Sheffield Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (528 votes). 2013 race reviewed by: Chris Walker 16
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race and great support from crowds, easy parking and easy to get to and away from
In full: Don't like water in a plastic cup so carried my own bottle in a belt this year, made up loads of places at each water point.
Date of review: May 12, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: MattRhodes
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A friendly, well-organised race
In full: A really friendly race - good organisation at the start / finish and all along the course. Great support, especially in the city centre. Just a pity the Don Valley Stadium won't be around next year...
Date of review: May 12, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Richard Harrison 17
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: MORE TOILETS NEEDED!
In full: Organisation before the start terrible, Marshalls sending people the wrong way etc, long queues for toilet at race time cos people been in the queue for half an hour, Get some Portaloo's & better plan for the start people were having to run to the start line & yes I know its chip timing but I had to fight through all the fun runners to get to my pen or it would ve been walking pace for a few miles! I was at the car park at 7.35 so its not like I came late.
Date of review: May 12, 2013
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2012 race reviewed by: Andrew Roscamp
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The Atmosphere around Town is on par with the Great north Run
Date of review: May 10, 2013
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2012 race reviewed by: Angry Cheddar
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: First Half Marathon
In full: Fantastic atmosphere on Ecclesall Road, really made my day. The slog back from the city to the stadium is tough going, and is very cruel to see the stadium and realise that you still have a mile or so to do.
Date of review: June 10, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Sir John a Lot
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fun in the Sun
In full: Think a lot of people have been overly critical about this race. Everyone know that when you run towards the drinks table you don't go to the 1st table but further up, of course there's going to be chaos but stay calm and there's always more space towards the end.
Water bottles are a recipe for disaster as people take a swig and throw them on the floor which are a hazard for runners coming behind. If you want more, carry one in a belt or a hand held gizmo. Organisers can't win with this as people always moan whatever you do
Thought it was a great race, enjoyed it more than Leeds 2 weeks before and loved the stadium finish.
Did think that more toilets should have been signposted, and there is no reason these days to have a cotton t-shirt at the end. Also there's a lot of halves that have the chip timer on your bib which is disposable and saves the hassle of having to have it taken off. (Wilmslow/Conwy)
Other than that, great race and loved the camel
racing past me even though I did 1.44.
See you next year
Date of review: June 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: A Bolton
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Change to route
In full: I do this race as it is local, but with the surrounding countryside around Sheffield the route could be more interesting. I know people like the stadium finish but not for the sake of the rest of this dull, flat course.
To make this more interesting and challenging, why not do a full marathon or at least change the course. Even if you want to go out of the stadium, head off in a different direction and stay out of the city centre.
Feedback for the organisers:
- T Shirts very poor for the money. Not that I'm in it for the T-Shirt but many races now manage tech-Ts at lower cost.
- drinks stations a bit chaotic. I didn;t get close to one until bramall lane and that was a bun fight. Put it at both sides of the road and use bottles
Saying that, i know there is a lot involved in organising such a big event so I'm not going to be too critical. Oh, take it back a month or 2 to try and avoid the carnage caused by the heat.
Date of review: June 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: CARL FITCH 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Local race so worth the support. Water stations chaos. Car park chaos. Thank you to all who helped.
Date of review: June 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: ElbowBones
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fast course, good support and a great stadium finish
In full: 3rd time I've done this race - its special because of the stadium finish, love it. Route is a bit dull, but well supported in the City Centre and the turning point. Got a PB but the heat made it a grim experience. Only criticisms are low quality T-shirt and problems getting out of the ice rink car park afterwards, but minor gripes only. I'll be back!
Date of review: May 31, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Ty
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: hot, expensive, room for improvement for oraniziers
In full: For this kind of money I would expect much more. This is bordering on a rip-off.
With a little effort on the organizers side this could be a nice race. E.g. opening the changing rooms - without having to ask/beg. Getting their drinks dispensing organised (not learning it on the day - causing chaos).
If you can't handle the crowds with cups, use bottles. For this kind of money this must be possible.
Understanding that people might want to leave the stadium after the event and don't like it to be fenced in...
As others have said, it was quite hot, so reconsidering the date might be beneficial for future events.
Crowd support was quite good at the half-way point but virtually non-existent elsewhere. Not surprising as part of the route is really dull.
Unlike two years ago (the ambulance was already hard at work less than a mile after the start...) there seem to have been fewer casualties this year. Well, at least I saw fewer.
Marshals en-route were good. However some of the security personnel in the stadium were "extremely unhelpful". While many of them were really nice and helpful, some behaved like they are running prison camps in their day job...
The next morning the local paper (Star) was advertised with posters reading "Half marathon picture special". Well, there was the half marathon mentioned somewhere and there was a picture special but that wasn't about the half marathon (it was football).
Date of review: May 31, 2012
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