Plymouth Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (62 votes). | 21 to 30 of 62 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
2012 race reviewed by: mjc
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A bit hilly!
In full: This year is not a patch on previous years! The course has been changed which although flat in places takes the race away from potential crowd support. That said I was grateful of the improved finish which didn't involve the looping run past the finish line. Having always been proud of my home town half with it's excellent support amazing goody bag and well organised finish area with food and drink, this year I feel robbed! Someone has made a big profit and cheapened the whole event. Not sure I'll be back.
Date of review: June 3, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Mark Veale
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I've been attending this one for 5 years now and over the past 2 years they've tinkered with the course somewhat. Bottom line for this year, a slightly better course with a faster finish but a higher entry fee .
In full: My overall impression of this year's race was the distinct smell of doing it 'on the cheap' with a higher race entry fee, and possibly the worst goody bag that Plymouth has produced thus far (more of that in a bit....). The course has been tinkered with slightly with a new switchback to take advantage of the new road layout, making for a better run with more things to look at to take your mind off of the gradient(slowly rising for the most part), and also a faster finish, however at the start point, as soon as you run down off of the Hoe area there was an immediate bottleneck of runners having to slow down again to a walk to let numbers down the road-all within 500 yards of the start point. Water stops also took a bit of a hit this year with cups instead of bottles being used for the first time (again-cheaper),resulting in runners having to have a mad sip of their cup before being forced to throw it . There was however a bottle stop around the six mile mark. The new race organisers say this is to reduce the 'trip hazard' that bottles pose but I've not met anyone who's raced this event and fallen over a plastic bottle..... Also advertised was an 'energy drink' stop , but I seemed to miss that one (as did my other half who was actually looking for it....), so maybe a bigger sign please? Weather was good for this event with just enough drizzle to keep runners cool without being cold. Cheer points and race marshals did sterling work of boosting runners morale (especially for the 'newbies' on course) with plenty of obligatory jelly babies and jelly beans being freely handed out-big thanks for those. The atmosphere for the course is brilliant, with support from spectators and fellow racers alike. Last mile is a push back through the Historic Barbican with a couple of first timers being caught out by flooring it through the flat cobbled area, only to find that the last 5-600 yards is an uphill slog to the Promenade on Plymouth Hoe and finish point. Finish/filter point was well managed but this is the first time that race organisers seem to have scrimped on goody bags. No t-shirt this year and less swag to haul away than previous years (although the race organisers were quick to tout t shirt sales at the finish point- money making again?). To put this in perspective, swag this year was finishers medal (cool!), a small flapjack (cheap/unbranded), small mars bar, a clipper t-bag (???), 7 jelly beans (courtesy of Virgin Active), 3 Zero Highs drink tablets, 330ml of Red Bull and a bottle of Radox bath liquid (I don't have a bath but an elderly auntie will be getting a freebie I suppose!!), oh and a very small banana-well done . However last year's haul included a finishers shirt, various seeds for putting over cereals, pasties/pies, Go! energy drinks, bananas, chocolate brownies, tea/coffee facilities,Go! energy bars and gels, satsuma oranges, a small bottle of shower gel, some moisturiser for hands and face-all in all a bag of goodies to make you feel just that little bit better about torturing yourself for 13.2 miles.
This year, I just felt a little cheated especially as the race fee has also risen(£30 if you don't register early) -please change it back!!! This is ironic as at the finish line both Torbay Athletic club and Instinctive Sports were handing out entry forms for their half marathon and 10k races respectively- which promise technical shirts, medals and goody bags, with a cheaper race entry fee!!
All in all, a good day marred slightly by profiteering and scrimping I guess. I'd also like to give a big thank you to all fellow runners, the race marshals, various cadet organisations who provided manpower for the water stops, the emergency services who provided first rate medical cover and finally the Council for road management and the refuse removal of all those pesky cups!!
Date of review: June 3, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: michael drewett 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I will defiantly be there in 2012
In full: Not sure about pb potential but it's worth the trip. the atmosphere is amazing and us suitable for all levels
Date of review: January 10, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: Carly Peart
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Challenging but great run
In full: Second time I've done this run, and still just as exhilirating. They've tweaked the start, making it much faster. The hills throughout are still challenging, but make for good stories when you compar ehow many people you walked past, or how many of the local residents offered you jelly babies!
Although somewhat hilly, it wasn't too far off my PB so I'm sure it can be done! Would definitely do this run again, and the t-shirt and medal certainly help add to the feeling of euphoria at having completed it!
Date of review: November 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Tom Charnock
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race
In full: This was my first ever half marathon and I found the whole experience very enjoyable. There was a bit of confusion at the start but that was probably down to the sheer number of competitors milling around the start point. The route itself was fairly scenic and took in equal measures of urban and country areas. The goody bag I recieved at the finish was a nice suprise too, as it contained some nice extras, and the medal was nice too. Hopefully the first of many 1/2 marathons for me!
Date of review: August 8, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Gary Jenkins 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent event, but those hills!!!!
Date of review: June 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Matthew Maries
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Plymouth Half Marathon
In full: This race is good for everybody. The beginner like me and the hardened runner. There are a couple of steep hills which hurt, but remember no pain..............you got it!
Date of review: June 3, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Burner
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very impressed
In full: Really very good race, brilliant water stations with water in bottles, good atmosphere plenty of support. Weather a bit rubbish but can't avoid that. Goody bag was amazing saved buying lunch on the way back. Didn't mind the early start but thats personal preference. Well done Plymouth.
Date of review: June 2, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: James Deag
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great race with some but's
In full: This was a great race and the route was one to remember. The first four miles were flat and allowed you to settle in; however the starting line up as always was very cramped, they seemed to use only half the road to line us up and could have done with moving the barriers further out.
The hill around 4 miles was a killer but lead you into a very nice forresty section of the race which was very plesant. Water statios were well organised AND WHAT A GOOD BAG! great t-shirt and bottle too.
For begginers who have put in the training! Just need a few more bands and people around the mid section of the course and this could be one special race! Great last mile and half, good atmoshpere and great little run along the coast to take your mind of things.
Date of review: June 1, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Thecrouchender
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Early start, well organised, 2 decent hills, very generous goody bag!
In full: the only race so far where i have been given a cheese & onion pasty and a muffin afterwards (and lots of nice SIS recovery products too!).
Date of review: June 1, 2011
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