Fairlands Valley Challenge Multi-Terrain Marathon (Now Incorporating UK Trail Running Championships)  Here's how RW members rated this race (110 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: HENNING Drager 3
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Brilliant scenery. Excellent hills. No distracting mile markers. Great mix of runners and walkers. Fab BBQ at the end.
Date of review: July 21, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Steve Platt
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Running at its best
In full: I love this event. The mix of people, distances, abilities, ages, walkers and runners. The bread pudding at checkpoints. The friendliness and organisation. The path full of eight-feet nettles at 20 miles. Bliss!
Thank you to everyone involved.
(Memo to self for next year: Concentrate! The route description is detailed and accurate, so when it says turn left, turn left - don't carry on for half a mile and then wonder why you're totally lost.)
Date of review: July 21, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Ursula Schulz
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: First trail marathon - amazing race
In full: Not sure what to expect, but this was just wonderful. Great organization, very generous supplies at the checkpoints and finish, wonderful atmosphere and support among the runners. It was really rather nice not to be racing, and that getting an accurate or particularly good time was clearly not an issue. Oh, and the breadpudding: to die for ;o) Definitely on the agenda for next year!
Date of review: July 21, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Ultra Sparkly Bridget
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: It was tough but it was great!
Date of review: July 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: grecian 2000
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: One of the highlights of the marathon calendar
In full: Offroad and following detailed instructions on an unmarked course can seem intimidating. The fear getting lost etc.
I'm no expert at navigation, and my poor abilities in this area have amused many of my running friends. However, the instructions provided for the marathon were obviously prepared by runners for runners. You had to concentrate and avoid the temptation of simply following the runners in front - that way you get alot more satisfaction out of the run, and avoid following runners who were either lost or doing a different distance/route to yourself!
I really enjoyed the scenery today, and reminded my that the clock isn't always the means of assessing how you run an event. I also enjoyed meeting many friendly runners (even the German guy who followed me the whole way plugged into an ipod and didn't say a word over the entire 26.2miles! - but he did thank me at the finish for navigating the route for him!). The checkpoints were well stocked and were manned by enthusiastic and friendly people - it was tempting to sample the renowned bread pudding and spend too much time hanging around chatting.
The finish was efficiently manned, your name ticked off, and a good quality medal and a certificate to mark a good day out. Then enjoying the free barbeque laid on for the competitors at the end.
Thanks to Roger and the team - see you next year!
Date of review: July 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: it wasn't me!
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: nice, friendly, excellent value
Date of review: July 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Sue Coveney
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: For a first time ever on a X Country Marathon .. Brilliant - absolutely brilliant
In full: Anyone considering a X country this is great i thoroughly enjoyed it .. Maps and directions were excellent .. Water stations etc Clockwork efficiency,and very friendly indeed.. Beautiful day and definitely coming back for this one next year.
Date of review: July 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Yorkshire Whippet
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great route with friendly check points. Go on, have a go!
In full: A very well organised race with choice of starting times, choice of distance and choice of burger or sausage at the end. Great scenary and everyone was more than free to run at their own pace. Nothing elitist about this race. If you are looking to do your first 26.2 then this would be a good start. Well done everyone that helped the night before, on the day and to each and every runner and walker.
Date of review: July 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Peter Reed
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Beautiful weather for the race this year - and well organised as always.
Date of review: July 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Oracle
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Lovely course, challenging but beautiful
Date of review: July 20, 2008
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