Events

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

In short: Not as good as it used to be
In full: I also got a warning from the cross official - totally understand the point but how racing isn't much fun if you are not allowed to overtake other contestants without risking disqualification.
I and many others thought the mile markers were inaccurate and the race 0.3 miles too long.
Thanks to marshalls who kept smiling through awful conditions.
Date of review: March 9, 2009

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

In short: Apologies, for not taking part in the 1 min silence. Not aware, no clear announcement.
In full: Course and fellow runners excellent, despite the poor conditions. I like many of the reviews would question the organisation with number issuing, distribution of tee shirts and the walk from finish to HQ & then car park. This was my first time at this event and possibly the last. Suggestion to organisers, go to Ashby 20 in two weeks time, see hoe it should be done!
Date of review: March 9, 2009

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Organisation let it down
In full: It's a good course attracting some decent runners, I managed a PB but I'm afraid Glos AC let the runners and the City down. Garmin measured the course 20.20 (even better pb!), Poor instructions (see previous entries) an ineffective megaphone (people talking over the 1 minute's silence as they couldn't hear the instructions, oh, & coincidentally got warned for running more than two abreast). I had the rudest response to an email query that I sent to the race organiser beforehand and gave him the benefit of the doubt - but fellow runners seem to bear testimony to the fact that this could have been better.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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

In short: Excellent pre-marathon warmer-upper
In full: I entered this race simply to have a go at a 20-mile run before taking on a full marathon in April. As far as that objective goes, it was most successful. The race falls at a good point in the Spring schedule and the course is pretty inoffensive, with only a couple of short inclines on each lap.

Negative points: the weather (I don't hold the organisers responsible for that, but it really was quite nasty at times running into a headwind which had gathered speed over the flat broad River Severn!) and the pre-start briefing - I see from the other reviews that there was one minute silence for a runner who died last year, but I wasn't aware of this at the time. Surely the speaker could have used a megaphone for something this important rather than assume he could reach 600 runners in the wind in an open field??

Positives: the course, the spacing of the drinks stations, the collection point for the timing chips being so handy and the use of velcro ankle chips. The results were posted quickly too, which is always a bonus.

A most satisfying day. As it was my first 20M, the PB was duly obtained too!
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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

In short: Good but lonely race, bad weather and indiferent locals
In full: This has been one of the toughest races I've done. Decent ondulations and gorgeous views, but the weather and the loneliness of the reace, music devices not allowed, and the locals who do not seem interested at all, in fact we were warned that there were lots of problems last year with people peeing in public and that therefore the locals don't like runners. I was feeling down at some point, specially when I could not see anybody behind me. Thanks to one of the race officials passing in his bike who told me that there were still plenty of people behind me. That managed to get me through the last 4 miles. Long walk from the fisnish to the HQ and then the car park. I saw the police several times up and down, I thought they were taking care of us, somebody told me at the end they were watching us in case 'we did not behave' to protect the locals who don't like us! Dissapointing. Still an enjoyable course. One thing, my garming marked 20.3 M at the finish....
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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

In short: Good event with what looked like a good entry from many clubs. Great prep for a spring marathon
In full: First 20 miler and impressed. Weather was not great but the event was well organised and the host club ensured all the bases were covere. I'll look to do next year.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: All a bit "Let's get this over and done with for another year"
In full: Friendly when collecting timing chips, but down hill from there really. It might have had something to do with the biting wind, but I got the impression the organisers would rather not have been there. We had to collect our t-shirts from the race HQ, but significant walk from finish to there and then from there to the car park. Race HQ chaotic when I got there (one poor lady had the responsibility of handing out ALL the t shirts) and the announcements of the winners were hard to hear (as were the announcements at the beginning of the race!).Received number in the post a week beforehand, without any indication of which race it was for.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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

In short: Great event, spoilt by one marshall and unlucky with the weather
In full: Glos AC should invest in a megaphone - I'd say at least 30% of the 600(?) field couldn't hear a word at the start-line briefing. Good fairly flat course well signed and organised ... however the marshall who gave out warnings for running more than 2 abreast needs his eyes testing. I totally support the marshalls and the necessary rules but do object to being picked out when there were only 2 of us running together ! I am the least likely runner to cause a problem. Was this an attempt and placate the locals ? Still, it kept us occupied in discussion for a couple of miles though trying to work out what he thought he had seen. Disappointing after-taste though and I did speak with the race director at the end. The rest of the marshalls - terrific and very pleasant banter around the course in awful weather conditions for them.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Weather was poor and there was still a feeling that th e locals did not want us
In full: My number arrived in an envelope with no instructions or details of the race. To obtain these you had to go online. The warnings of local hostility for the race did not provide a pleasant start but this was not the fault of the running club. The new start worked well but would have been difficult had the field been muddier. Marshalls were excellent throughout and the food at the end was excellent value. I feel that this year was an improvement despite the weather.
Date of review: March 8, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Nice race, weather turned it into a bit of an endurance test and sore nipples :-)
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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