St Albans Review Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (397 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Professor Yaffle
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Marvelous marshalling but can't avoid the heat
In full: Some of the best support I've seen round the course from cheery marshalls and drinks stations - who must have been feeling the heat too. But the ten o'clock start meant that the heatwave just wilted us. And the hill at 11 miles was purgatory.
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: martyn roberton
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: hill @ 11!!, no shade, boring views - good water, thanks marshalls
In full: No lollies for me. Didn't enjoy the narrow uneven pavements. Boring views, With the heat this was an all round below par race. Well done to St Johns, the marshalls, the water stops - I agree early start would've helped
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: corredor rapido
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: very very hot...great supporters...nice ice lollies...going round the lake was long...no PB...but im glad i did it!!
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Jennie McGrath
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The heat was incredible but plenty of water stations helped.
In full: A course map (did not get one in pack??) would have been better than the description for those not familiar with the area. No PB achieved but blaming the heat for that one! Fantastic cheery atmosphere at the finish which lifted the spirts. Parking could have been better, did Sainsbury's know we were coming?
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Mark Clay
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Suffered in the heat. Earlier start would have helped a little
In full: It's hard to separate the awful ordeal of running this (let's face it) very undulating course with no shade in crucifying heat from the fact that it was pretty well organised. I could have cried when the guy at the end gave me an ice lolly! Nice touch that. Bless all the marshalls and helpers who turned out, they deserve thanks. But I'm really not going to come back and face that course again in June!
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Gill Gibb
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Very hot indeed, so a 9am start would have been great. Very narrow in places, uneven pavement, hill at 11-12 miles unwelcome and makes for a poorer race. St Johns were great looking after all the dehydrated people.
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: senidM
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: New course a bit dull, hill at 11 really unpleasant in the heat, earlier start please!
In full: Nice run, lovely atmosphere, pity the course is dull and for those who have run the old course the last 2 miles plus hill are a real shock to the system.
Nice to have so many drink stations but an earlier start and more shady course would make this a great run.
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: DuncyBoy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Far too hot but not a lot the orgamisers could do about that.
In full: Start was a bit chaotic. There were supposed to be timing bands but I couldn't see them. Also we hung around listening to some blokes wittering on while we were getting hotter. Once out there and at the end it was very smooth and I liked the finishing area with lots of drinks, lollies etc.
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: A.C
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Earlier start, a shadier more scenic course would make this a better race
In full: Second year at this event and I think it would make sense to move the start time forward to 9.30am to combat the heat. Not a great course either (confined to a pavement) with a comedy loop of a lake in the last mile.
Date of review: June 11, 2006
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2005 race reviewed by: Heathward
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: New course promised for next year
In full: Let's not abuse the word 'dull' in favour of 'snoozing' for the scenery and course. Yet it remains a favourite on the calendar and rightly so: the organization and fun of the event make it much more than just worthwhile, and I strongly recomend the event.
Date of review: December 15, 2005
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