Bristol Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (888 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Swift Nick
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fast City Run
In full: The entry fee is more than for smaller events. Like the Bristol 10k this race doesn't have a cosy quaint feel about it. Its more professional and held in a quite a large city. Even so,the route is very flat and wide and if you cant get a PB it wont be the course's fault. Given Bristolian's reserved nature (Im one of them)there was lots of support and cheering along most of the route. I think the organisation and support in terms of toilets/water/sports drink stations and the entrants village (changing/advice/massage facilities) make it value for money. I thought the goody bag was ok, and the Asics T was decent. I should say that one advantage is that there are so many freebies given away in the village. I must have picked up £20 of free drinks/energy bars/gels etc to put in my holdall before the race. Or wait till afterwards, they were giving things away in handfuls!!!!
Date of review: January 10, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: Nathaniel Poolton
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: No atmosphere and poor course
In full: There are a number of problems which need addressing with this course. Firstly the first part of the race along the river on the A4 was to long and there was no support. Secondly not all the course was on road when going through one of the parks I ran on loose gravel, also running on loose paving which was uneven made running fast hard. I suggest removing the part of the course which is run on the loose paving (make the running surface smooth).
Date of review: October 24, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Joe Calzaghe
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Well managed larger crowd event
In full: Not bad. this is my local event that I've now run 10 times. this was one of the better ones, good wave start, plenty of water and lucozade - nasty tasting as it is. I personally didn't find the new route any faster. Quite the opposite in fact, this was my slowest time for about 5 years, thoufgh that's probably as much to do with my training as anything else. The longer loop before he finish at the end was quite tough on the morale, being used to a the shorter old route. I'll still do this again next year, but more becsue it's my local than the quality of event.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Tom Newton 6
| | 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: People should stop being so critical, personal opinion. Fantastic...but with slight faults.
In full: New PB: Anyone can see this race has the potetial for that being pretty flat the whole way around.
Organisation: Fantastic...an example to others. Race information pack was brilliant, told you everything you could ever need to know, and saved us a few disasters on road closures. Race day organisation also worked like clockwork, right from the start pens to the goody bag collection at the finish.
Weather on the day was perfect for the first wave, mabye not so perfect once the sun got up...i dont know.
Once at the finish the organisation was spot on, and the medal and t-shirt are great. Possibly the same cant be said for the goody bag, although the bag was useful to put stuff in post race...that was about its only use.
Everyone seems to be complaining about how expensive the race was, but if you count the free t-shirt, and all the free sports drinks rather than normal water...it really wasnt that expensive.
Support really good at some points, slightly lacking at others for what is a city center race for the last 5 miles or so...
Overall. I will be back next year, need i say more.
Date of review: September 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: ANDREW Brown 49
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great weather and fantastic support. Very nice T-Shirt and Medal
In full: A great half marathon the crowds were fantasic -I would like to say that it was very sad to hear that a fellow runner collapsed and died near to the end, our thoughts go out to his family.
Date of review: September 16, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: chris jones 78
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic organisation- but that's the best thing about it
In full: First of all, like many others I must praise the great organisation and especially the army of volunteers who enable the race to take place. Many people don't realise just what hard work it is to put an event of this size on- so thank you to all those people.
Loved the t-shirt and the medal, but please ditch the pointless 'goody bag'- not worth having it!
The course- given Bristol's topography this is perhaps the only way of doing it. I, however, didn't like it. The long drag up the portway seemed to take forever, and there appear to be longer, harder inclines than there actually are. Also I didn't really like all the twists and turns through the city in the last few miles.
Not a good race for me, a bit too hot and windy, but you can't blame the organisers for that!
Lastly, this event is very expensive, and given the slightly flat atmosphere for a big city race, I wouldn't rush to do it again.
Date of review: September 16, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Rich Warne
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% |
In short: Expensive, tedious boring course along Portway, worst goody back I've ever had
Date of review: September 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Caroline Gasper
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: an interesting, well organised race
In full: I had been reading last years reviews of the race to try to work out the hills etc, basically the first 8 miles were slight inclines/declines along the portway sections of which had a strong head wind, heading back into town the course is a bit winding with a few cobbles and a few short sharp inclines in the last few miles which are a bit energy sapping but overall i really enjoyed this race
Date of review: September 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: PAUL White 44
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great organisation, good route, more cheers from the crowd, please!
In full: Really well organised - all city races should learn from this one. My route planning and running watch both think it's longer than 13.1 miles but a good circuit. Agree with the need for clearer mile markers for the last 2 miles, especially countdown markers. Crowd was fine but nothing on the enthusiasm and support of Reading
Date of review: September 14, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Paul Grinham
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: My first half marathon....now addicted and need to find another!
Date of review: September 14, 2011
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