mbna Chester Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (442 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Gwyn James
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great support, well organised.
In full: A generally flat course with just a handful of small hills. Water stations superbly organised with helpers shouting encouragement and calling you by name - having names on numbers worked really well. Great support in all the little villages and through the town, loved the grandstand finish. A nice goody bag with proper long sleeved technical running top - London could learn a thing or two! (Who the hell wants a cheap cotton tee shirt that you can't run in?)
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: pato1967
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Faultless
In full: This was how to organise a race. Well done to the race organisers and volunteers.
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: kevin 10k
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: A bit disappointing
In full: Had high expectations but it didn't live up to them . Know there was a lot of hard work put into the race so dont want to critisise . It was an average run , no more . Spectators and athletes found it difficult to get around the racecourse and the finish area was poor . Just not enough going on to make it an enjoyable day . Half marathon organised much better . Sorry !
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: WAYNE HOLLAND
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: If you only run one marathon , make it the Chester marathon !!!
In full: Chris , Andy and team have organised a fantastic experience as well as a fantastic marathon !! As well as race day being practically perfect from start to finish , you are given the opportunity to take part in group runs every month which obviously means you get to compare notes with fellow runners of all abilities and experiences. You also get inputs from physio's , nutritionists , sports scientists , and top runners ( Andi Jones , 5 x Snowdon marathon winner ) and all this for free ! ( Well no more than the entry fee anyway.)
I don't know any other marathon organisers who go to such lengths to help the average and elite runner!
Race day itself was brilliant. The start was flawless , the route was beautiful. Running round all the main landmarks in the city centre and starting and finishing at the famous Chester racecourse was superb. Not like some "city" based marathons that start on the edge of the city and never come back !
( Edinburgh!!! )
Having names on numbers is a great idea and really helped especially in the second half as the wheels slowly start to come off.
Drinks stations were perfect , mile markers were accurate and visible.
Supporters and volunteers were brilliant. They make such a difference when they sound like they are enjoying the day too.
The finish turned out to be spot on. I went down the day before to have a bit of a recce and was initially concerned at running on grass and a couple of sharp turns on the race course itself. It was also throwing it down and blowing a gale so I wondered if the last few hundred meters would become a cross country run , but , true to their word , Andy and Chris had indeed booked the weather and at 0500 hours Sunday morning til nearly teatime the rain stayed away and the wind dropped.
It was great to finish in front of a grandstand full of enthusiatic supporters.
Had a brief queue after the finish which I didn't know if it was for goody bags or just official photo's. Turned out is was for photo's which I wasn't bothered about but the volunteers realised it was causing a queue and quickly opened up a path straight through for those who just wanted a goody bag and to be reunited with family and friends.
Great medal , really good running top and goody bag.
I would not change a thing about this race and would encourage all from beginer to elite to sign up for 2012.
There are some small hills notably around 16.5 miles and about 24 miles but if you have trained well I don't think these are of concern.
I have run a few other marathons but apart from the London , Chester is the only marathon I definitely want to do again.
Edinburgh marathon organisers should see how Chester operates , especially around the finish. Perhaps they can learn not to cut corners and costs quite so much !
Well done Andy and Chris ! See you in 2012 ! Thanks.
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: ALAN P
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic Day even though I hit a wall which wasn't on the route!
In full: From the beginning to the end this was a great day.
Great atmosphere - good athletes village - very enthusiastic volunteers - all worked well.
Only suggestion would be to make the mile posts more visible particularly at the beginning as I missed some.
Back next year to run it not just complete it.
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Andrew Essom
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent weekend all round (but less cyclists next year eh!)
In full: Great, organisation, by far one of the best marathons I have completed, and support all the way around, well done.
My only gripe though was the cycling club that weaved in and out of us runners mid way down the field on the narrow country roads, I saw two near misses and one guy fall off (very off putting)
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Gary Wolstencroft
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Superb event. Well done.
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: loveit
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: fantastic and superbly organised.Andy/Chriss & MBNA Team you should be proud.
In full: Fantastic race. Plenty of loos on the way, drinks stations superb and volunteers were so encouraging and friendly and stations. Last mile or so was again fantastic with crowds. Having your name on your bib was again a brilliant idea. Finishing on the racecourse was brilliant. All in all I loved it and will be back again next year (and I got a PB :-) ). Edinburgh Marathon organisers take note - this is how you organise a marathon to perfection!
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: william peter mitchell
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: THERE AIM TO BE ONE OF THE TOP TEN,I think they already are
In full: This is my tenth marathon, and by far the best from start to finish it was great, lots of support from locals, water stations just right,and the finish at the race course was a nice end to a great run, just one very small point, could not seem to find my way out, some exit signs from the finish areas would be good. Well done I will be singing your praises to our club members
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: David Rimington
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The organisers should be proud!
In full: My first marathon, and afterwards i said it would be my only one!! however 24 hours later already thinking about doing another one. If they are as well organised as this with as much support on the course than yesterdays then im game for another!!!
If you choose Chester as your first one then you have made the right choice, from the minute i enetered to the minute i came in at the end, the event was organised like clockwork, really well done to every one involved you should be proud.
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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