Benfleet 15Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (221 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Beverley Clayton
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Muddy but fun!
In full: Wow, the mud was every bit as bad as I had been told. Two miles of sliding around and just trying to keep moving in the thick sticky mud - I just about kept my trainers on but fell over several times. The run back in along the sea wall was tough with heavy soaked trainers and mud everywhere, but a great event with a nice friendly atmostphere and good marshals.
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: northern minstrel
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Stodgy sludge
In full: You will either love it or decide never to return. What's on your feet will be a big factor in your view. I will return but better forearmed (fore-legged really). The hill at mile 5 isn't really worth speaking about as it's over in under a minute, but what follows is most definitely memorable. I gather they call it Hadleigh Downs, no doubt on account of a runner called Hadleigh who lost the will to live hereabouts. A girl behind said loudly and in desperation: "I just want to run" as we slithered and slipped over a couple of miles towards Leigh on Sea. The remainder of teh course from mile 10 is easy going but calls on all the strength of the legs. Finishing is all: a great achievement and enormously satisfying.
Very well organised by the way - I appreciated the double dip at the jelly babies.
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Michael Woodward
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: If you like hard work and lots of puddles of mud, this is for you.
In full: 2nd time I've done this now, and this year was every bit as good as last year.
The course is pretty flat for the most part, although there is a hard climb about 5.5 miles in.
The toughest section covers about 2 miles and is generally thick mud and large boggy, puddles of mud! It's very hard work and you can easily lose lots of time here if you don't watch out.
Once the mud is out the way, you've got about 4.5/5 miles of generally flat ground, albeit a bit boggy in places back to the finish.
If you've overdone it in the downs, the last stretch will go on for ages!
The course is well marshalled and the spectators are always cheering you on.
The only downer is the cold showers at the end, but by then you don't really care. :D
I would definitely recommend you give it a try at least once.
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Liz Wilkinson 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Challenging but great fun!
In full: This is a very hard, challenging race but boy what a great feeling on finishing having battled all that mud.
The marshalls were fantastic - so supporting and cheering - and chatty!!! You were all great - especially the ones at the 3rd water station - you gave me a real boost in continuing.... and the lady marshall in the green wellies who popped up all over the place and was always so encouraging.
Also well done to fellow Liz on completing her first 15 miler - having never done more than 6 miles before. What an achievement!!!
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Running5k
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: This is a three bath race
In full: Didn't find the hill at 5.5 miles as hard as it had been described by the organisers or last year's posts but turn the corner and two miles of mud, some knee deep, leg sapping monsters.
Marshals were so good, encouraging and supportive. Many had run the route the previous day - thanks guys and ladies for all your help and churning the mud up to a nice consistency for us :)
Safe to say this is a hard challenging run and it will take several washes to get clean. Particularly liked the pile of mud soaked trainers left, abandoned on top of one of the refuse bins.
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Delboy1978
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Think im going to be sick.....
In full: toughest run i have done for three years and the longest. that muddy stretch 7-9 was stupid but great fun!!! certainly not a pb actually the worst time i have ever done but didnt do it for that. Marshalls and water stations were excellent..well done and thanks to the volunteers
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: SuperHolmesy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Tough as guts and hugely rewarding
In full: First time for me despite being a local, and definitely won't be my last! miles 7-9 were an absolute killer, but despite losing both my shoes and falling flat on my face several times I had an absolute blast! highly recommended!
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Flat Foo..ted
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: As usual a first class race
In full: Benfleet Running club always excel themselves with this race, the course is challenging but fun with the mud an added bonus. the organisation and marshals on the course are outstanding. Will be back next year for sure.
Date of review: January 23, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: J Byford
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My first non-road race - great fun!
In full: If you don't like mud, don't consider this. If you want a mixture of road, soft and very soft off-road conditions, this is the race for you.
Date of review: February 7, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Chasing my youth
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Mud, glorious mud!
In full: Another great event put on by Benfleet. Great marshalling and plenty of water stations. The jelly babies were welcome around mile 10. I PB'd this year despite the worst mud I've experienced on this run - but that's what makes it fun. Great tea, and some of the largest slices of cake I've seen in a long time.
One minor gripe - some porta-loos would have prevented a massive queue in the gents.
All in all though, a race that Benfleet should rightly be proud to host.
Date of review: February 3, 2010
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