Fairlands Valley Challenge Multi-Terrain Marathon (Now Incorporating UK Trail Running Championships)  Here's how RW members rated this race (110 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: poppysox
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very well organised and friendly event.
In full: Great way to get a long training run in. Very well organised and friendly race. Varied start times are a great idea as you can just go off and run and do your own thing. Instructions were very detailed and helpful (did get lost at the end, but that was not down to the instructions given!). Will be back to do this event again. Thanks to all the FVS who were extremely friendly and supportive and put up with those horrid heavy downpours of rain.
Date of review: July 19, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Tom Hay 11
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Good in parts
In full: I ran the 18-mile option. Route instructions had run out when I registered, and I ended up with Page 1 only, which I realised when I turned the page at Checkpoint 1 and found - a blank! That rather spoiled it for me. On the positive side the checkpoints were friendly and well stocked with drink and food (including bread pud). The finish was an anti-climax, no finish line but I'd long since given up on any sort of reasonable time. Still, the drinks, snacks and BBQ were good - thanks to FV Spartans for laying that on.
Date of review: July 19, 2009
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2008 race reviewed by: Final Mile
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic multi-terrrain event - best run in the calendar!!
In full: A fantastic multi terrain marathon, 18 ,miler or 12 miler, depending on your inclinations. This event is superbly organised, tremendous value for money and has lovely scenery... long may it continue...my favourite event of the year.
Date of review: August 2, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Katrina Gica
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 1st Marathon I've finished and I'll be back
In full: The atmosphere was great it had the feel of a Sunday club run, very friendly runners and walkers. Well organised and a lot of fun I really enjoyed my day
Date of review: July 25, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Lesley Pymm 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Once again, a brilliantly well organised run. Thanks FVS.
In full: The weather was really kind this year, not too hot! The staggered starts meant that I was on my own for more time than usual, but that was fine - I wasn't tempted to follow people who were going the wrong way and who kept overtaking me when they got on course again!! I really enjoy this event every year. Thanks Roger and everyone.
Date of review: July 23, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Sleek Lemur
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Really excellent fun. TRhat navigation can be a challenge !
In full: We really enjoyed this run, but the navigation was too much of a challenge for my girlfriend, who got lost on the 12 miler ! Great organisation and lovely countryside. We'll be back next year and I'll read the map and she can run !
Date of review: July 22, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Wiss
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Scenic, rural run with options for 3 distances. Navigation a challenge for some! Terrain and navigation mean that this is not the same speed as a road race.
In full: Very accessible race with a choice of distances that you can switch between on the day. Ideal for beginners but the challenge of simultaneously running and map reading would give experienced runners something to get their teeth into. Well-stocked checkpoints with drinks and the famous bread pudding. Not for you if you want to get round as fast as possible and beat you PB. This is for the love of running and being outside in the beautiful British countryside. Route and facilities never get crowded because of the staggered starts and multiple distances
Date of review: July 22, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: flanker
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Superb friendly, relaxed event with clear route instructions and great CPs
Date of review: July 22, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Speed Bump
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice informal little trot .
In full: Good mix of runners and walkers doing different distance and things in different ways. Very friendly. Good fun navigating and though me & my comrade went the wrong way a few times, it was entirely avoidable by paying proper attention. The instructions were spot on.
Check points all friendly and well stocked. Very relaxed - no pressure for a time - just treated it like a long run.
Relaxed and fun fun fun.
Well done FVS. Friendly simling faces at Cps and at the end. Lack of finish line doesn't bother me. It's not that sort of race. It's more like the popular Gade Valley Harriers marathon training runs - halfway between that and a more formal race.
Recommended. Thanks FVS.
Date of review: July 21, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Stuep
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great marathon, challenging course, well planned & organised
In full: Thanks to all involved! Excellent day out, beautiful scenery for most of the course and new experience for me of running a course entirely following instructions with no signs/directions set-up along the route. Added an extra dimension to the challenge of running an off-road marathon and added to the sense of achievement at the finish. Also agree with previous comments that it was refreshing to just enjoy the run without the need to focus on a finish time. Great support throughout - plenty of drinks, sweets, biscuits and bread pudding available from friendly marshals. My only gripe, echoing the comments from Cameron Ross from 2007 event was the lack of a clear finish line - in it's absence there was a slight anti-climax at the end after running for 5 hours. This was forgotten fairly quickly though as sat admiring my new medal and munching my way through the delicious BBQ burger!
Date of review: July 21, 2008
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