Bristol Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (888 votes). 2007 race reviewed by: grumpyconnemara
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I enjoyed it ... but there's work to be done!
In full: It was a good day. I enhoyed it. But:
start zones a shambles. But, let's face it, surely people should have the sense to put themselves into their correct time zones rather than slavishly follow their (wrong) coloured race numbers? Near the back, the problems didn't seem too bad, not sure what it was like at the front.
Goody bag. Don't know, didn't get one. Let's just not bother, they were rubbish last year and, apparently, rubbish this year.
and it's expensive!!
Good points though - I really liked the course, much better than last year, yes the cobbles in Queen Square were uncomfortable, but the crowds there were fabulous.
Good atmosphere most of the way round, actually.
But, please, please, please stop adding more runners and cater for those you've already got!!
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: John Ford
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Too many cobbles and only a tin of soup!!
In full: What plonker changed last years route to add in almost all of the cobbled streets around the centre of Bristol?? They need shooting!! It's really anoying, as Bristol is a lovely place to run and just because some people at the end of the Portway complained about traffic conjestion last year, the poor runners had to put up with knee jarring cobbles at 10 miles! I live in Bristol so I will always support it, but someone needs to sort out the organisers. No wonder Steve Cram didn't run!
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Steven Cottington
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Needs to step up a gear
In full: Billed as a big race incl GB athletes it is let down by organisation which seems to lack year after year. Aside from all comments to date, start was v.poor blue zone 'time band' was way too wide (1hr-1hr.45mins)& once in it there were many there with wrong colour. Watching at end the marshalls seemed unwilling to stop spectators walking all over the course & I saw many runners unsettled by these people. Finally to the lady & son squirting their water pistols at runners faces - don't! most being hit were more 'shocked' by the unexpected!
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: lowslice
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: soup?
In full: Always enjoyable as it's my local race, but the organisers need to get it right! Didn't get a goodie bag at the end, but probably wasn't worth it for the soup! Please can we have a chocolate bar or something instantly edible next year!!!? Nice T-shirt this year - shame the men didn't get theirs. Sort it out!
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Nick Matthews 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% |
In short: Great Race, Great Crowds, C**P Organisation
In full: Impossible to get to the Long Ashton. Last thing you need on race day is the stress of not being able to park.
Did not get a goody bag, but I think this is a good thing, because what the hell are yo meant to do with a tin of beean soup after running 13m?
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Scotty Boy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: I would do it again but only because I live in Bristol
In full: I think everyone has stated the cobbles so I won’t go into those any further.
My PB for this course is 1 Hour 32 and last year I did it in 1 Hour 36. However I was put in the yellow pen which was tiring as I spent the first couple of miles wasting energy ducking and diving around people that shouldn’t have been there!
I don’t think you can particularly call it a goodie bag! A TIN OF SOUP?!!! What?
The crowds were amazing. I wasn’t out for a PB this year so I managed to soak up their energy. Thanks crowd.
Overall I would run it again but only because its on my doorstep, the organisation hasn’t been that great for the past couple of years.
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Kingdora
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fab race - cobbles so late on?
In full: I cannot fault the organisation of the race- well done organisers. However - at 10-12 miles the cobbles left a lot to be desired - when your legs are so tired. I will definitely be doing it next year though - I'll be prepared for those cobbles next year!
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Annieliz
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: my first half marathon and ended up injured from killer cobbles
In full: I think everything has been said, the words soup and cobbles summing up some pretty poor decision making and organisation. I was given purple number wrongly so went and started in green which is where I belonged and that worked well for me and could thread through slower runners in that section easily enough except for two walkers with linked arms - thought they were going to be disqualified??? Any way enjoyed my first half except for calf injury right on the finish line. Thanks for the ice at the physio tent guys!
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: griffnj9
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Enjoyable fast course with a great atmosphere
In full: Well organised event, shame the marshalls allowed slower runners in the incorrect areas at the start of the race. Could do alot better with the goody bag.
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Jonathan Weedon
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very disappointing in certain areas, but I still enjoyed it
In full: First of all the bad points:
Very congested. I was in the 1:45-2 hours pen and was still getting held up in the last mile. Also had to avoid someone walking at mile 4 - what were they doing so far forward?? I was aiming for 1:45 and when I realised the first mile had taken me 8 1/2 minutes I knew that was out of the equation. Hence the low PB potential.
An 8-10 week delay on the t-shirt is simply not good enough. I booked a holiday for the week after the race and was looking forward to wearing it while I'm away. (Yes, I really am that sad).
Cobbles. Enough said.
A plastic bag with a can of soup in it does NOT constitute a goodie bag. In a quiet moment, would someone please explain that to the organisers.
Early start. Having to get up at 5.30 on a Sunday to travel from Swindon is just not my bag, baby. Having said that, finishing before 11:30 does help avoid the mid-day heat and allow more time for post-race "refreshments".
Personally it was a terrible race for me. I have had a sore hamstring for a while and in the 11th mile it "went". How I managed to hobble the last few miles and still finish in 1:50 is beyond me. I guess that's when you found out what you are made of.
On the plus side: Very nice medal, excellent runners' village and baggage storage, drinks stations, free lucozade and the park and ride went a lot better than I expected. Crowd support was fantastic and I do enjoy these big city events so may well be back again.
Date of review: September 10, 2007
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