Stevenage Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (323 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: claire whittle
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: worth the trip
Date of review: November 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Gertrud Porter
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Excellent race
In full: Really lovely run. I could not fault it.
Date of review: November 6, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: Michael Shipley
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very welcoming race in a good location.
In full: The marshalling was fantastic, very enthusiastic and encouraging. It was exremely well organised. For a beginner, a good introduction into competitive distance running.
Date of review: November 16, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Lieutenant Lucerne
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well organised and well marshalled
In full: The race was very well organised and marshalled. There are quite a few underpasses and twists and turns on the two lap course, but with lots of marshals there was no worrying about where to go. (A special mention for the encouraging marshals at 10.2 and 11 miles.)
The course is a mixture of urban cycle paths and parkland and almost entirely off-road. The first couple of miles of each lap are on a gentle, continuous, but manageable climb. A track finish is always welcome.
I am clearly in a minority, but I prefer a technical t-shirt to a medal.
Date of review: November 9, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: mark castleton 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: November 9, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: JAR
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: good in some areas-average in others
In full: quite a few firsts for me in this race
1st time I have ever got a shuttle bus to the start
1st time I had to queue for chip-number
1st time I have not received a medal for a half-done 8 now?
great PB so not moaning too much
Organisers and marshalling was great though-seemed to have so many marshalls-credit to their club
Date of review: November 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: KatieD
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: An enjoyable race but tarnished by a lack of a medal.
In full: This was my first half marathon and I was looking for a fairly flat course with not too big a field. Apart from the exits from the underpasses this met my requirements. The weather was ideal.
The marshalling was very efficient although I find it annoying when the marshalls call out encouragement to a Spartan runner and ignore you, they should be impartial with their praise and encouragement. There were two very enthusiastic young female marshalls at an underpass towards the end who gave great encouragement even though they must have been standing there for getting on for two hours on my second circuit.
The last section around the track with the finish in sight gave that extra encouragement to put on a final spurt.
I was sure that I had read that all finishers received a medal so I was rather dissappointed to get a t shirt (I already have quite a few technical t shirts), a banana and a bottle of water. Being my first half marathon a medal, however cheap, would have been a nice momento.
Not a perfect race, but pretty good, thanks to all the organisers.
Date of review: November 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: murdel
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% |
In short: Well organised, good marshaling. Quite hilly in places but nothing too severe, nice section through the park, good finish in stadium.
In full:
Date of review: November 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Daniel Starling
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Superbly organised half marathon...but no medal!?
In full: Well this was my first half marathon and I have to say it was a really enjoyable experience. The organisation was first class, especially the coaches from the city centre. I felt the marshalls did a good job, and certainly encouraged me in the final mile or two! Nice scenery, and great weather - and a nice running shirt at the end too. The only downside being a lack of medal. I'm not normally fussed about such things, but to me a half marathon was a real achievement and it would have been nice to mark it with a proper memento - put a dampener on what otherwise was a great morning.
Date of review: November 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Lucas_R
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Enjoyable but could be improved
In full: A very well organised half marathon. The course isn't flat but there are no big hills either. The finish on the athletics track is enjoyable.
Not the most welcoming of races....I got the impression that some of the Fairlands Valley Spartans runners/marshalls seemed to resent the fact that non-club runners were taking part. Also, personally, I would have preferred a medal rather than the T-shirt.
Date of review: November 8, 2010
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