Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Milton Keynes isn't as dull as people make out...
In full: The positives: Championchip timing, a fast course, very beginner friendly.

Less good: the environmental consequences of using bottled water, several marshals who were not wearing hi-viz vests especially at road crossings, and fellow runners wearing headphones (it is DANGEROUS to you and others in a race that is run on public footpaths and roads). I suppose having Nike as a sponsor doesn't help this either...

It's definitely on my list of races worth doing again though, and I'd recommend it to others.
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: it was OK
In full: The race venue seemed too small to cope with the amount of competitors and there were not enough toilets. It did not help that when queing for the loos the Nike announcer was urging us to go to the start line. I live in MK (unfortunatly)and have been on more scenic training runs. Organisation seemed very good once race underway, loads of good marshalls and people giving out drinks. Chip timing was announced on line end of yesterday however I am pretty annoyed as the results page is not recognising my name so I still don't know my official time.I woul do it again as I am local but it seemed to lack atmosphere.
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Very Enjoyable
In full: Good race and interesting course. More urinals would have helped all round and a little more help for the poor individual girl trying to hand out drinks at the half way point, however very pleased with a quality medal to remember the race in years to come, better than a T-shirt! Oh yes, maybe I'm just getting old but am I the only one who would love to see a marshal actually disqualify a runner for blatantly cheating in front of them?
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Another nice medal
In full: Had felt a bit unwell all week but felt so much better by saturday and decided to run, however l struggled from halfway,just couldn't run well , legs felt heavy , had a mild stitch and then severe stomach cramp with 500m to go had to really dig deep. Marshalls were encouraging and thanks to everyone at the drinks stations. Medal was nice too.
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: PB potential but don't expect a load more for your money
In full: Organisation was okay and most of the marshals were very friendly - one having to take a lot of grief from an irate motorist.
Nice route around the footpaths of MK but a pretty dismal 'memento' ... would have much preferred a bag of crisps, cereal bar and a piece of fruit.
Not impressed by the results service so far. Because of chip timing I would have expected the results to have been published fairly quickly the same day.
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Thank you to the Marshalls
In full: As my first 1/2 marathon race I thoroughly enjoyed it, a great start which kept me slower than the pace I would have done but you can soon make this up after mile 3 when the crowds spread out. The marshalls did a fantastic job and seemed to be putting up with alot of fuss from drivers. Thank you to the helpers at the water stations. A great training run as I will be doing the Edinburgh Marathon in May.
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: good for a pb not not very exciting scenery!
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A good half marathon on a relatively flat course
In full: Continues to be a good event. The number of participants is about right and apart from the first half mile (on wide roads) there isn't too much crowding. The marshals work hard to keep the traffic under control (why are so many drivers so impatient). The route takes in some varied scenery and is generally flat.
There was no goody bag or T shirt, but personally I would rather pay less for a race and go without these (note compare the price of this race with others such as Reading, Bath & Edinburgh).
There is still scope for some improvements, such as starting pens. (Would also be nice if the hump back bridges at over the canal at 11 & 12 miles were flattened out.)

My thanks to those who gave up their time to organise the race.
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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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: Problems of last couple of years now resolved
In full: My third year doing this race, and all 3 of my fastest Half-Marathon times have come from this course.

The chip timing was at the start as well as the end this year, and the start point itself was clearly signed, so the organisers have improved in the main problem areas of the last couple of years.

Value wise, it's not up to the standards of some other races with goody bags and the like, but this is a race I run for a fast time, not what they give you at the end.

Marshals excellent as ever, and the ACF did themselves proud.

Suggestions to the organisers for next year? A 7-8ft tall hi-viz marking of the bollards so they can be seen in a crowd, and pens with estimated race times at the start to try to ease congestion. Neither's critical, but with 4000+ entrants it would just make for a slicker race.
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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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: What a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning :-)
In full: Second time I have done this race and once again I came home with a PB. Could have gone faster but the wind did give me a little headache around mile 9 -12. Well done to the organisers


Ill be back…………………….
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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