Bupa Great Birmingham RunHere's how RW members rated this race (74 votes). | 21 to 30 of 74 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
2011 race reviewed by: Max Burgoyne 2
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A BIG CITY RACE SO EXPECT CROWDS, HIGH PRICES AND NO PB!
In full: I have done all the Brum Halfs and until Great Run stepped in, last year's farce was going to be my last.
A transformation - excellent organisation and no quibbles.
Some comments from others:
Cost? This was average for big city races; if you want value do a club race. Haile may have been kind about Brum but money no is beauty brought him here.
Picturesque? This is Brum; there is no picturesque route!
Hills? If the race is to start and finish at or near Broad St the laws of physics make a hill at the beginning and the end unavoidable.
I loved it. No PB but 1:31 is OK for a 48 year old!
Date of review: October 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Alison Bartlett 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A bit pricey, need to change the route getting a little boring now, overall though well organised this year!!
Date of review: October 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Wimz
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Excellent event, although rip off price
In full: Quick gripe, price - rip off. The improvements made since last year don't warrant the extra fee. I can see where most of our money went though with Haile Gebrselassie running.
Now the positives,it is a great race, really well organised. I've run three in Birmingham now and have enjoyed every one of them. Not sure why people are whining about the hills - I don't really like them either but we don't live in the Netherlands so you can't easily avoid them in a long distance race.
Big Tip: Train on some hills people and stop whining like great big babies !
Will run next year depending entry fee hasn't increased.
Date of review: October 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: John Phillips 4
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: fantastic - much better organisation this year
In full: I agree with the general consensus that the end is a killer. A route which goes from Bournville through University, Harborne to the Hagley road to finish on Broad Street would be better. Otherwise brilliant. Can't wait for next year!!!! :)
Date of review: October 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: sprint
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Excellent, well organised. But take Gebrselassie's advice - lose the mile 11 hill!
In full: Fantastic organisation. Great support. Superb atmosphere.
The ONLY thing I would plead is to avoid such a tough 2 mile hill run at the end. Gebrselassie said afterwards he was taken aback by it, not ideal for most people and that they need to have a look at it for 2012. Easy... go back to the superb route from 2009 (world championship course) with an extended run through Bournville (the best bit after all).
Date of review: October 28, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: matrichards44
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Put a quick first mile in to make up for that hill. This is a PB course, I cant why everyone is making such a fuss 90% of it is flat as a pancake
Date of review: October 28, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Lorraine Westcott
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: October 28, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Lambeau
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A massive improvement on last year
In full: Hats off to the organisers who have resolved the issues that marred last years race.
Only issue now is the hill between 10 & 12 which is a real sting in the tail.
On a personal level it all went wrong for me but I'm sure I know why. Consequently I hope to be back next year to slay the demons.
Date of review: October 26, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Paul Dunne 3
| | 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: Shame I was injured and full of a cold (stupid pride)
In full: I was really looking forward to this one as it's my home town run. But with a hamstring injury and a stinking cold, I was never gonna light any fires in this one. Brummie pride ruled my head meaning I was never going to miss it, but I wish I'd been more sensible. On a positive note, the organisation was fantastic, the crowds were truly uplifting and the course was tough but enjoyable. The hill at the end was a real tester and really made you dig deep. By the end I had nothing left, even though I failed to break the two hour mark. But next year, I'll be back and 1:50 is the target!!
Date of review: October 26, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: David McNeil 5
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fantastic event overall
In full: The contrast between this event and the schoolboy level organisation of Cardiff Half the previous week could not have been greater.
Well thought out and supported. Toilet facility provision, bag drop, professional warm up excellent, and multi-wave race start significantly reduced congestion. The course itself was well set up, running through leafy neighbourhoods, with at least 6 water/powerade stations, exceptional volunteer support and numerous street bands contributing to a fantastic overall ambience. A bit of a sting in the tail was the only significant hill on the course between 10.5- 12 miles but PB potential still there. The only minor gripe was the lack of changing facilities (yes people really do want to get out of wet gear after a race!) which would have been easy and innexpensive to set up in the vast space of the NIA main hall, which was otherwise only being partially used for the bag drop. Otherwise, this was easily the best overall event I`ve attended in the last 2 years.
Date of review: October 26, 2011
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