EDF Energy Birmingham Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (191 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Adam Donoghue
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Lovely race - terrible organisation
In full: The start was horrendous - I was lucky with a relatively good starting position and managed to hit a reasonable time, so missed out on all the finish line stupidity. the bit between the start line and the finish was a really enjoyable run, though.
Date of review: November 1, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Vanessa Brown 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: An embarassment!
In full: I have never in my life had to queue to cross the finish line. It was an embarassment! This is the third time Birmingham have held this race and they should be able to get it right by now. They knew there would be 15000 runners - it should not have come as a surprise!
Date of review: November 1, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Adrian Fowler
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very Poor Start/Finish Organisation
In full: Organisation at the start was very poor. The colour bays were not very well highlighted and with seemingly only one enterance onto the road for all runners, the slower runners did not move to their appropiate bays. With the start moving from fours lanes to two it was only going to lead to one thing. I personally could not get into my rhythm until 3 miles. For me the finish was okay but I could see the potential problems and i just feel sorry for the runners who after running 13 miles have to queue to get over the finish..what a waste of effort.
Date of review: November 1, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Mark Weaver 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Organised by the work experience?
In full: I have done this for the last 3 years and cannot believe that it gets worse every time! The organisers really need to get a grip. A massive crush at the start was compounded by the fact that once I started I had to stop due to a bottle neck after 50 metres! The route itself was quite good with only a few inclines. HOWEVER....at the finish line I had to queue to actually get over . This is unacceptable and an ambarrassment for us brummies.
Date of review: October 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Terry Goodwin 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race, marred by awful organisation at the start and end
Date of review: October 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: R D Runner
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Third time this race has been run, and third time the organisation has been terrible! Save your time & money and run another Half.
Date of review: October 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Taileron
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Organisational Incompetence
In full: A chance to produce a first rate event has dissipated due to appalling organisation.
Date of review: October 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Matchstick Man
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Organisers have bitten off more than they can chew
In full: Race is far too big at almost 12,000 runners for the start and finish on Broad St. With this amount of runners you need a big open road or split starts like London. Shocking scenes at the finish for the bow-wave of runners in the 2hr to 2h20 slot which could easily have been avoided by better organisation of the finish line funneling.
I got a PB but I won't go back again.
Race starts too early in my opinion - no-one could get in by train as there are no trains into B'ham before 9 a.m. Make it a 10 o'clock start and sort out the start and the pens.
Date of review: October 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Nick Byng
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Massive Potential For Gritty Urban Half/Full.
In full: Start was a bit crowded and poor stewarding, some interesting scenery, brilliant support and great uplifting music (more please), great mix of people, could take in Hagley Road for more wide open space, evil hill at the end which is not good IMO, may be start the race other direction, less gradient other way around at end. End was shambles and feel sorry for those with mucked up chip times (what about free entry next year for those who suffered this?!).
Date of review: October 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: steve woodhall
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: everything ok except for the ending. chip times wasted due to 10mins to cross the line due to que .
Date of review: October 28, 2010
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