Wokingham Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (598 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Robert Preston 2
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good Race despite the cold and wet wintery weather
In full: Unfortunately the weather was cold (2c when I arrived) wet and windy. This led to people waiting until the last minute to change and hand in their bags. This caused a long queue at the baggage tent to the extent that people were still handing in bags when the race started. This was very unfortunate because this race is normally very well organised. Anyway the weather cleared the sun came out and my run time was better then expected (returning after 2 month lay off with ankle injury). Therefore it turned out to be a good day. Will be back next year.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Em 0218
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great race, I left bag with friends who took a trip for a coffee into Wokingham so didn't have baggage problems. Marshalls and atmosphere amazing!
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Ian Thompson 15
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice course, great marshalling, shame abouit the start and finish
In full: Queue for baggage and toilets was horrendous which left no time to warm up. Start was congested with many slow runners congregating near the front which made the first mile or so cramped.
Once I got going the course was great and really enjoyed the empty rural roads. Although not pancake flat it was still fast and enjoyable.
Plenty of drink stations and the marshalling was friendly and supportive, particularly given the conditions.
Not sure whether chip timing was triggered by crossing the finishing line or having race number scanned by the marshall stood 5 metres behind the finishing line; I suspect it was the latter as my chip time was 20 seconds slower than my watch although the distance on my garmin was spot on. This cost me a pb which I'm not too chuffed about but it won't stop me coming back for another pre London warm up again next year
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Adam Shaw 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Well organised and decent pb potential
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Chippywhite
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Kieran Golding
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Flat HM route on closed roads, well organised
In full: baggage area at start is the only problem, I think loads of people started late, everything was well organised apart from baggage. Baggage was manned this year so that was good.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: andyp
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A friendly, pleasant event.
In full: I left my bag in the car and wore a bin-liner to the start so didn't experience the baggage tent issues, although I saw the queue!
All of the marshalls were very encouraging, even to a plodder like me, and to stand out in the cold for hours takes some doing! Well done the marshalls.
Plenty of drink stations en route, and plenty of visible first aid points.
An excellent medal to finish, although I only managed to also get a cup of cold water, I missed the hot drinks.
I enjoyed the race and would be back next year.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Matt Sears
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: 25th Anniversary and they couldn't organise the start?
In full: Race itself was nice enough: flat, through closed country roads. The weather was awful at the start, but brightened up for the first hour or so. The hike from the recommended parking places to the start was pretty unwelcome in the conditions.
The start, however, was appalling: few audible announcements of the impending start; a queue 100m long for the baggage tent with 2 mins to go; NO announcements of the graded start positions, so the first mile was a mess of slower runners in amongst faster; runners moving against the flow to get TO the start, after the gun went off. Absolute shambles.
At the finish: was there a water station? Not that I saw.
For a 25th Anniversary, I'd have hoped for something a bit better organised.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: patrick higgins
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Value | | 60% |
In full: The baggage area could be improved if everyone labelled their bags before hand.the whole bench was occupied with people writing.It was chaos.
I was left queing up after the buzzer went as were many others.I have taken part in many races but have never seen such a shambolic start.Ruined it for me.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: winerunner52
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good training run for a spring marathon.
In full: Now run this event several years. Always popular and always has critics for the start. Yes it's narrow - but after a few hundred yards it's fine. Pre start cold and rain didn't help matters re baggage tent delays. Overall a well managed and marshalled race at a time of year when weather is usually awful. The inclines over the motorways in the first 3 miles and last three miles always seem harder than they are - but I'll be back!!
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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