Events

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

In short: needs more water stations,lots of walkers get in the way,very crowded.But good friendly atmosphere.
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: To many walkers who got in the way
In full: Race organisers need to ensure that walkers have separate lanes so that runners cam complete the Great North RUN!!
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: dont knock it til you've tried it
In full: This was my third Great North and I love it. No race has such a fantastic atmosphere. From seeing the RAF parachuting at the start.. to the red arrows...and the comraderie of the runners... Fantastic
Only gripe this year was the water stations... 1st one too far from the start.. and one had ran out !!
Will be there next year
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: cant wait till next year
In full: This was my first ever big running event and 1/2 marathon. I had a great day and felt welcome by other runners. I dont know what happened to the water around water station 4 or 5 but there was none?????
as the name states it is a Great run up north
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: 3rd time for me 1st for son - both had brilliant day - its the first time my son has enjoyed running.
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		20%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: horrible race, too many walkers, too many people
In full: don't do it folks, pick a local small run over this.
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: to many walkers on the course keep out of the way
In full: some thing has got to be done at the start to encourage the walkers to start off on just one side of the road because it spoils the fun for the runners and plodders like me. thoughts are with the families of the four people who died. distressing scenes towards the end of the run.at the start of the run someone came on the tannoy and said on medical advice please dont take water at every water station surely in that heat you need to drink a little water and pour the rest on your bdy to cool down.the crowd were fantastic again.
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great atmosphere but too many cooks in too small a kitchen
In full: My first Great North Run. Very exciting. The atmosphere amongst the runners at the start and from the crowd all the way round was excellent. People handing out drinks, ice lollies, biscuits - very welcoming! Think there should be a drink station before 4.5 miles, maybe at 2.5, long way to run for first top up. Weather was unseasonal and didn't help, but much harder due to numbers of runners. Once you get to 6 miles, you are huddled into two lanes and there's not enough room. You go from free flow to full stop and this doesn't help the legs. I agree there should be a side of the road for walkers, like a slow lane on the motorway. Very sad to hear of the deaths and running passed one poort chap having his chest pumped on the pavement at about 8 miles didn't do my moral any good. Very sad to see. Overall though good organisation
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Too many people!
In full: Too many people took part. Alot of people underestimate the difficulty of completing the course, 4 with sadly fatal consequences. That said it is a great and special event. A pacer from a certain charity holding up a "complete the course in 2 hrs" sign was standing opposite the 5 minute miling pace sign - this is a big problem in the great north run! Was fantastic to see Collingwood with the ashes at the start! Results service seems to be a bit dodgy, mens winner is in 15th position. Wheelchair athletes must have been included with these results!
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Excellent race overall, could be a bit better
In full: This is a great race and i really enjoyed it, 2 points need to be made however.
1) First Water at 4.5 miles is just too late, and I was dehyrated at this point
2) Better start organisation for different speed groups - the first mile is carnage for slow and fast runners - London works far better

Also: I dont understand the fuss about the 4 deaths, considering the size of the field. For events of this size a fatality or 2 is pretty normal. If someone lost their life in a local race it would pass un-noticed, yet 4 at a race 100 times the size is big news ??
Date of review: September 21, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator