Downton Half Marathon Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (122 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Johnny Golding
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Great fun in the torrential downpours this course seems to specialize in
Date of review: November 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: wendy kite
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: oh the wind and rain. Fantastic race almost last but not quite. Will be back next year!
Date of review: November 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Boother
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Awfull weather but a fantastic race with superb organisation and a nice cup of tea and bun at the end!
Date of review: November 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Malc5
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great first half marathon
In full: Good run,good organisation, weather as expected end November. Definitely do it again
Date of review: November 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Sequin
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: My first time at this event and I can't wait for next year's!
In full: Thanks to all concerned for making this great event possible- especially the marshalls!
Date of review: November 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Lee Tucker
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Pain, rubbish weather, and great organisation, must be a Race New Forest event.
In full: As always from the Race New Forest, a well organised friendly event. You can always count on the course being hilly, and downpours. This is sixth event I have competed in organised by RNF and I will continue to.
Date of review: November 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Timskitour
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Cold, wet, windy, but good fun
In full: Weather was appalling, with a big rain shower just before the start, and another storm halfway round the course. Lots of standing water. Good marshalling, chip timing and a warm race HQ made it feel really well organised.
Date of review: November 29, 2009
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2008 race reviewed by: westmoors
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Cold and wet but I think I enjoyed it!
In full: This was my first half marathon and it was definitely a challenging course. Shame about the weather as I think the views would have been really motivational. Still finished 5 minutes faster than I predicted.
Thought collecting numbers and chips on the day was going to be chaotic but was very impressed with how smooth the organisation was. But why does the T shirt say 2009?
I wasn't affected by the headphones saga as I never wear them, but do think the information could have been in the instruction sheet sent out before the event.
A big thankyou to the very friendly marshalls who could still cheer me on after standing in the cold and wet for over 2 hours. You probably deserve the medals more than us runners!
Date of review: December 5, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Ilse Fransman
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Toughest conditions I have ever run in, but the scenery and friendsly faces were worth it!r
In full: The weather was bitterly cold and even two layers of clothing did not help much! Still it was enough motivation to keep going in the (vain) hope of warming up. Struggled with a painful hip and knee from mile 3 so ended up 6 minutes outside my PB. The course is challenging with a few hills but will definitely return. The scenery is beautiful and a special thanks to the marshalls who braved the cold! The New Forest ponies were a special treat, couldn't keep up with them! Travelled to Downton on my own and found everyone very friendly. Even made a few friends along the route and enjoyed a chat over a warm cup of coffee and bun after the race. Showers at the leisure centre were not great though... Other than that, hope to return next year.
Date of review: December 4, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Jonathan Weedon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Still my favourite, despite one or two minor issues
In full: This is comfortably my favourite half marathon for the simple reason that it boasts the best scenery I have ever seen in a race and the nice touches (a cup of tea and a bun at the end, and that's on top of the t-shirt and medal).
I was intent on just enjoying the event as much as possible this year instead of worrying about my time, but I know people who have managed a PB here so there is some potential.
I was a bit bemused by the fact that the t-shirt says 2009, does this mean I can regale my friends with stories of time travel? Will next year's have 2008 on it? I was also a tad disappointed that they had run out of the large sizes, surely there can't be that many runners needing a large?
Not sure what all the fuss is about with people being disqualified for wearing headphones, the rules expressly state this is forbidden which is quite normal from my experience, not to mention dangerous if the roads are not closed to traffic.
Wonderfully friendly marshals, thanks to all of you for braving the elements, especially the young lady at mile 10 who cheered me on just as I was starting to feel the chill!
One small quibble would be that a loud-hailer is needed for the pre-race briefing as I couldn't hear a thing and the crowd wasn't that big.
No reflection on the event, but do all the idiots decamp to Downton on the day of the race? A few drivers gave me some rude gestures, and I know some of the locals abused several of the runners last year. There are some sad people out there aren't there?
That notwithstanding, I plan to return and return.
Date of review: December 3, 2008
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