Stevenage Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (323 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Becky Alexander
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Great organisation and more easy course
In full: I came on here to say that the organisation today was excellent - thanks fvs. I was worried about collecting my number but there was no queue at the desk. There were loads of marshalls to show us where loos, changing rooms, bag drop etc was - very helpful. Bag drop and goodie bag were very slick in particular. Marshalls on course - fab - i think every one said something encouraging to me so times that by 800 runners they worked hard! Course also attractive - i had been told it was all underpasses but the parks looked great especially in the perfect weather conditions. Lots of wide paths elsewhere. The finish at the track meant it had a good atmosphere too.
Date of review: November 7, 2010
|
|
2010 race reviewed by: Nick_D
| | 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: Enjoyable race, well organised and special note to very encouraging marshalls who are excellent!
Date of review: November 7, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: David Waller 7
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fun race, good route, good facilities, parking a pain
In full: Traffic free but on firm footpaths and cycle paths, so easy running except for a few autumn leaves. Alongside roads for a good portion of the course, but still pleasant enough, and the sections of parkland were stunning in the autumn sun.
Facilities were good; indoor changing made things much more civilised. Parking arangements were a bit of a pain though - probably the least good aspect of the race.
Date of review: November 7, 2010
|
2009 race reviewed by: Katarina DarcyChtaibi
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Cold, wet, windy, tough course but I finished happy :-)
In full: I do not thnk that the weather could have been any worse...soaked to the skin before the race started and I am one for. However due to such a good club I thought I had best turn up. A challenging course (I am pretty useless running in half marathons) but the marshals were thoroughly supportive en route. I was a little embarrassed to finish on the track with the majority already colling down (if they ould get any coller) and watching but the goodies made up for that. I must be mad but I'll be up for the Half again :-)
Date of review: October 6, 2010
|
2009 race reviewed by: JasperCloud
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Thank you Spartans, you should be proud of your event! Julian,Bedford Harriers
Date of review: December 4, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Little Linz
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Wet and wild but strangely enjoyable....
In full: Chose to do this half as part of my build up for a late Nov marathon....so also had to do 50 min run before the race started, which was nice! The course was much better than I had expected and it was great to be able to run on traffic-free paths all the way round. I would echo the previous postings that the marshalls did a fabulous job in really awful conditions. Thanks, particularly to the marshall on the final turn who encouraged me to push hard up the little hill and catch the man up ahead (I did!). Finishing on the track was fun for those of us who don't usually get to run on them! Overall, good race with great support....and very entertaining that the rain stopped just after I had finished!
Date of review: November 9, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Oliver Jones
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: OK race, not the best but not the worst
In full: This is the 2nd year I have run this race. It's not bad, scenery not so great and this year was a total washout weatherwise but it's quite well organised. Medal is not great though.
Date of review: November 9, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Sh@zza
| | 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: Lovely race more than made up for the weather
In full: The shuttle buses were a great touch as I wouldn't have been able to get to this one, and I would have missed out on a good run.
The route was nice enough, if a bit monotonous. Cycle paths great to run on - plenty of space and traffic free. I might be strange but I quite enjoyed the underpassess for a change of pace every now and then. I would have appreciated if the guy who ran just behind me all the way into the wind had done the gentlemanly thing and done his share but maybe thats asking too much!
The most well-marshalled race I've been in, cheers for sticking it out in the rain!
Good value and does what it says on the tin, will be back next year, raining or not.
Date of review: November 8, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Graeme Martin
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: It finally stopped lashing as I finished...
In full: Back to where I grew up so that my slightly infirm Mum could actually see me run. I echo all the previous comments about truly awful weather, fantastic and numerous marshalls and the wind tunnel in the lower part of Fairlands Valley which must have cost me a couple of minutes (still got a PB tho - shows how slow all my previous races were!).
I don't mind the scenery and will certainly be back in 2010.
Date of review: November 7, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Rod Goodwin
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: wet windy but fun
In full: Well I sat in the car park at Barnwell School watching the rain tipping down and thougt "shall I not bother?" Having driven the 90 odd miles from Warwick and seeing the other runners making their way to the start i had no choice but to do it.
To be honest yes it was really heavy rain at the start but even with all the wind not cold.
It was pointless trying to wear my glasses so I carried them in my pocket.
Course wise I reckon it was ok,some people thought it was hilly because of the underpasses and so on but I found it in a way pretty flat,I certainly didn't have that puffed out feeling one sometimes gets at the top of a steep hill.I found the 2 lap method ok and yes the marshalls were brill,I'd rather be running than standing anyday.I was happy with my time of 1.52.28,a guy I spoke to on the way back to the car park said it wasn't a particularly fast course on account of the underpasses etc. Also the strong headwind on one part of the course slowed a lot of people up I guess. All in all a good event which certainly sorted out the Women/Men from the Girls /Boys as someone mentioned earlier,at the end of the day it's only a bit of water!
Date of review: November 4, 2009
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
