St Albans Review Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (397 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Gordon Harrison
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good race, but hot!
In full: Good Points
1. Great organisation.
2. Great stuff at the end lollies, drinks, shower etc.
3. More water stops than expected
Bad Points
1. Sponges would have been good.
2. The heat (obvioulsy nothing could be done about that)
3. A lot of low road side branches and nettles that could have been chooped back to saving dodging them.
General Comments
Stop moaninng about the course. Ok it was a bit narrow at the start, and there was a kiler hill at the end, but surely if you're there to run you focus on running just get on with it? I thought the organisation was great and it was good to see plenty of marshalls etc on hand to help the poor souls that fell victim to the heat. I'll be back next year.
Date of review: June 13, 2006
|
|
2006 race reviewed by: Vicky Morris
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Too hot, course boring and not suitable for the quantity of runners. Marshalls/police fantastic. I can't believe with the heat I finished and somehow I still didn't manage to loose 10lb like the England football team!!
In full: Far too hot (but then it could have been raining and cold!) I have run the old course a few times and hated the Redbourn Road, but got use to it. I was really looking forward to the new course until I started running. It just seemed like an extended version of the Redbourn Road. Even if it wasn't hot Folly lane was not funny. It was not worth the effort just to run through the town. Far too short and had to dodge people shopping. Felt suicidal when I realised I had to run around the lake and couldn't go over the bridge. On a plus note liked the chip so that I could get an exact time, but would have liked a goody bag instead of helping myself. I can't thank the marshalls/police enough, they done a fantastic job and they must have been just as hot, but they always had a smile/encouragement. Thank you
Date of review: June 13, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Chris Morris 8
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Can't do anything about the heat/lack of shade. naeeow paths and narrow coned off roads not good. Town centre part so short I didn't see anything. Lake loop dreadful. Course would have been better in reverse?
In full: I was prepped for the weather having raced abroad in hot climes. A lesson for all, carry your own water, sun cream up, wear a hat and pace yourself.
Course was far too narrow in plces esp. Harpenden Rd, Redbourn Lane (cones and close traffic) and Redbourn Rd where there was a single file of a dozen or so, and no one could overtake. Folly Lane very steep and almost traffic free. Town centre (all £5 million pounds of refurbishment) was short and not sweet and then in a flash we were dodging pedestrians around the lake. Not the best of efforts. Old course more interesting and wider. Lots of scope around St a for a better course-and no, i won't be organising it. A big thanks to all marshalls dressed in plastic bags, the police and organisers. The finish was fine. T shirt as you would expect and the blue lolly made my teeth and tongue turn blue!
Date of review: June 13, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: TimB
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Pluses: lollys/hose/drinks at the end: Minuses: course a little boring
In full: Thought the organisers had plenty of water with possible exception of miles 8-10ish. Thought the end goodies were v good, and hose is a first, not seen before. Only downer was the route - very boring. Surely if nothing else a "two-loop" race could be designed around the park and St Albans centre rather than the labourious road run this is. Would do again though, and good family day out.
Date of review: June 13, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Bine
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: it was only a little bit to hot!!
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Redspoke
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Phew what a scorcher. Climb up Folly Lane was really cruel after 11.5 miles.
In full: Saw the weather forecast and knew this was to be an "approach with care" which I tried. Really glad the water stations came along every couple of miles. They were great. No misses!
Yes there were some narrow frustrating stretches in the first few miles and again near the end as we caught the walkers. Going through the city centre in the final stages was a nice touch but getting there oh ouch grinding up Folly Lane and Catherine Street after 11.5 miles in that heat was really hard.
Medal and T-shirt were good. Shower and free ice lolly truly wonderful.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: strawberry05
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Enjoyable race if it wasn't for the heat!
In full: Very well organised, could be PB potential but the narrow pavements and paths allocated for runners were making it very difficult to pass. The last hill climb on 11miles was a killer!
Enjoyed the lolly!
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Charlotte Temple
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Could have pleasant and easygoing if not for the 28c heat
In full: I was really looking forward to this and aiming for 2.15, but so disappointed to do a poor 2.40, right at the back of the pack. Not used to running in those kind of temperatures, so really suffered. But the course was very comfortable apart from a gradient at 11 miles, and I feel driven to go back next year and see what I can do in more regular English temperatures. The atmosphere was good and the marshalls very cheerful despite melting in their plastic bibs. I think they upped the number of water stations which was frankly a lifesaver. thank goodness. There was a 5 mile stretch with no shade at all. That wouldn't be a problem in a regular English summer. It was along Redbourn Road, which is long, straight, and incredibly dull. I'm usually oblivious to my surroundings, but even I thought, this is boring. At some places the road should have been closed, really, we were running on narrow pavement, which was a bit cramped and made it a bit difficult when it came to passing. But generally, I thought it a good race, a very nice course, and very satisfactory organisation. I'll be back next year to put in a performance that better reflects my usual abilities.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Clara Willett
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The heat, that hill, the very long, monotonous road; did I enjoy myself? - oh yes!!
In full: This was a tough course because of all of these factors. The organisation and atmosphere back at the park was great and the chips and the ice lollies were a very good idea. The route however was very uninspiring - I was hoping to see some of historic St. Albans, but what I got was a traffic tour of the surrounding area. This is my 2nd HM and the soaring temperatures made me extremely concerned as to whether I would make it round. A huge challenge and an event I was pleased to participate in, although I don't think I would like to run the same route again.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Ian Wheaton
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: As a beginner, in that heat it was murder, the hill at 11m was too steep!
In full: My first race of any kind co-incided with one of the hottest days of the year!!! Some of the hills, particularly the final climb at 11 miles onto the High Street were a killer in that heat, and virtually everyone I saw was walking it. Organistaion seemed good (from a beginners view). The Redbourn Road section is difficult going, one very long, straight, slighty uphill, monotonous road!!
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
