Dartmoor Vale MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (96 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Husky Boy
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: tubby trotter
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Rewarded at top of hill with great views. Stewards excellent
In full: Organising a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and fun run all at the same time is no problem for the Dartmoor Vale Rotary club and Women's running network. Great fun, good for spectators, there was always something happening. Interesting route, undulations of various scales. Well Marshalled.
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Steven Shaw 4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Hard - but rewarding and worth it
In full: I've only marked the beginner friendliness based upon the toughness of the course NOT on how people are with you as it's 2 different answers. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners as it's hilly in 2-3 places and the one is a steep climb for a mile but the people themselves were lovely! :)
The course; the non-hilly bit were undulations that you'd expect from country roads, nothing too much to worry about. The hill into Chudleigh is progressive and testy but just keep plugging away, the second one leaving Chudleigh up "Uglybrook Hill" (ugly 'cos it's a stinker of a hill lol!) climbs for a mile steeply and winds around left to right so you think you're at the top and still you keep climbing! You're glad it's over by the end of it!
Steeply downhill afterwards, then only a testing housing estate left after that and you're home and dry.
Great course, everyone friendly, well organised. Just echoing what everyone else has said. I agree about the colour signs, you think you've gone further and then realise it's a sign for the other race so knocks you back a little.
Even so there's nothing that will stop me coming back next year, and more so that I was injured during the race and want a "re-match" :D
Well done DMV, see you next year :)
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Andrew Martin 15
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Excellent race with a couple of tough hills
In full: Excellent organisation with well-controlled traffic by both marshals and police.
Frequent water stations approx 2.5-3 miles apart which other races could learn from!
Course starts at Newton Abbot racecourse and is soon in the country; then come the hills - first is about 1/2 mile long and moderately steep; then the second one comes fairly soon after and is longer and much steeper. Great views from the top of the ridge of the Teign Valley area, heading back to Newton Abbot. Final section of the route is through the less-than-picturesque Kingsteignton housing estate, but to be fair, it's the only way back.
Nice medal and a pair of fleece running gloves with the race name embroidered on them; very unusual and a good alternative to the usual t-shirt.
My only constructive criticism would be to echo the previous reviewer's comments about the mileage signs for the two different races being in different colours.
All in all, a fun but challenging race with a field size of 355, and very well organised.
Having done the pretty flat and theoretically fast Bristol 1/2 marathon a few weeks ago along with 15,999 other people, I was pleasantly surprised to cut 5.5 minutes off my PB despite the hills!
Definitely on my calendar for next year.
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Rod Goodwin
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: great event great people
In full: well I looked forward to this one and it didn't let me down,good course very scenic especially at the top of the second hill.
It was a proper hill and I don't mind admitting I stopped a couple of times,on a plus note after that hill which was around mile 8 it was basically mostly downhill but the climbs took it out of me a bit.this is a nice smallish race run by people who are interested in running,it was from the sublime to the ridiculous after te 12000 runners at Birmingham last week.Definetely will be back next year ready for that hill!
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Martin W
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Have to rate it as I got a PB
In full: Excellent organisation and marshalling. Car parking would have been better if it hadn't coincided with a craft fai teh 1/2M cars wouldn't have had tp aprk other side of finish straight. Down hill bits make up for hills which for us Dartmoor locals aren't extreme.
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: BlondeEm
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: One of the best Devon races
In full: This was my first half marathon back after battling with ITB-related knee problems. Everyone looked happy, the atmosphere was relaxed but the course was tough! Still, that's what racing is all about. Loved it and will be back next year - am ot going to let the second climb defeat me!
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: John Bills 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well organised but mixes with traffic too much
In full: Very well organised and marshalled but needs to be as the course crosses roads quite frequently. As a Dartmoor resident it doesn't take the most scenic route and mixes with traffic too often. Strangely the exit from the car park crosses the finishing straight making it difficult to leave. For the second year running I got mixed up with the signs showing the distance. Perhaps they could be colour coded. Nevertheless, it is clear that a lot has gone into this event. Well done!
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2008 race reviewed by: T U
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Congratulations to all involved
In full: Very well organised, marshalled, signed etc.. all you could hope for in terms of organisation. The marathon begins with a lap of the race course, then effecively starts after the half, which means it is not too crowded but there is some company for the first lap.
The attentive marshals and friendly policing made this an enjoyable event. If I lived nearer I would certianly plan to repeat it.
Date of review: October 22, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Puffling
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Challenging - but well worth the effort!
In full: Only my second half-marathon & shaved 12 mins off! Must have been really rubbish last time, as the wonderful hill(!) between 5-6 was a stinker!! Brilliant organization. Many thanks for a great time.
Date of review: October 21, 2008
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