Events

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

In short: Superb scenic route with some nice hilly bits to make it interesting - plenty of good crowd support this year and top marshalling
Date of review: February 27, 2006

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Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Very scenic and marshalling was very good, other than that a complete shambles.
In full: With no parking provided near the start, a long walk is required after completing the race. The start was a shambles, trying to squeeze over 1000 runners in a narrow street. Clearly some didn't even make it to the start on time. Water stations were diabolical I had to wait on a couple occassions for them to pour the drink in the cup, perhaps some "queue here" signs would help!!!! The approach to the finish was very congested. If a better starting location could be found, this would be a good race. I think TWBC need to level their footpaths as well.
Date of review: February 27, 2006

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

In short: Challenging but scenic route
In full: Really enjoyed the course and the hills weren't as bad as I had been led to believe. Even managed a PB! Was disapointed in the start as got caught in the bottle-neck coming out of the hall and then again on the footpath and missed it by 2 mins, along with loads of other people. Felt sorry for those who might have been in with a chance of a place.
Date of review: February 27, 2006

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

In short: Chaotic start, little support, terrible organisation
In full: The route from the race HQ to the start was awful as all runners had to squeeze through a gap wide enough for one person at a time. I only heard one announcement that the race was starting in 10 minutes, but a lot of people obviously didn't as there were a lot of late starters. There were no time boards at the start which was chaotic and amongst parked cars. Not enough portaloos (8 between 1300 runners?)and hardly any support for the back markers, so not a race for the first timer.
Would probably look for a better organised event next year.
Date of review: February 27, 2006

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

In short: Hilly, would be challenging for beginner
In full: Start was very poorly set out amongst parked cars on a surburban street with no time groups.
Finish was chaotic as well with people wandering onto course, and I finished in 1:35.
Bit in between, the race, was excellent.Bit chilly but very scenic.
Date of review: February 26, 2006

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

In short: Poorly organised start, although the marshalling and organisation around the course was very good.
In full: This was a good challenging course. I will definitely be coming back, although it is advised to arrive early and get out of the sports hall while you can or you will miss the start.
Date of review: February 26, 2006

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

In short: a good run, well organised. I was nervous about 'the hill' but needn't have been. It's not that bad and less 10 minutes...
Date of review: February 26, 2006

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Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:

In short: 2nd half marathon very hilly, i now hate hills awesome race
In full: probably the finest route i have run , challenging with great spectator support
Date of review: February 26, 2006

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

In short: Not an ideal 2nd HM but a really good course
In full: The start was a bit of a shambles - people still making their way up the hill when the klaxon went. Good, tough course through excellent scenery. A few stupid cars trying to overtake runners made for a decent distraction. Excellent marshalling ans good support.
Date of review: February 26, 2006

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Messy and cold
In full: The organisation of this race leaves a lot to be desired. It is clearly held in the wrong place. We are asked to go to a car park from where we get a free coach to the race HQ, but there is no coach back so everyone is faced with a good 20 minute walk after the race. Race HQ is not at the start. The start is a 10 minute walk along a narrow path and up a suburban street full of cars. The cars are allowed across the start line until 5 minutes before the race start. Runners who start to gather behind the start line have to keep moving out of the way of the cars. When the race did start some cars still tried to come through causing significant problems. On the roads themselves the cars are allowed at the same time as the runners with very ineffective marshaling to try and keep people and cars apart. On narrow stretches on road I had to stop twice because of traffic jams with cars. As I am a slow runner I arrived at the finish at 12.40 to find the finish announcer had had enough and gone home and organisers had started to dismantle the finish. I hadn't been informed there was a 2 1/2 hour time limit - a little courtesy and encouragement to the back runners would be appreciated. To cap everything off, there were no bananas, the medal is cheap and nasty and the showers were cold.
On the plus side, the countryside, even when the weather is grey and miserable, is very attractive. The long double hill is tough, but it comes at the right point and gives a sense of achievement. The marshals were friendly and encouraging.
I much prefer the Dartford Half.
Date of review: February 26, 2006

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