
Whoever thought of names on the bibs is a genius, the locals all used them and it was really up lifting.
The support was fantastic all the way round the course, it takes alot for people to agree to closing the course but then to come out and support fantastically, brilliant!
The organisation was second to none, everything thought of, lots of nice touches - awesome job, thankyou!
If there is one thing I'd ask the organisers to do it would be to keep doing the same thing and I'm sure 2012 will be just as brilliant, do this one!
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Anthony Brookes
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Superb all round, thoroughly recommended
In full: Brilliantly organised, lots of great drinks stations with both water and isotonic drinks (both in bottles), great atmosphere and a top T-shirt which I'll be very proud to wear! The hill on Sandy Lane at mile 24 is a bit of a killer though! I'm from Chester originally and when I realised where we were going I felt like crying!! Brilliant race though.
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: STEPHEN Chalkley
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice size event. Well organised and well supported run.
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: David Bibby 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great marathon for my first - well done to the organisers
Date of review: October 11, 2011
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