EDF Energy Birmingham Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (191 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: mark spagnol
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Sort beginning and end out and we have a winner!
In full: As everyone else has stated the beginning was a nightmare, need to find a new start and organise runners in there appropriate pens. Couldnt believe queueing up to finish but was luky as it only added 40 seconds to my time. If Birmingham wants to be a major running event there needs to be work done but overall thoroughly enjoyable.
Date of review: October 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Broad St Runner
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: What a let down for a local runner
Date of review: October 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Clive Rose
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good venue and atmoshpere, first 4 miles too narrow, shambles at start & finish
In full: As a local I look forward to this run and it's well worth doing. BUT there are major lessons to be learned by the organisers:
1) The 9 am start is too early.
2) The first 4 miles are too narrow for the volume of runners.
3)Track narrowed by approx. half,immediately after the start. Bottleneck caused us to stop.
4)Coloured "time expectaion bands" were mostly ignored (runners guilty) and entry not controlled. Many very slow runners started near the front - a disaster with the narrow city streets.
5)Space blankets and de chipping stations were too close to the finish line. Caused crowding and queuing cross the finish - a big batch of runners times were extended by 10 minutes as a result.
It could be great ! If the organisers want it to grow, just learn from the Great North Run - a superbly organised event.
Date of review: October 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Simon Couchman 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: potential to be great if they sorted out the niggles
In full: I may be looking at the race through rose tinted glasses as i loved the race - but it was my first time in Birmingham, my place of birth, for over a decade.
I was lucky enough to be near the start, but the fraustrated as people pilled into the elite area, including a giant chicken. The first mile was then spent dodging slower runners and probably cost a good minute or so in lost pace.
Once settled though, being near the front allowed for a great, sunny crisp autumns day passing places of my childhood.
I don't remember Brum being so hilly, and the one at 11-10m was a killed which blew any PB chances. Again the finish was OK for me, but by the sounds if it, will definitely need improving for next year.
Perhaps it should start and finish at Cannon Hill park?
Date of review: October 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: sarah odell 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: needs a lot of fine tuning.
In full: As a club runner I feel this one has got to big for it boots. Start was really crowded nobody organinsing the so called pens everybody mixed up. It took me about 3 miles to run in a straight line as weaving past slower runners. The course was not to bad for a city (I done worse) I was one of the lucky ones finished without the queing to get over the finish mat. Some of my club members had to queue for about two minutes to get to the finish mat, not good when you have just run a pb. They either need to cut down the size of entries or reaarange start and finish into larger areas which are organised better and with marshalls that give a dam.
Date of review: October 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Lyndon Bradshaw
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Useless marshals! No organisation at the start or finish.
In full: This was the 3rd time I've run this race but this year the organisation was very poor, the start was poorly organised, there was 2 hour plus runners right at the front and people that were sub 90 min trying to get through from the back, why have different bibs if you can start anywhere. Also running through the market area there was a 2ft metal post right in the path of runners with no warning. Lots of poeple nearly running right into it. There was a marshal stood about 5 metres away just chatting away oblivious! They have also changed the route every year so far, they need to sort a route and stick to it. I live in Birmingham and would have loved to give this race good reviews but it was poor, next year they need some experienced race directors to get this race back on course as it could be so good.
Date of review: October 27, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: RICHARD BURTON 5
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: No Marshalling at the start, then couldn't get over the finish line!
Date of review: October 27, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Sarah Jackman
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Far too crowded on the course and at the start and finish
Date of review: October 27, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Richard Baxter 3
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bad organisation at the end meant i missed clocking below 2 hours despite reaching the finish at 1 hour 59 - the whole point for me doing this was to attempt to break the 2 hours
Date of review: October 27, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Jack Miller
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race and atmosphere, ruined slightly by poor organisation at start and finish
Date of review: October 27, 2010
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