Shakespeare MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (815 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Mark Kershaw
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: how could they do that
In full: Imagine you've trained for months. You can't sleep the night before because of nerves. You've checked the website and the weather is bad but race will be on. You've paid £83 for a room. You've queued to get a £6 parking ticket. You get to the start with 5 mins to go and then some joker casually tells you that the race has been cancelled because the course has a few puddles on it! Your chip does not work so you don't get a time or position. You then queue 1 hour to get out of the car park. Would you feel as sick as a parrot because I do?
Bu thanks to the marshalls.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Sean Currie
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Enjoyed the race even though the conditions were terrible. Managed to knock 11 mins off my previous 1/2 marathon time
In full: The decision to cancel the full marathon could have been made a lot sooner although it was probably the correct decision in the end, the conditions werent going to get any better. Excellent marshalling throughout in some very poor conditions on a brighter day it would have been a very excellent run.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: jonathan godfrey 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Wet and windy conditions forcast for at least a week. Never again. Manchester next year. Crowds and marshals good, shame about the decision to cancel the race.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Sarah Wheeler 8
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well done to the marshalls who did supberbly in the rain
In full: I wanted to say well done to the marshalls because it was dreadful weather. Thank you so much for your support.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Jonathan Riches 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Superb effort from the course marshals but event was hampered by poor organisiation.
In full: This was a really tough race this year due to the weather. The marshelling on course was superb. It was wet, wind and very cold, and every marshal had a smile and friendly word to say.
The decision to cancel the full marathon was correct but could have been made earlier. I was however really dissapointed that they ran out of medals, this was due to all runners receiving a half medal. So the only medals left were those displaying the marathon lanyard. The organisers should have arranged for those who would have been running the full marathon to receive this medal so that there were enough half medals to be handed out at the end. You shouldn't have to ask!
Again like others have said, no t-shirt or goody bag.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Michael Green 24
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Runners rose to the weather challenge - organisers didn't quite
In full: Without seeing the condition of the portion of the Greenway that wasn't run on lap two, it's difficult to make definite judgements on the wisdom of cancellation. I respect that it's a difficult decision - personally I'd have appreciated strong advice to just do the half, but still have the option to complete. The website, is after all, full of disclaimers that you run at your own risk, etc etc. The very late and casual announcement was poor, though. Just half an hour earlier and word would have got around, and people who thought they were running a marathon wouldn't have had the awful experience of finding out it was all over. The bad weather was no surprise and contingency plans should have been in place. And at the finish, some space blankets would have been a godsend.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: DavidH
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A big thanks to the marshals
In full: As I was doing the half I was sorry for all the marathoners to hear so late; but I think it was the right decision.
I'm not sure how bad the extra loop might have been but I think over 6 hours is too long to expect the marshals to stand there.
I thought the marshals and the support was great considering the conditions.... everything went smoothly for me and there was a lot of encouragement.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: dan churchill
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Blame the weather
In full: Trained for four months for the full, and was extremely disappointed to have it reduced to a half, but after slogging down the greenway I can understand the concern. For the first 8 miles didn't see the reason for cancelling, but when I saw the finish approaching I was relieved not to have to go round again. Adjusted my plan and ended up running a PB for the half. An earlier call to cancel would have been better, but I appreciate that it was a difficult decision and they were trying to do everything they can to get the race in. I would do this race again, hopefully in better conditions.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: goingabitgrey
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: The organisers should hang their heads in shame.
In full: Firstly may I thank all of the volunteers who lined the route without these people the race could not have gone ahead.
The organisers decision to cancel the full marathon less than 5 minutes before the start was dreadfull, it was the correct decision but it could have been made the much earlier, it was obvious that many runners like myself had dressed for a long afternoon in the cold and rain and we were left with no time change clothing.
The water stations were ineffective with plastic cups, I'm glad I wasn't relying on completing a second lap with only plastic cups to drink out of.
I was lucky enough to run in the first Worcester marathon two weeks ago, it has to be said Worcester made Stratford look like the newcomers to the marathon scene.
I'm very disappointed, next April it will be Worcester for me.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Motters
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: £27 no goody bag or t-shirt and changed on the start line to a half due to weather
In full: First things first. You can't control the weather. 2011 was so hot that some of the stations ran out of water, 2012 was so wet and windy they cancelled the full Mara and changed it to a half on the start line. You can,t control the weather. However, the route is nice but it is two laps. The main problem I have with this race is that £26 for no goody bag or t-shirt is steep to say the least. Other races do it better cheaper and if your not bothered about goodies or t-shirts the long distance walks association events don't come with either and cost about £10. So overall it was o.k but pricey.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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