The PicnicHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (159 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: ChalkyWhite
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic atmosphere
In full: Thanks so much to the marshalls and organisers. A unique race and without doubt the best marathon I have taken part in.
Marshalls were amazing.
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
|
2012 race reviewed by: mark clawson
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The most brutal run ive ever done
In full: Firstly to everyone who completed the picnic you are legends....this was my 1st ultra and i failed :( after reaching the cut off point 6 mins to late it was all over for me, 1st i knew even if i a few mins quicker i would have been finishing in the dark 2nd i knew in my heart i couldnt do another 14 miles.
despite this i enjoyed it so much the atmosphere, the friendly runners who encouraged me time and time again as we past each other, the superb marshals and most of all dr.rob for the faultless organisation of the race.
As always a excellent t-shirt, medal and cap complete drinks and food at the finish.
Today i dont know what hurts more the legs or the feeling of failure ??
i will be back on the hill for the knacker cracker.
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Red Williams
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: The OlymPicnic - harder than anything you could do in the actual Olympics!
In full: Savage and sadistic, brutal and heartbreaking!!
I feel so proud of myself for completing such an epic run - and fast walk!
I've done the Langdales, the Beachy Heads, Snowdonias, White Peaks - but this was tougher than all them lumped together.
The hills were Himalayan.
But it was the giant steps that got me every time.
I hated them - and don't want to see another bloody step until 2013...
The last set in the last mile almost did for me - they were just evilly cruel.
But so many positives to draw from this race and this whole experience.
Dr Rob - a living long distance legend.
My fellow runners - magnificent.
I've never known such camaraderie as I experienced yesterday.
Runners high-fiving each other out on the trail, shaking hands, urging everyone else on - truly heartwarming stuff.
The marshalls - fantastic....incredibly supportive, always cheerful, relentlessly upbeat.
I thanked each and every one of them on the course and I'll thank them again now for going above and beyond during many many hours out on the trail.
You were all truly brilliant.
This was a heart-stirring inspirational test of mental and physical strength for all true runners.
The OlymPicnic battered me to the limit and beyond - thank God I made it.
I'll treasure my beautiful medal and iconic T-shirt until the day I die!
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Bartholomew Roberts
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: If Carlsberg did races.......
In full: What an absolute belter. If only all races were like this...
National Anthem at the start, amazing atmosphere, amazing scenery, a cheeky run, numerous and friendly marshalls, fantastic snacks on the feed stations (kettle chips get me every time) and a decent bit bling at the end and a really good t-shirt.
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Iain Leighton
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: If you haven't found the race that pushes your mental limits.. This is it!!
In full: This race is one of a kind. When people have been asking me what it's like I have invariably paused and looked at them.. it is like no other. When you hear ironmen and multiday trail runners saying its the hardest challenge they've ever done you know it was something special. My rating for beginner friendliness is based on the friendliness and comraderie of Marshalls and Runners and NOT the course!! Marshalls and runners were fantastic and I don't think I could have got around without their support and encouragement (and the crisps haribo lucozade etc). Overall a fantastic race, 30 miles of sweat and pain followed by a lifetime badge of honour you will never forget. Cheers Dr Rob and all that made it possible!
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Graham Akrill
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A box ticker event, and at times I felt i could end up in a box. A great day , total destroyed physically . I'm from Lincolnshire and we don't do steps which are more a kin to mountain goats.
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Joe Hawk
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: The PICNIC
In full: There isn't a lot more you need to say. If you don't know what you are letting yourself in for do yourself a favour and stick to the Munro :-)
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: kipperonabike
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Spectacularly Gruesome for hard-as-nails-ego-lunatics or daft people
In full: Hard to express just how very tough this event is. It certainly had me quivering in my shoes for a few days pre-race, worrying about a 16 mile cut-off of 3.5hours! It does state on entry that I 'can't be run', and it can't. Lower your expectations and enjoy a very special event.
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Mighty Fish
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Absolutely epic - a 'race' seriously like no other!!!
In full: I've been fortunate to do some extreme challenges, though this is undoubtedly up there as one of the hardest things I have ever done (not enough hill training probably didn't help!). Getting to the turn, and knowing what you had to go through again, is probably one of the hardest and most mentally challenging things you can go through as a runner. Absolutely brutal, utterly relentess, and purely a battle with yourself for self preservation. The marshalls were absolutely fantastic....always helpful, incredibly cheery and were out there longer than most runners. They seriously help make it the race it is and I can't thank them enough. I will treasure my t-shirt and superb medal forever as I don't intend to rush back in a hurry to do this (?).....at the moment though I can say I successfully competed the Olympicnic, and I say that with a huge amount of pride. Well done to everyone who took part, and through gritted teeth, a massive thanks to Dr Rob.....that was one hell of an event!!
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Robert Swift 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Excellent 'fun' and really enjoyed it.
In full: Rating on beginner friendliness is only to reflect that fact that the course is tough; everyone, marshals and other runners are super friendly and made completing the race possible. I think the extra miles and change at the start were an improvement on the usual route as by the time you hit the first set of steps the field had spread out so we weren't all falling over each other. Final thank you to all the marshals and support - you were great :)
Date of review: June 24, 2012
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
