BUPA Great North RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1517 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Paul Evans 8
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: If Calsberg did Half Marathons....
In full: Faultless organisation and the crowds were superb. Only moan would be being directed a quarter of a mile to the metro station after running 13.1 miles that's not funny! It was very warm and not as flat as anticipated but overall probably the best half I have done. And to top it all I was 6 seconds off a PB and I managed to beat that pesky Ben Fogle! See you all next year!
Date of review: September 24, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Bearsted Plodder
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hot day for time of year and unexpected but very enjoyable and as usual s uperbly well run
Date of review: September 24, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Mattam
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great crowd, fantastic start and finish, lots of people and very hot!
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Mal
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good as ever, but what about those start pens?!!!
In full: This was my 14th running of the GNR so I must enjoy it, or why keep coming back? But having not done it for a year or two, wherever did they get those starting pens from?!!! I went to my allotted pen - proper colour number and everything - well before the published time for the gate to be closed. And then there I stood - outside the pen - along with about 200 others!!! A look up at the big screen showed every entry gate the same! Were the pens too small for the number of runners allocated? Was the stewardship just not up to the job?
When I eventually got in to my pen, runners from the two pens behind were already filing past, and any idea of a good start was gone!
Related to this, are these high barriers actually legal on health & safety grounds? What would happen if one of those runners who did manage to get in had a medical emergency?
I certainly met some who were desparate for the toilet having been penned in for so long.
Sorry, the race organisers need to bring back the old lower barriers!!!!!
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: GY Plodder
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: An unforgetable Experience
In full: The was my first GNR and indeed my first half-marathon so either way the PB potential was high :-) I was aiming for 1:50 and got 1:51, so despite having to dodge people a few place, don't think it greatly affected my time. Only thing which seemed strange was my alloted start 'cage' (F) when the 1:50 pacemaker was in C, I think. Maybe I put 2:50 on the application by accident:-) Will definitely be back next year, if just to experience the crowd. Everything about the event absolutley 1st class.
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Spike sends Love light and peace
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: To quote Tony the Tiger;"It's greeeeaaaaat!"
In full: And for me it just cannot be improved on.Yet again the whole event fromm start to finish was so well organised and managed.My son was a tad annoyed about the late arrivalat the finish of the baggage bus though.He did 1hr 25mins and the buses still took another 20 minutes to get there.
For me though it really cannot be improved on.
To everyone concerned,including those lovely people of Newcastle and South Shields who again lined the streets and supported evry runner,thank you! You are what makes the run great!
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Pamela Bruce
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Paul Fiddler 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: the best half marathon in the world atmosphere is second to none organisation and crowd make it such a special race a must do for every one at least once
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Strictly Running
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great fun, great atmosphere, great crowd, great t-shirt & medal, great organisation and fab weather. Champ'yon!
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Smartly
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Wonderful, really enjoyed it again. Excellent atmosphere before, during & after. Also very pleased to get a PB!!!
Date of review: September 23, 2009
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