Liverpool Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (93 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: ukjules
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Love the course but start and finish organisation / facilities could be better
In full: Second time I've done the Liverpool Half and the wind was far kinder this year than last! Queuing for loo's at beginning was farcicle and meant I didn't cross a very congested start line until about 9:45. I agree with everyone else who has mentioned staggered starting has got to be the way forward if the race is hoping to continue with 7,000 or so runners. That said I really enjoyed the race itself, pleased with my chip time. Queuing at the end to get through the goody bag tent though wasn't good as couldn't move to stretch my knackered legs! And compared to last years really nice white long sleeve T-Shirts, this years luminous orange ones were disappointing, not helped by the time I finished after my delayed start meant there were only XL's left and no bananas :-( These are all just niggles really though as the course and the run itself are great, hope to see some organisational improvements when I return next year.
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: lee Moreton
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Narrow start but plenty to see en route, nice use of the city parks apart from the bollards. Fairly quick course with a pan flat last 3 mile
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Paul Lindley 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Bit of a crowded start but great course and a very enjoyable!
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Paul Evans 8
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Turning into a major race
In full: Third time I have done this, large field and nice city centre start and finish. I didn't experience any of the toilet and start problems because I got there early. There was however a few near misses with bollards and speed humps.
Scenic route it was nice running along the waterfront but not going going into the industrial estate towards the end.
Nice medal at thend and goody bag but rubbish t-shirt.
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Al C
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great course around the impressive city sights and parkland of Liverpool
In full: I'd agree with the comments about organization pre and post race. It was just sheer numbers I suppose with the added complication of major roadworks into the city. Definitely a good idea to park in a centre car park and walk on to the waterfront. Thanks to the Hilton Hotel for the use of their loos for me and a lot of runners - better than a porterloo!
I was disapointed that I couldn't get to the 2 hour pacer because of the crush at the start. Had to get past spectators and around barriers to join in with the race. Next time I'll set off earlier!
Improved on my last half time by 13 mins though.
Great atmosphere, loved the tshirt and medal and thanks to all the marshalls, organizers and spectators who really helped me along.
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Stillwaters
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: First Liverpool HM but it won't be my last
In full: Thoroughly enjoyed it - yes there were toilet issues and the start being narrow, but if you look on the forum the organisers had already come to the same conclusion and it will be addressed next year.
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Neil Robinson 17
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Decent race, but start/finish area needs a change.
In full: This was my third in a row at this event and i always enjoy it, but this year i felt the starting area was abit of a mess. With even more runners this year there should be starting pens. Also found the finish area bottlenecked when receiving my goody bag,but overall i really enjoyed this run and especally my massage at the end.
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: cybarev
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great Race, Poor atmosphere.
In full: Second time I've run this race. THis time was a lot larger.
Really enjoyed it but atmosphere at Start/Finish and enroute was poor. Would have liked some bands playing or music pumping through a PA system.
How about getting some community groups involved now it is so much bigger?
No probs with organisation. All felt very smooth to me.
Thanks for organising it. Not made up my mind about the big one yet!!
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Robin Mark Schols
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fine once we got going
In full: Wanted to combine this with visiting old friends and enjoyed the day. Some people were a little terse at the start and this was not helped by the RW pacers not taking their places until 5 minutes before the actual start, meaning thos wishing to use them for pacing had to ask people to let them through and some were less than obliging about doing so, which didn't make for a great start. I thought the start was far too cramped and the queues for the loos were positively yellow brick road like! Other than that, enjoyed the run and the parks and the promenade and smashed my pb by 12 minutes!! Great medal but would have liked a better shirt. Ah well, a great experience nonetheless.
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: boothy 4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: fast course but lack of atmosphere and organisation
In full: this is my 3rd yr of running this. I bust my knee 12 months ago and ive not run since, literally not even a training run,so after piling on 4 stone and no training whatsoever i never even expected to complete it! However,i got round with my mate and was helped round with the very friendly runners :) Like i said,the course is quick, nice scenery coming down the prom and through sefton park. However this yr i was a little disappointed. Major roadworks on edge lane coming into the city meant a lot of us arriving bang on time or late meaning no time to warm up. Maybe those of us not from liverpool couldve been pre warned. Then when we got to the start,it was chaos with people queueing everywhere for loos,trying to get in the very compact starting pen and also the spectators all getting mixed in. Hopefully with the race getting ever more popular this can be addressed and sorted for next yr. Another gripe i had was the lack of spectators on the course,there seems to be less and less every yr and this yr the weather was very nice. My final moan is the goody bag,i know for some reason we werent supposed to get 1 this yr,but after receiving it,i just didnt see the point in it.
I know it sounds like im doing a lot of moaning but the issues im bringing up are ones that can be tweaked and sorted for nxt yr(obviously the spectator one we cant sort). The medal was fantastic this yr and the spectators at the finish were superb and the stewards over the last couple of miles were very encouraging :)
Hopefully for next yr with all the extra runners we should surely start in pens now with regards to your estimated time just like they do in most other big races around the country and hopefully bring back the decent goodybag
Thankyou to all the friendly runners,volunteers,spectators and Alan and Yvonne,hopefully back next yr
Date of review: March 28, 2011
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