St Albans Review Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (397 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Tim Cooke 2
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: God it was hot!
In full: Great organisation, some really nice stretches in the park, through the town, and another bit near the beginning. Aren't there any other places to run around St Albans than along the main road to Harpenden? Thanks you to the fellow sufferer whoi warned me in advance about Folly Hill - in that heat, at that time of day, it was a real challenge. Nice family atmosphere, but it might be better in June to start the half marathon earlier. With the walkers going off at 8, surely half eight would be possible?
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
|
2006 race reviewed by: Susie O'Dell
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very hot, hill at 11 miles a killer.
In full: Would have been a great run if not for the heat. Marshalls were fab, very encouraging, but long stretches of boring road. Don't think I'd run this distance again in that sort of heat.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Any Old Iron
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The heat, that hill, and the stretches along featureless roads made this a very tough run. But the marshals and overall organisation, the run through the town and the splendid treats at the end somehow made it all worthwhile.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Elaine Harries
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: First half marathon, but definitely not my last.
In full: Very well organised race, weather was a problem, but that couldn’t be helped. There was plenty of water available and the marshals were fantastic, lots of encouragement. I trained very hard for my first half marathon, this race was just about getting round and finishing, I think I will wait until the autumn before I do another half marathon.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: JonesTheSteam
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The heat killed the race this year but dealing with it wasn't made easier by the shadeless monotonous course on busy roads
In full: Good points
- Cheerful organisation
- Lucozade and ice lolly at finish
- Generous prizes
Bad points
- The heat (but they couldn't help that)
- Shadeless route
- Busy roads
- Boring course
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by:
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised again, with plenty of water and excellent marshalling. Course not quite as scenic as last year but great to run through city centre near end.
In full: Very hot conditions made PBs almost impossible, but the hill at mile 11 also added a special challenge to this race! It has the potential to finish you off for the final couple of miles.
The new course is not quite as varied as the old one - lots of straight long main roads - but the big plus is running through the centre of the city. Sometimes a little narrow running on pavements between St Albans and Harpenden, making it hard to get a steady pace going early on.
The organisation seemed excellent again and there's always a great atmosphere at the start / finish. Seems to be growing each year and overall, despite the heat, very enjoyable.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Helen Isaacs
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good race for a first half-timer
In full: Apart from the stifling heat (which organisers could do nothing about of course), the race was pretty good for a first half marathon. Semi shaded route, and plenty of water stations, but the finish line let the race down. Very chaotic after the 'tape' and I was not sure where I was supposed to hand my 'chip' in or the tear-off strip on the bottom of my number. Would have been better to have bag handed to each finisher with the goodies inside rather than drifing around looking for them. Otherwise a good run and I'd consider it again next year.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Beth Bolitho
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Suicidal heat, running paths not wide enough and the lake at the end -- not for me next year!
In full: My first competitive half marathon, my first race in the UK. How disappoiting! Of course the heat got everyone down and that's hardly the organiser's fault. Being from Texas I coped better than most, but even I could have used an extra drinks stop between miles 8 and 10 in particular.
They had a new path this year and I do wonder what the old one was like. Didn't appreciate having to jump around nettles and dodge traffic just to pass someone. If you're not going to block off a lane of traffic, please next time at least prune your footpaths! And the run around the lake at the end provoked serious psychological difficulties -- I would have rather run that last mile on the city streets rather than having to trudge around a lake that looked smaller than it was and offered very little in the way of shade.
People along the way were very nice and the marshalls were excellent. The area around St Albans is quite nice but the path we took was fairly uninspiring! Then there was the hill at the end -- ill placed but probably caused more trauma because of the heat than it generally would.
Didn't come near a PB -- but really my partner and I were lucky to have survived!
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Andrew R
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Brilliantly organised, liked the route, shame I can't run in the heat
In full: There were loads of water stations, all manned by enthusiastic volunteers, a good route, decent medal, free t-shirt and excellent atmosphere. The organisers were even doing a survey at the end on runners impressions of the race.
Only problem was the heat. It was a killer. I recorded my worst time since 1999 after succumbing at 10 miles. It is the same every year. No matter how bad a summer we have you are guaranteed that the day they run the St Albans half will be the hottest of the year so far. I know it is probably logistically impossible, but could the race be run a few hours earlier?
Well done to everybody who managed to record a decent time.
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Kelvin Prince
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The Heat made this Hard!
In full: By now you have probably read dozens of reviews mentioning the extreme heat (almost 30 degrees), which did make this run very tough, and I think soured some peoples experience of the race. But this was hardly the organiser’s fault (for those recommending not to do it again). Quick Reality check – average maximum temperature for June is 20 degrees, so although we have had a few days of hot sunny weather, I’m not sure the organisers could have predicted this and moved the start much earlier as though we live in Honolulu or Los Angles. It could just as easily have been 15 – wet with gusty winds – so you’ll never be able to cover everything 100%. But there was plenty of advice before the race to take on water, plenty of well manned water stations, and lots of St Johns Ambulance support – who did a great job. The A road running was dull – and no shade, but the town finish was very good. Finish area with T-Shirt, Medal, Drink, Iced Lolly, and hose down was also very good. A few tweaks needed, but I thought this was a pretty good race – although my time was a personal worst (heat!).
Date of review: June 12, 2006
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
