mbna Chester Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (442 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: grecian 2000
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fast, flat, but the route was unimaginative.
In full: Any new marathon is good news in my book and the Chester Marathon should be welcomed.
The event was faultlessly organised, and the runners were well looked after in their quest to complete 26.2 miles.
Even the perennial problem of sufficient toilets before the start wasn't an issue at Chester. They seemed to have thought of everything.
My only criticism was the marathon route. A couple of loops around minor roads used up the first 4 miles, then 20 or so miles of Greenway (tarmaced paths on a former railway line) literally taking you on a 10 mile dog-leg! It may have been flat, but it was mentally tough and pretty boring. On thing that normally gets me through the marathon distance is being distracted by your surroundings and the variety of terrain. Today's marathon was punctuated by clusters of supporters to cheer you through but there wasn't much else I'm afraid.
I know that staging a marathon is a fine balance to ensure that the impact of road closures and on Sunday shoppers is minimised, but it would have been fantastic to have route the marathon through the historic city centre and take in the many sights. It may have jeopardised the chance of a PB, but would have made the event so much more memorable.
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: david de livio 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: the most boring race in the world ever!
In full: i know people have said this was great, fantastic etc stc, but alhough it was seemingly organised ok etc,but this was a depressing,completely boring race, running on a cycle path for near 24 miles was depressing, getting abuse from people on bikes wasnt my idea of fun, sorry but this really wasnt a good race and i know i wasnt the only peeved of punter!
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: John Bach
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Scenic it may not be, but a fast/PB course it certainly is. Very well organised and supported
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Midlifecrisis 45
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Brilliant Organisation, great marshalls and drinks station helpers. Great T shirt and goodie bag
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Tom Farrand
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Congratulations to the organisers, 1st class event ran smoothly. PB potential aplenty
In full: As a first-timer, this was a great intro to marathon running. Really smooth organisation, a great course (very flat and fast), some good pockets of support and friendly field all giving it their best. Nice touches like the handshake and congratulations with the medal, the brilliantly friendly marshalls and locals and a decent medal, t-shirt and goody bag. No shortage of drinks on a humid day either - now I've gone the distance, I've learnt a lot about salt/cramping (like many others in the later stages), but that's the nature of this marathon beast I guess. Good stuff from the organisers, thanks a lot
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: HammersFan
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fantastic race that has everything a marathon runner could wish for
In full: Absolutely loved this race. The organisers deserve a pat on the back for this one with superb organisation and attention to the small things that really make a difference.
I entered this race in order to go for a GFA for next year's London so wanted a fast track, bottled drinks (ideally sports), chip timing and any other nice touches I could find. Chester came along and I found a 280mile journey in front of us to get there but so glad we did.
The course is ideal - an old railway track that has been covered over with Tarmac. It is free of traffic and very straight! This is a bit of a negative however in that it is a bit on the boring side. A small point though as the spectators who were dotted around the route gave some much welcomed encouragement. Did any one else also think it was slightly uphill on the way out leading to a thought that it would be nicely downhill on the way back but the reverse happened! It all seemed to have a slight climb!
Drinks stations were very well manned and had the promised mix of sports drinks and water.
The finish was nice at the Rugby Club with the spectators in the grandstand. Showers after and a nice medal and goody bag.
Well done Chester, hope to see you again and hope you get enough ratings so that you get a well deserved mention in the RW Top 50. Thank you.
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Matchstick Man
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised marathon with PB potential
In full: Well organised event, great use of the greenway and traffic free without shutting down loads of roads. Well stocked drinks stations, all the basics ticked from a runners point of view. This is a wonderful, low-key marathon which has much to recommend. No negatives to report.
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Running Rossy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: das_beb
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great support, great organisation, great goody bag, average route.
In full: The organisation was excellent, faultless even. Loads of parking, good signs, happy and plentiful marshalls. Lots of drink stations inc. sports drink at every other station! Good support along the way. The route prevents a 5 out of 5 for me - I thought I'd never get off the ruddy tow path, it seemed to go on forever. Was flat though. It would have been nice to go through Chester itself. Overall though, my first ever marathon (I set a PB...)and I was really impressed. A special mention to the organisers... excellent, excellent job!
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: daftwood
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A new race that feels like it's been around for years
In full: A brand new race organised by people who seem to have thought of everything - loads of drinks, good parking, road closures where need, great finish and a flat course made for a pb. Shame my own performance didn't match!
Date of review: May 31, 2010
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