Shakespeare MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (815 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: James Ferrar
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Scenic course in good location - but bad weather damaged the atmosphere!
Date of review: May 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: matt griffiths 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: no medal
In full: all that running in the crappy weather and all for nothing!! thanks guy's. your grrrrreat
Date of review: May 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Ed_Zep
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Mixed Feelings
In full: We all knew the weather would be bad but I didn't think it would be *that* awful. Was more like February.
Atmosphere was very good. A lot of friendly people there and I can imagine on a sunny day it would be a wonderful race.
I only found out the cancellation of the full marathon because I was quite near the loudspeaker. I can imagine that a lot of people would not have heard it.
I think they made the right decision and if they'd have cancelled it the day before it could have been a worse mistake.
My only grumble really was about the finish, which was congested unnecessarily. I was lucky enough to get a medal but where was the goody bag? Pretty expensive race, so not amused by that.
Don't know if I'll run this again but a big thank you to the marshals, people at the water stations and crowds who supported the runners.
Date of review: May 3, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Nick Coleman 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice, but...
In full: Big thanks to the marshals- truly astonishing weather and they must have been out in it for 5+ hours. Worth bearing in mind that the decision to cancel the full and just run the half is only partly about the runners but also about the marshals et al who have to stay out there.
That said organisation needs improvment- from past reviews appears fine until they have to deal with something like the atrocious weather on this occasion.
To some extent I don't mind a limited goody bag- I know this when I choose to race, but a shame that the year is not on the medal.
Date of review: May 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Gesp
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great Event in very difficult circumstances
In full: I think negative comments are unfair and sometimes reflect lack of knowledge of the course. All the runners at the end seemed to accept the sense of the decision. Very difficult to make that decision earlier. Marshalls were great as were supporters who both really made an effort in terrible conditions. We need to move way from a blame culture if we are to retain our integrity and dignity.
Date of review: May 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Gavo
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Weather was poor - organisation was worse
In full: OK, so all reviewers have probably mentioned the cancellation of the full mara. I'm not sure if it was because of the weather or the surface of the Greenway (and if it's good enough for the half then why not good enough for the full?). Communication at the start was feeble - many of us did not know that the race was cancelled until we were well into it.
Other than that though, the organisers could - and should - make some changes next year
- the path on the road in the final mile was too narrow to allow much overtaking and those of us who wanted to do the full were still full of energy
- where was the risk management on the course? The weather had been predicted for days and they failed to provide alternatives.
Marathons are supposed to be challenges for most of us - they should have treated us like adults and allowed us to do the full at our own risk.
Date of review: May 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Victoria Gibbs 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice route, some basic organisational errors
In full: I was due to run the half and not the full. HOwever I would not come back to do the full in future, only the half. The main reason for this is that I would probably die of hyponatraemia or dehydration in a full marathon in hot weather with NO isotonic fluids and mostly plastic cups of water to keep you going. Just dangerous. I brought an isotonic drink with me for the half and despite the driving rain, really was thankful for it.
My other main issue was that on the website it advertised the Cadet Hut as a place to store bags. When I got there (ignoring the misery of the wind and rain and mud!) i squelched about and couldn't find a cadet hut (it wasn't marked on the map on the website) so squelched again over to the information desk and the woman told me bags can be left at the changing rooms at the boat club!! So i squelched to the boat club, soaked through, and the changing room was tiny, and not secure, and other runners were leaving bags with their purses etc in there as they had no choice! This was a terrible start.
The route itself was pleasant, a couple of hills rewarded with long downhill sections. The greenway would be a nice flat end to the half in normal weather, unfortunately on this day was very exposed with an insane headwind that made even the hardiest of runners walk.
No banana or medal at the finish was a shame, but I survived ;)
Date of review: May 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Charles Weigand
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Poor organisation at the end.
In full: We are club runners, with moderate experience, in our mid-sixties, running the half. The organisers were not responsible for the weather, but they were responsible for the very congested last mile which meant overtaking was almost impossible, the lack of bananas and water at the end, the fact we had to seek out our medals and chip removal, the fact that the tea tent was full of non-runners so we could have no warming drink after being out there for 2hrs 20 mins or so. We have great sympathy for the runners who came in after us as the green way was atrocious. We also think the marshalls were valiant. We will never again enter a run organised by non- runners.
Date of review: May 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: robert gillan 3
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: |
In full: we done the full monty in milton keynes in the same conditions.
Date of review: May 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Mark Bonham-Carter
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Plastic water cups are just rubbish....
In full: Nice weather wasnt it.....!!!
Anyway, can you please get rid of water cups and sponges on the course. Complete complete complete waste of time. Bottled water is much better.
Big thanks to the Marshalls. Seriously, that rain and wind was just crazy, so thanks for sticking with us.
Organisers, well, take heed to the comments below. Raise your game....
Date of review: April 30, 2012
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