Stroud Half-Marathon Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (256 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: SGQ
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fairly flat and quick - not enough loos at the start
In full: Entered this to have another bash at getting below 1.40 and then caught a cold in the lead up. Nothing the organisers could do about that, but it meant I struggled round. Seemed pretty well organised, although they definitely need more toilets at the start - I was there about 45 minutes before the start and the queue was already about 20 minutes. Also, a scale on the map showing the car parks would be welcome - I ended up in one 20 minutes walk away, which is OK when walking to the start, but not when walking back tired, cold and wet - and it's uphill. I left my kit in my car as I thought I was a lot closer and would be able to get changed when I got back to it! Well marshalled and I was impressed with the support especially given how hard it rained at some points.
Date of review: October 26, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Stephen Price 7
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: As usual, great event
In full: The wind was a challenge this year but as usual Stroud AC staged a great event. Text message with finish time & position straight after you cross the line. Great marshalling, cones out on the open roads, and good support despite the wind/rain.
Date of review: October 26, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Jan Trocki
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: well organised, great route
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: chris jones 78
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: perfect for this beginner!
In full: My first half marathon, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a man, I had no problems with the loos- nipped in and out of the urinal in seconds...
I thought the organisation was great, marshalls supportive all the way round, as were the enthusiastic crowds. I didn't mind the inclines- gently undulating would be a good description of this course- but wasn't too keen on the wind and unscheduled rain.
Finished in a respectable 1:55:50 and can't wait to do it again...
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Ladyplodder
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: More toilets desperately needed!
In full: Luckily we bumped into friends from our running club at the start who knew the location of some secret loos, otherwise we would have been in the bushes with the other desperate souls! A few portaloos is hopelessly inadequate provision for a race of this size. Otherwise a well organised race, although paper cups would have been so much better as plastic is really hard to drink from when you want to run through the water stations. Having said that, I PB'd so am a happy bunny. Top marks to the crowds for braving the poor weather.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Liza with a z
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fast course, good value, great PB potential
In full: I would agree that the course is undulating (not flat!), but it is pretty fast, as none of the hills are really steep. Even the wind wasn't as bad as I'd feared today (with a couple of exceptions!). PB for me by miles and thought support along the way was great. Admittedly the scenery isn't stunning around the industrial estate but thought it was worth it for the speedy course - anyway how much attention does anyone paying after 10 miles?! Well organised, I thought a medal and t-shirt for £16 was great value. I'd seriously pay an extra couple of pounds for a few more toilets though! Will be back next year.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: rowrex
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: more toilets are needed
In full: I am not a fan of road running at the best but it is ok for a half and reasonably well organised. Long queue for the bags at the end was very chilling - ok the organisers can do nothing about the rain and wind but a few more hands they can do something about. My biggest complaint is the lack of toilets. They asked us to use the toilets provided and not the hedge rows but the queues were so very long, would have missed the start if I had waited. My mate and I used the bushes we had not choice! this was after waiting for 15mins in the queue for the toilets.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: KSW
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: More than one incline!
In full: The race pack talks about only one incline between 6-7 miles, I would argue that there are more than that!
Not enough toilets at the start.
Challenging route and not easy to run round that industrial estate near the end.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Helen Stevens 3
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very disappointing - an OK course spoiled by very poor organisation
In full: I'm sorry to say how disappointing this race was.
The toilet provision was terrible - we ended up using the bushes with the blokes. Don't they know that every runner needs to go (possibly twice!) so half a dozen loos are not enough.
Nice crowds in the town but few marshals, only three drinks stations (with big van parked in narrow country lane!), no goody bag and a long line for my kit bag which I stood in for ages in the wind and rain only to be told that me tent was next door - definitely not enough marshalls.
I'd have put up with the main roads and industrial estate for a good atmosphere but sadly its 'never again' for me.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2008 race reviewed by: Tracey Harvey
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Glad the rain stopped before race.
In full: This was only my second half Marathon, did a PB too, I knocked 15 mins off my previous time, I was really pleased with that. a bit of a disapointment that we had cups at the drink stations, I lost half of my water the only way to drink out of cups is to slow down, with bottles you can drink and run. Running round the industrial estate was a drag it seemed like it took ages to get out of there that seemed the ongest part of the race. T-shirt and medal were great, but a nice chocolate bar or banana would of been gud instead of queing and waiting to get something. Big thanks to all the marshall and the drum band at the industrial estate.
Date of review: November 6, 2008
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