Mizuno Reading Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (129 votes). 2013 race reviewed by: Victoria Chidsey
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great atmosphere, well organised with stadium finish
In full: Despite the horrendous weather this year, the supporters turned out in their masses and the atmosphere was unaffected by the torrential rain! Not a scenic course but great for PB chasers. A special thanks to the marshals for doing a great job in such cold wet conditions. Stadium finish was fabulous as always.
Date of review: March 17, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Martin White 17
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very wet this year, first time I have had to wait for a bag and what was the 1:30 pacer?
In full: Very wet.
Love Reading, have done it for a few years now and will continue to do so. Some small points took the shine off the event for me this year, the bag collection didn't run very smootly for the runners in 6000-8000, 8000+ seemed fine as did other areas. Problem made worse by standing in a puddle with wet feet. Not ideal.
The 1:30 pacer, only one of them and not a pace pair as in other races. Nowhere to be seen at the start (runners should be able to line up behind the pacers and helps promote good use of the starting waves). Then proceeded to sprint past me going at 6:30 mile pace around the 4 ish mile mark.
Date of review: March 17, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Tony N
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Very well organised and supported. Freezing cold and wet,lots of fun, shame about the 1:30 pace maker
In full: Thanks to all who contributed or supported. I have done lots of small half marathons but this was my first big scale event. Organisation was excellent. An absolutely miserable day weather-wise. Very little congestion on the road despite the 14000 runners and really well supported all the way round. Scenery is non existent but the supporter atmosphere more than made up. 2 minor criticisms; not enough space for people to get changed into dry clothes and the second was the pace maker. I was aiming for sub 1:30 and had the 1:30 pacemaker in my sights most of the way round. He ran very uneven splits and I overtook him with 1/2 mile to go and still ended up with 1:31. How does that work? Not the fault of the organisers though.
Date of review: March 17, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: DEBBIE Thompson CPRC
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: excellent just shame about the weather
In full: great marshall, plenty of water stops and energy drinks. wonderful public support even in the worst of the rain. great route.. love doing Reading!
Date of review: March 17, 2013
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2012 race reviewed by: Bob Simmons
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A nice half, early in the year.
In full: This is a good event, especially considering the large number of runners entering. The finish in the stadium is a fantastic finale and the marshalling / organisation is pretty good. The pace-makers are a big plus and I've found them pretty reliable.
The town centre section has good crowds and there are planty of locals providing drinks, jelly babies, cheers and music. The bands were uplifting, as ever especially the underpass drummers.
I had a slowish time this year following a cold a couple of weeks earlier, but at least the bloke in the yellow mankini didn't pass me this year! I'm not a great fan of the dual carriageway stretches in the last couple of miles, but at least there's lots of room.
I'll be back for my forth running of this one next year.
Date of review: October 18, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Claire Powley
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent race, fantastic atmosphere, so many spectators and a real buzz. Will definitely be running it again next year!
Date of review: September 30, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Baldimort
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not the most scenic race but it does have a good race atmosphere.
In full: Worth doing once but I think I will look around for other half marathons rather than re-run this one.
Date of review: September 24, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: DIONNE MACKENZIE-JONES
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My first of many visits to Reading's Half
In full: It was my first half marathon and wow!!
The crowds were bigger than expected, runners and spectators. The atmosphere helped continually smash my expected min/per/mile knocking a good 20-30sec off each mile. Definetely planning to do it again in 2013
Date of review: August 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Nick Veck
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: The finish in the madjeski stadium.... Say no more...
Date of review: May 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: E Smith 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic support throughout and an excellent finish line
Date of review: May 17, 2012
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