Marlow Half Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (427 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Shellbo
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Dem hills don't get any flatter !!
In full: My fourth year in a row at Marlow and one of the most satisfying races on the calendar - mainly knowing that you've tamed the beast of a course.
Marshalls were excellent and the whole event ran like clockwork. Great technical t-shirt at the end too.
Recommend to anyone who wants to run a hard but well organised enjoyable event. No negatives at all (apart from my Calves and Thighs which are still killing me on two days later).
See you next year.
Date of review: November 8, 2011
|
|
2011 race reviewed by: simonjnewton
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
Date of review: November 7, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Keith Wilson 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Another fantastic Half, with ideal weather for a change
In full: 8th time running this and once again appeals to the masochistic tendencies with the monster hills at 8 & 11. But great atmosphere and organisation and the lovely downhill last mile or so. Need to add a few portaloos please as the indoor ones got 'blocked' and bring back the photographer. No doubt be back next year.
Date of review: November 7, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Montythemole
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A well organised half, with great scenery and some hills for challenge.
In full: Ran this as my third ever half, and final event before my first Marathon at Luton two weeks after. I thought the event was very well organised and thanks to the countless marshalls etc helping.
Coming from Milton Keynes I struggled with hills, especially the downhills where I just have to idea how to descend with pace or grace and was painful on the knees, but it's all good practice.
Refreshments were water only, but no big issue. The route is very scenic and on the crisp morning it was beautiful, but I imagine had it poured the whole race it would be far less uplifting.
Start area was pretty good but toilets a little lacking (seems the same with every race though).
A good mix of runners, most of a fair speed (vast bulk were under 2hs) unlike some of the bigger events I've been to.
Was aiming for 10min miles as practice for a 'hoped' marathon pace and ended up bang on that at 2h10m. Probably could have managed nearer 1h50m had I gone for it, but hills would have prevented much faster.
Would recommend it!
Date of review: November 7, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: N Pai
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Challenging hills, lovely scenery...would do it again
Date of review: November 7, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Sticky Whippet
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Great race, fantastic scenery, but extremely challenging
In full: I will always do this race as it's a great challenge and it has wonderful scenery and a great atmosphere. A few small niggles: baggage storage not supervised or organised - my fleece was lost. Only a T-shirt at the end - no goody bag or medal. And could water stations be going up the hills rather than down them or on the flat when you don't want to stop to walk for water after you have walked a bit going up the hill
Date of review: November 6, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Andrew R
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A fantastic course with some tough climbs and some tricky downhills! Marshals superb
In full: I loved this race. It is hard but every uphill has a downhill and the last few miles are very fast. My average split around the course was 8.5 minutes. My thirteenth mile was done in 06:54 (I had made sure I had some energy saved for that last sprint). The marshals must be on some sort of happy juice. They all cheered and shouted encouragement as we went round. It made a big difference on this quiet rural course. The autumn colours and kind weather made this a perfect run.
Date of review: November 6, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Mo's Mentor.
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The only race that I've run where the down hills are worse than the ups!..
In full: I paid for the 'suicidal' down hills again and even had someone try and stop me from almost falling down them, but decided to press on. Oww!, by 9 miles my calves were strained and had to resort to a hobble. Luckily I managed a sprint finish and ran 5 minutes quicker this year!.. You never know what is going to happen in a race.
I thoroughly recommend 'The Marlow' though still, especially with the ideal conditions we had today. The strength sapping hills are fun to run with the lovely scenery in the country-side, so have scored this race highly.
Date of review: November 6, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: woody 40
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: really enjoyable coarse, some challenging hills
In full: lovely coarse, great conditions, add a medal and get a couple of portaloo's and you,ve got a top race. -)
Date of review: November 6, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Tony N
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Thanks for another super half marathon
In full: As ever, this is a fantastic race. Glorious scenery, two very tough hills at mile 8 and 11 and excellent organisation. The race I always look forward to each year, thank you Marlow Striders and all marshalls and helpers
Date of review: November 6, 2011
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
