Ufdance Runners' Quest Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (199 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: robert taylor 9
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: super friendly, great support from marshalls, very smooth
Date of review: August 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Gavlar C
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised and cheerful event
In full: This is a flat 6 lap race with some pleasant scenery by the Grand Union Canal. Plenty of runners with varying ability. It could do with Chip Timing as many people and you know who you are! did less than 6 laps but were recorded as completing the course.
Date of review: August 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Graham Robins 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: fantastisc,fantastic,fantastic great day out
In full: great race,fantastic organisation,many thanks to all the people,marshalls who turned out to make this a great race,amazing fun many thanks guys hopefully see u next year, graham robins
Date of review: August 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: questforspeed
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great first half-mara choice for beginners with something for 1:15 runners too.
In full: A superbly well organised and friendly event with high-energy snacks being handed out before the start, an upbeat collective warm-up and goody bags, medals and ceftificates for all at the end. 6 lap course may be repetitive for some but or me it has enough twists and turns to maintain interest throughout. Family spectators had a good time too. Winners came in at 1:15 (m) and 1:22 (f) but there were a few runners bravely battling it out towards the 3 hour mark with plenty of friendly support from race marshals and other participants. Upbeat live African drumming provided a welcome backdrop and audible lap marker!
Date of review: August 7, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: jdw2000
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: It's OK. But the mementos at the end are a bit insulting after a 1/2 marathon.
In full: The organisers seemed nice enough. But the course is 6 laps, and that's quite annoying.
The medal I received at the end is by far and away the cheapest looking in my collection. And the bagel and orange it came with were scant reward for completing a 1/2 marathon.
Contacting sponsors and organising a proper goody bag would be a good idea. Or spending a little more on the medals, because they are important to some people.
If I do this race again it will be because it's local to me, and not because it's anything special.
Date of review: July 19, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: BouncyBunny
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Quiet local race
In full: Pros
Nice route, pretty and quiet.
Some lovely marshalls. One lady called my name (by looking u my number) on every lap.
Nice T
Good weather (bit hot) nice shady parts of routes.
Cons
Would the man who kept bugging us about it being the right distance please be quiet?! I just wanted to enjoy my race and was asked 3 times by the guy about 'was it 13.1?' and kept hearing him shouting to ask people and making extra annoucements about it. Yes, I got 13.1 on my garmin, leave me alone!
The start line was non-existant. I'm 5 foot and started at the back... wasn;t quite sure when to start my garmin as it was just a sort of crowd 'go'.
One marshall was rude when I didn't want water and kept stepping in to my path trying to shove a cup on me, I stumbled and almost tripped. I know my own hydration thanks.
When we finished, I was looking forward to chilling in the park. I got up and left sharpish as the poundingly loud reggee music was not exactly post-run relax music.
The guy who did the warm-up?! Do I really need to learn a new handshake? Do I care you were on gladiators a million years ago? All my legs did was march a bit, my arms got warmed up more.
No medal on finish - had to go and collect it from a table. I like my moment of pride having someone put the medal on me.
Date of review: October 3, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: ben parker 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Flat and fast but a 5 laps of a park is a bit dull
Date of review: September 14, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Row Runner
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In full: Quite friendly, quite good crowd support
The race started about 7 mins late. That's not a long delay but it's just a bit annoying when you are preparing yourself for a race.
Race entry was £20 which is about average. I do look for value for money though so I would have expected the toilet situation to be better - only 3 for about 350 competitors which resulted in long queues.
The warm up could be improved. I dont expect medical advice etc but a few good basic stretches would've been good, particularly for beginners.
All in all, it was above average and I would do it again.
Date of review: September 7, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: vishal sah 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Excellent Event
In full: I went through all the comments and don't really understand why people are making such a big deal about starting a few minutes late. Can't really comment about the distance though; since I completed it in my expected time I would not think that it was short.
My only minor complaint is that there were limited toilets and I had to queue up for half an hour but we had received an email about the available facilities so no surprises here.
I would happily gloss over all this since all other things more than compensated for these minor irritants. Running multiple laps does have a big advantage that effectively you have water stations every 1.8 kms, a big plus for beginners. Wonder how many races can claim this! Shaded path along the course also helps.
Marshals were at their best and kept the tempo going. Food packet at the end was great.
My family quite enjoyed the atmosphere and this has encouraged me to do this event next year. Overall I would rate this event as Excellent and would encourage first-timers to consider this as their first choice.
Date of review: August 27, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Siobhan Delany 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well supported by the marshalls and peaceful route.
In full: A small race with approx 300 entrants. Well organised and supported by marshalls. Easy route (although you do need to get your head around doing 6 laps of same route). A medal, certificate, bagel and jam are a nice reward at the end! Would def do it again!!
Date of review: August 26, 2010
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