British 10KHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (606 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: ricky evans
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: dont bother
In full: as above, cannot add more
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: MrsNimrod
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Poor organisation, overcrowded, not a race for runners
In full: I would say to anyone looking to do a shorter central London run enter the Bupa 10K instead, I did it last month and the organisation makes this one look amateur. Bupa had phased starts, baggage under cover and secure, fantastic marshalling - all the things this one lacked. I wandered around aimlessly until I found the bag store, very few marshals to ask, poor signage, thought I was near the front until it took 40 mins to get to the start and I realised it looped around, surprised there were not more injuries this race was so packed, with inexperienced slow runners at the front being run over by faster runners - it was a zoo at times, even the water stations left a lot to be desired as there were not enough volunteers to hand out bottles. Seems a bit like they got as much money in as possible and cut corners on organisation. Very suprised to get a PB, probably trod on a few toes in the process though!
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Hilary kelly
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Organisers incompetent beyond belief
In full: Organisers are a nightmare....the list of errors is endless and quit honestly beyond belief. Union jack sports NEVER replied to any of my emails or calls...(even though they over charged me by £50)... Ohh and if you do get through they just hang up on you, CHARMING!!! Disaster pre organisation....race day no better... My bag drop area was ok my sisters was teeming at the seams with bags...seems that had miscalculated....no surprises there. Ran out of medals and had to que for ever for tshirt. Shame on you Union Jack sports.....never again.
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Alison Hodgson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great atmosphere & crowd support, well marshalled.
In full: Yes it was crowded and slow at the start but they did tell you this beforehand. Great crowds throughout despite the rain which I favoured. Beat previous 10k time by 3 mins so well chuffed. If you want a more uninterrupted run make sure you get up front on the start, but I didnt have any probs getting past people. Only grumble was getting my own medal out of a bag myself in the baggage area. Would have been lovely touch to be given it once over the line, as that's what I love to receive once I've done all the hard work. A good mornings work :-)
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: babyhermes
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A scenic and potentially fast route spoilt by poor organisation and having to dodge people the entire way.
In full: The opportunity to run through a traffic-free central London was what lured me and most likely many others to this race, as it really is a chance that apart from the VLM you rarely get.
But very disappointed and really not worth the money, so this was a one-off experience for me.
First of all, calling it a 'race' is a joke in itself. I didn't start too far back in comparison to the entire crowd but was unable to run at my pace for any of course due to constantly having to weave between slower runners and walkers, walking two or three abreast and I was still dodging walkers and people who just stopped suddenly in the middle of the course with 400m to go!! (For once in a race I actually managed a long sprint finish, as usually by this point in a 10k at race pace my legs feel like jelly and feel like throwing up...) The narrow course made even this difficult so for much of the time you were forced to sit in behind people, probably ran an extra 0.5-1k just moving horizontally across course to get in the gaps. So, as other reviews have stated, the lack of a staggered start or at least ordering by predicted race time really lets the race down; as faster runners cannot get into their pace I am sure walkers must have got annoyed by being bumped into constantly. To show the difference - time today was 6.30min over my pb from 3 weeks ago, on a multi terrain course and being less well prepared.
The organisation was pretty bad too, as others have stated - taking half an hour to cross the start line was pretty annoying, especially as last went to the loo at 8 due to the start/baggage bays being a mile away. Consequently was not happy at having to queue 3mins or so for the portaloos mid race (would have done a Paula as that's almost a k's time but with the security probably wouls not have been a great idea.) At the end you had to ask for your medal, and that only after finding the people supposed to be giving them out! Poor excuse for a goody bag too, a £1 off voucher, random sugar satchet(?) green tea satchet and nuts. Didn't make sense to me either.
Obviously, this race will keep drawing in entrants due to the admittedly 'iconic route' (although being busy trying not to crash into people, didn't absorb much of it tbh except Big Ben)but I for certain won't be doing it again.
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Isabelle Miller
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: a great day that i would definitly do again
In full: The race was very enjoyable and the scenery was great! people complained about there being no pens at the start and so abilities were all mixed but the organisers did say they were unable to stagger people at the start, so you cant really complain. you did have to dodge past people at the beginning but it wasnt too bad and got better towards the end. I did a pb on this course and found it quite fast. Along the way stewards were very encouraging and so were the crowds. Everyone got into the spirit of the race. It wasn't too difficult to get your bag at the end but it was a bit harder to get your commemorative tshirt. however, it was very good and i would deffinitly do it again!
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Chigal
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Over priced and poorly organised but great charity fund raiser
In full: It's great to run in London and to help raise money for charity so that's why I'm there.
But it's very expensive!!! I also requested the commemorative t shirt which we were supposed to collect with our bags. No, it was a chaotic affair in a corner. I was waiting but 2 guys started to fight so I thought it best to leave. They can do better but if they won't improve, then consider giving this a miss.
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Gavin G
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Complete fiasco......don't enter!!!
In full: Having done most of the "big" runs in London and some abroad this has to be the worst organised from application to bag pick up. Entry packs didn't turn up, uncovered, non secure bag drop, no graded start point so just a massive queue, near the front but still took 25 mins to cross the start (although Heather Small singing proud and Coldstream guards a nice touch) and then inability to get into any pace, had to dodge and weave the whole way, still overtaking walkers at 6k. Going for around 40 mins and came in at 47mins. 1k walk to get a medal (although some areas ran out) and 20 min queue to get a t-shirt. All this for £50. Do the BUPA 10 k instead organised by the VLM team and a great event.
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: mills303
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good race spoiled by poor organisation, too crowded running on narrow streets and collecting medal/bag at the end was a joke.
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: never_expected
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Dodging others spoiled this race
In full: I have nothing to say that hasn't been said before ... but I love having the opportunity to run on the streets in central London so I'd definitely do this race again!
Date of review: July 8, 2012
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