Bedford Harriers Oakley 12 & 20Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (458 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Sarah Sazz
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: hills and hoodie
In full: The best marshalls ever! The hills were quite tough but it was a very pretty place to run. More toilets at the start would definitely be appreciated as there were very long queues. The marshalls were fantastic and I now have another Oakley hoodie to wear all year.
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Kaly
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hilly, challenging course but great atmosphere and excellent for marathon training
In full: First time at Oakley and it didn't disappoint. Not so good points: busy at the start - long queues for toilets and baggage and most of the parking was over half a mile away and not particuarly organised, not really a pb course because of the constantly varying terrain.
Good points: lovely countryside, fantastic marshalling (and lots of them), really good atmosphere full of friendly runners, challenging so good marathon prep. I was pretty much destroyed at the end but had a really good day out overall!
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: BAS
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great Marshalling and organisation (even the weather)
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: P Bastow
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: tough hilly race
In full: I enjoyed this race but it is hard and suprisingly hilly. I'm a slow runner (beaten by a banana) but unlike other race you don't feel that organisers are right behind you taking the mile markers as you pass! The marshalls were brilliant throughout and its a very run race.
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Running Katy
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good race, marshalled well,
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: little minx
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: excellent, challenging but not too challenging
In full: this was my second time and my only complaints were there could have been more toilets, and the drinks on course was from cups, so difficult to drink and run at the same time, bottles would be preferable. On the plus side, lovely hoodie, fantastic marshalls, so encouraging. I smashed 10 mins off my last time so very happy.
In answer to Paulrunner, the different colour hoodies are from other years, grey for 2010, navy for 2009
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Paul Runner
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: good training for marathon, hill,y not undulating, hoodie top
In full: good training for everyone doing the VLM and others in the next month or two. good selection of sizes for hoodie and good to pick up before race. why did one person have a completely different colour hoodie to the rest of us? clearly not the first female runner in. very busy in corridor and couldnt work out what queue was for the baggage and what queue was for the toilet. packed in the main hall, not many chairs to cater for majority of runners. plenty of tables for massage anddidnt clog up any areas. majority of supporters cheering runners on, it was noticed that a couple deliberatly turned their heads when runners came by (question, you should support all runners as it doesnt look professional and this inturn could give your club a bad name). didnt know it was gun to chip until the start, could we be told in future so that those of us who need to can move to the front? water stations well stocked, jelly babies at 2 places excellent. good Fetch pants. a good range of runners. scenic run except the estate and not keen on a field finish, thought it was a road race. pick up of baggage was quick and handlers very friendly. thanks to race director, set up people and the supportive faces that stood around for hours cherring us on!
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Helen Cartlidge
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: pretty....tough
In full: seemed well organised about collecting chips/hoodies and thank you for doing extra small ones!!!well marshalled and pretty course.No killer hills but LOADS of minor ones.pyschologically tough to pass the school twice before finishing!I got a pb but only because I have never done a 20 mile race before!
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: raggedstaff
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A great race.
In full: Just wanted to pick out the marshals for special praise: some of the best marshalling I have seen, not just in terms of encouragement and support but handling some tricky traffic crossings efficiently and confidently. Thanks to each and every one of you - much appreciated.
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: shaggy t
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Another excellant year for the famous Oakley twenty.
In full: Year after year this event is a must do in your marathon build up calendar, it has everything you need and is superbly organised, lovely scenic course with a few undulations thrown in to keep it interesting, see you next year.
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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