Berkhamsted Half-Marathon Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (532 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Peter Hern
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Scenic, hilly and tougher than Watford Half
In full: Paid £2.50 to park in Railway CP. Race start delayed due to queues at toilets (so provide more next year please). Well stewarded but a cycle club travelling in the opposite direction at breakneck speed downhill was scary and some motorists seemed to enjoy forcing their way through the runners. Fantastic support at finish with spectators and runners cheering and clapping. No goody bag or refreshemnts though. Would have preferred coffee mug or T shirt to medal. Stewards did well in helping the traffic out of the area afterwards.
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Damian Keen
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Steep in more ways than one
In full: Fantastic scenery, and steep hills make for a challenging but rewarding run. A couple of quibbles though. For £17 I'd like to see a goody bag, or energy drinks on the way round perhaps, and there could have been more toilets at the start/finish.
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: David Moritz 2
| | 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: Great weather and a new PB! Happy Days
In full: Although this race is renowned for it's hills, having trained in Brighton for four years and doing the Beachy Head Half Marathon, I wasn't too put off, however hilly it certainly was. The scenery was fantastic, the weather immense, a PB of 87 mins - what more could I ask for?
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Boggle
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Feels like an achievement every time
In full: That last hill is never easy - which makes the last mile down feel great. Slight negative: it's crowded for the first mile - the field has multiplied by 3 since I first did this. Also I gave up on the freezing water in flimsy cups a long time ago, and carry my own drink.
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Ian Rix 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great scenery. Nice local feel
In full: Lovely views, nice course with enough to keep you occupied and plenty of downhills especially towards the end which should make for some PB potential. Nice local feel to the run and I think the Rotary club did a great job of organising things. Just the right amount of people to make it feel like a real event without being overcrowded. Will be back next year for some more of the same
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Nick_D
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very enjoyable race on a lovely Spring day
In full: I really enjoyed this race and thought organisation was pretty good. Never been to Berkhamsted before but I found parking easy enough. Race pretty much started on time (can't believe someone moaned because of a 3 minute delay), marshalling very good and a nice smattering of friendly local support. Challenging course but plenty of downhill to recover from uphill climbs and still make good times possible. Personally I didn't run as well as I could so will be back another year to give this a better go.
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Claire Newman 4
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A good race, a few challenging hills but the downhill section made up for it
In full: A good race, a few challenging hills but the downhill section made up for it, especially the final downhill mile. It would have been good to see a topographical profile of the race.
Scenery was great, and organisation good.
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Anthony Vaz
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Love the race, but where were the bananas?
In full: This is the third time I have run this race (and my worst result - though thats entirely down to me). I think it is a great course, really challenging, and it always seems to have the friendliest fellow runners, very encouraging.
This year though I felt there must have been a lack of upfront money perhaps? Did the credit crunch crunch all banana's before anyone finished?
I've never been that fussed about goodie bags, but a banana at the end of a half marathon is something I really look forward to from about 4 miles to go
Maybe next year they'll bring them back!!
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Debbie Wenman 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Lovely race but what happened to the prize giving? Waited until 1.00 pm and gave up as were getting cold. Nobody informed us what was happening.
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Duncan Hedley
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough!
Date of review: March 2, 2009
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