St Albans Review Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (397 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: gareth edwards 6
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Boring , tediuous course and poor traffic control.
In full: They changed the course from the previous year to make it more memorable in their 25th year anniversary....they certainly did that by making it far duller with even less shade than on previous years, more traffic hazards and a steep hill between 11 and 12 miles..Genious !! A massive dissapointment on a normally great and well run race
Date of review: July 12, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: David COLE 13
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Dull route - hope organisers take note of all similar comments - ice-lollies top!!!
Date of review: July 2, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Hess.
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Average
In full: This was the second time I have run the St Albans Half. The new course in my humble opinion was terrible. The road from St Albans to Harpenden was a narrower version of the Redbourn Road (that everyone always complains about). The introduction of Folly Lane was folly itself. A ridculously steep hill to give you two minutes of running through the newly redevloped town centre (Did that really cost £5 Million?!?!). To the previous secretary of the Review Sunday Football League please stick to football. Your commentary about people taking over two hours as being "Fun Runners who are vowing never again" was at best ill informed, and at worst an insult to the majority of runners ( Finishing alone in the 30 degree heat was a fantastic acheiment in itself).
Full credit to the marshalls and police who so wonderfully got us all through it you really were the difference between finishing and not!!
Date of review: June 20, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: hogmonster
| | 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: Never have I run so slowly. Nothing to do with the course, it was the 29 degress that did it. Fab race though, well organised, well marshalled and great support all the way round!
Date of review: June 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: John Eames
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not enough marshalls or water stops considering the heat.
Date of review: June 16, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Radi
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% |
In short: Boring route, too hot.
In full: There are definitely much nicer and more scenic routes around St Albans than this mainly non-traffic free race. The same route I will not run again as it it boring and - on this particular day - was too hot to enjoy the running.
Date of review: June 15, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: ashley watt 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: My first half and blinkin heck was it hot!
In full: Great people to chat to, fab drinks, lollies medals and t-shirts at the end. It was a little bit tricky to pass those who had walked as the course was a bit narrow in places. The hill tried to kill us at at 11miles. The Marshalls and police were brilliant as were the ambulance service. So pleased I did it and would do it next year if its less hot - thanks everyone!
Date of review: June 14, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: liz v
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: I can't blame the organisers for the heat but I can blame them for the poor drinks stations, narrow bottle-neck filled course and failure to categorise it as hilly.
In full: First of all I have to thank all the marshals who braved the blistering heat to look after the runners. They deserve a medal, but the race organisers do not. The route was well marked but the course was too narrow and traffic-filled for the number of runners, and I saw several people spreadeagled after tripping over the poorly placed cones. The drink stations couldn't cope with demand and runners had to wait for a cup of water to be poured. For the £20 entry fee I would have expected bottled water rather than luke warm plastic cups.
And why did the website fail to mention the hills? Uphill for the first six miles, one stretch of downhill, then more uphill. Much more hilly than the Turkey Trot in Nottinghamshire, which is at least described as such.
Some positives - pleasant leafy route, the bands playing in St Albans town centre, the ice lolly at the end, timing chips.
I would not run this again, even on a cool day.
Date of review: June 14, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: JoeMole
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough because of the heat, but OK otherwise.
In full: As everyone says, it was hot for 2006. Thankfully, there were frequent water stations, although a gap towards the end made the final hilly 3 miles very difficult. That minor gripe aside, I found the organisation excellent with many marshalls and helpers. Good baggage, changing and shower fascilities were also provided.
The course itself was a little hilly, although only the one around mile 11 was challenging. Running along the side of roads was tricky at times, and hindered passing, but I personally didn't feel troubled by the traffic, even at junctions and roundabouts (again thanks to good marshalling).
Date of review: June 14, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Claire Balmforth
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: CLOSE the ROADS
In full: Between the 10-11 mile part you were running up THE hill and had oncoming cars and also a bus going past you. The roads should be shut and this was the same as last year.
Date of review: June 14, 2006
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