BUPA Great South RunHere's how RW members rated this race (813 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Gavlar C
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: fast flat course if you start at the front, otherwise stroll with the flow!
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Simon 12
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good, super quick but pricey
In full: Think most has been said already about this. Well supported quick course but as mentioned a lot of money for a 10m probably due to its commercial appeal being on tv etc.
Although I do agree with a few being in the wrong areas although after a mile I had space and can't really blame the officials if people are a little too optimistic with projected times!
On the plus a big pb by 4 mins! I was flying :)
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Bob Simmons
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A big, fun event over a fab distance - sooooooo many runners!
In full: A great day out, a nice distance but soooooo many runners and sooooo many cars! Despite the significant over-crowding for the first 4 miles, it was a great route, nice and flat and fast. Loved it!
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: biggus_richus
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great experience but wave management needs improvement
In full: I studied at the University of Portsmouth some 20 years ago, so it was a bit of a special race, returning after so long. It's a great course and the support was fantastic; giving it my all for the last two miles along the seafront will stay with me for a long time.
Was really surprised to find people walking after only a mile though, and I was in the middle wave (target 1:30). Similarly, there were people sprinting past for the first five miles or so.
That said, the behaviour and the spirit of the runners was magnificent, and I didn't hear a bad word uttered by anyone (in contrast to some of the attitudes experienced on the London - Brighton bike ride).
I don't know what target times my wave encompassed, but I think the event would benefit from more waves and/or from making an effort to assemble them from fastest to slowest. Maybe a bit of running etiquette could be drilled in?
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Paul Went
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Shame good race but victim of its own success £41 is to much
In full: Hmmm - Shame as this has always been one of my favourite non marathon races. All the grandure of a marathon but only 10m. The course is very good and support fantastic (although less this year with cold wet weather). Very well run race, with some great athletes and celebrities if thats your thing. Great for charities and beginner runners, although I was in the fast paced club runners and still dodging round weekend joggers! Really need to have pens with this number of runners. £41 is a lot of wedge for 10m, with crap T shirt and average medal - some marathons cost that! Will i do it again - I suppose i will do, but seems to be loosing its special feel. It may become a victim of its own success!
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: AristoPJ
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Bust busy busy!!
In full: I started fairly close to the front of the white wave and was surprised at just how quickly I caught up with the orange wave runners. I ran a PB of 1:19:58 despite having to spend a lot of time dodging walkers from 2 miles onwards. There was me thinking I wasn't going to be quick enough for Orange!!
That aside the crowds were spectacular with their support, as were the marshals and St.John's on route.
I feel that this race may become a victim of it's own success as it's getting a little bit busy now! 25,000 entrants! That's a whole lot of people running through the same space!
Finally, to enter the 2013 race it's now £41, that's a whole lot of money to run 10 miles!
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Half Marathon Matt
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Lots of positives but areas to work on
In full: After being billed as one of the biggest 10 milers in the world, it slightly disappointed in some areas, including the layout of the starting area - car park and baggage areas, with the start and 'shopping' area slap in the middle meant lots of jostling. Poor signage as to where anything was - thank heavens for the big flags otherwise i'd never have found the charity area..........
Plus side - great crowds, nice route (pinched in places), good warm up and atmosphere, never felt like there were 20k people there which is probably a good thing (or I'd be saying it was packed!)
Worth it for the experience - for the entry cost there are better city centre races in the country (Inc Bath, Bristol)
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Claire Campbell 6
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great atmosphere but far too expensive!
In full: A good course with huge PB potential if you don't get snarled up in the masses. The support and atmosphere is great, particularly if you are an inexperienced runner. However, £40 entry is just far too much for what you get - no changing or showers, a medal and basic t shirt. For serious runners there are loads of races out there which offer much better value, but having said that this and the other Bupa races provide a platform for an awful lot of money being raised for charity, which obviously has to be a good thing. Undecided if I will do it next year or not.
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Zoe Windsor
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: This was my 6th time in this race, I think there will always be walkers in every wave as this is a race that attracts many different abilities, I do think it is getting exspensive! However it is a local race and I will be back again, marshalls were great on the way round and very encouraging
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Ronald Shearman
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good race but too many walkers and slow runners in wrong "wave"
In full: I enjoyed the race but I spent most of the race having to zigzag past many walkers and slow runners who were in the "white" wave in front of me? I ran in the "green" wave and had to run past hundreds of slow runners and the many walkers, some were walking in the first mile! Very inconsiderate as some were walking in the middle of road. Would definitely not enter in "green" wave again, impossible to get a good time when blocked by so many people obviously in the wrong wave.
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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