Events

Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		20%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: I got put in the 2hr15mins + category despite predicting a 1:30 finish!! Caused me all sorts of problems habving to start at the back and overtack. Feel I could have been faster than my 1:299 if I was near the front !! Also what's with the soup!?!
Date of review: September 11, 2007

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		20%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: First Time Half in home town!
In full: Yellow my first half! not at my request it wasn't?(purple)
Soup!! A joke.+25p off next purchase!
08:00 Bag bay open(8:25 more like)
Cobbles ahhhhh!
See you all next Year!!!!

Date of review: September 11, 2007

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: If we don't run we lose it, but if we run they won't make it better
In full: The organisers need to LISTEN to the runners, you know the ones that have paid for the event. To sum up this year in one word: SLOPPY. Bristol has an excellent setting, the opportunity to shine and a hardcore of runners who want to make it better.

So please, please, sort out, goody bags, T shirts, race numbers (I have run the last 7 in under 1.45, so why am I at the back), and those cobbles, (we ran around Queens Square for who’s benefit, not the spectators and not the runners), finally the exit from the runners village (more signs and less fencing…)

I live and train in Bristol and find it a wonderful place to run, lets get this across positively. I will always be back as I want to support my local charities and I thank the marshals and supporters for all their effort. Moaning over as a PB of 1:34 this year.

Date of review: September 11, 2007

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: better than last year (which isn't saying much), but still well outdone by smaller back yard events!!
In full: i did this last year and i think i complained about everything. this year the start was better, but a thing could be learnt from Bath for the start. there the time zones were more definitive (ie more time zones) and you could only go in your own time slot.
the route was different to last year and yes the cobbles are not good for the ankles or calves and do nothing for morale at that point of the race, near the beginning you can cope a lot better as fresher. somebody thought it would be a laugh?
the signage for the start left something to be desired and they were too low.
we have a chip mat half way round, why not use this and let people know how long it took to get there and then they can get more out of the run and another talking point.
race results on the day was excellent, but advertise the fact you're going to do it and where the tent is. i found it by accident.
you know when the Council are involved with the crap and stingey goodie bags are given out. the lead charity should donate to the bags and the organisors, if only a mars or couple of biscuits to replenish energy. yes where were the bananas like other years? there are a lot of firms out there who would love to donate, but you have to go to them - don't expect everything to come to you.

as for Bristol being good and big. it is obviously too big for the organisors to cope with and they should think about this. they have 15,000 places, but never have 15,000 running - there must be something in this!!

i am glad i run at a pace that means i am near the front. the organisation and layout at the end needs tweeking and is utter confusion when the masses start rolling in with little direction.
i will do this again as it is normally my charity run for the year, but i need to get the enjoyment and value for money as well - it would be nice to have a T-shirt to show for it. how do you get female shirts only?? no there is no excuse to make that understandable.
well here's to next year and a better race (fingers crossed)
Date of review: September 11, 2007

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Nice Soup
In full: I've had a look at a lot of the comments and the following sum up my thoughts:
1. The course is better than last year with less congestion at the start (but why not close the whole road off?) and lots of support near the end when you need it.
2. Stop trying to make it bigger every year and look after the runners you have by getting the basics right.
3. Excellent support from lucozade and good drink stations as usual.
4. chaotic colour coding for the start - has nothing been learnt over the past few years?
5. 8-10 weeks for the shirt? Are they being hand-woven in Cambodia?
6. I expect more than a can of (very nice) soup in my goody bag. Given that most of the things in these are handouts or subsidised from companies someone is not doing their job.
7. the park and ride should be free, well signposted and with extra buses. The council is happy to take the kudos for the big event and should do more to contribute towards it.

£28 is not value for money. No doubt the organisers will increase the price next year as it is so oversubscribed but they shouldn't consider a price hike until they have addressed the problems encountered by so many runners this year.
Date of review: September 11, 2007

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: When will the organisers ever learn
In full: 2006 was my first half marathon and I was disappointed with the start then. With the amount of people that also pointed this out then this should have meant some better organisation at the start this year. I was lucky to get a good spot in my pen "1hr > Tuesday" finish time. Why was Anchor road only open one side at the start of the course followed by a back street. Surely the start/finish could have been moved a matter of yards to avoid the bottleneck. Didn't even see where to get the goody bags. Plenty of time to organise the t-shirt. There is absolutely no excuse for this. Local press will only pick up the points made by people who were happy & the huge majority of runners let down will no doubt have there views brushed aside. Come on Bristol, Sort out the organisation & stop bleating on about how big an event it is. The potential is huge. I'm a proud Bristol lad but always seem to be embarassed at the organisation for any large event in the area
Date of review: September 11, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Definately better than last year... a much improved course (although the cobbles and inclines at the end hurt!), and marshalling was good. Rubbish goody bag and the late t-shirt is poor. However will do it again as the crowds are great.
Date of review: September 11, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		20%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great course and marshalling but organisation disgraceful
In full: Great course (for beginner/intermed. like me anyway), good atmosphere, good marshalling en route. BUT...
Colour coding of start failed completely. I ran with 6 others all of whom were sent the wrong colour and there were no PA announcements or even signs up to explain. Don't know if there was a late change of plan or just a massive cock-up, but it was totally left to us to either follow or ignore the colour coding and choose an appropriate start zone, so there were very slow people towards the front which could have been very dangerous. This is totally unacceptable.
Also, and much less importantly:
- goody bags pathetic (a can of soup. Er, that's it).
- results not up online till day following promised date.
- t-shirts will arrive '8-10 weeks after race' (how can any conceivable delay take that long??).
- Steve Cram promised but didn't run.

Enjoyed it though after stressful start!!
Date of review: September 11, 2007

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Could do better - like my time!
In full: Living in Bristol, this is one I can't miss. But when you put it next to the GNR (my original home town race) the organistion and goody bag idea are poor. However, as the council have a very large input ot this maybe it's down to budget?

Very few toilets on course but plenty of water and energy drinks let for us back markers this year at least.
Date of review: September 11, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Big improvement on last year but still some way to go!
In full: Much better course than last year with less congestion, I personally didn't mind the cobbles either. Still haven't received my race t-shirt and what was with the soup?!!! That can not constitute a 'goody bag' Where was the banana's or mars bar or anything that you could consume straight after a long race!
I will continue to do this race as it's my home race but the organisation still needs some work.
Excellent support from the crowds
Date of review: September 11, 2007

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