Bristol Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (888 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: tony bayon
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Cobbles and chaos at finish
In full: Cobbles at College Green removed but why does route still take in cobbles along Welshback and other surrounding streets ? It is a dangerous surface surface to run on after 11 miles. After finishing it was chaos trying to get back to College Green as the nearest crossing point was almost at the far end of the city centre. The finish could have been arranged differently to ease this problem. Also Bristol has a fantastic area around the Downs, so why doesn't the route take in this area ?
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: old4speed
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Get rid of the cobbles and sort out the route back to College Green, otherwise spot on!
In full: High cost and chaotic organisation have stopped me doing this local race for the last few years. Was persuaded to try again and was well impressed. Wave start worked a treat, with only a few people trying to get into pens with the wrong colour number. Finish well oganised until you got processed out the end with no idea how to get back across the route to find your family / friends / car / kit. Lots of non-locals wandering rather aimlessly around trying to find a way out. But hats off to Bristol, they listened to what people had to say - now how about those cobbles.........??
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Shaun Chadwick
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised, fanatstic medal, great support. My only gripe is that I measured the course on my garmin to be 13.34 miles. Spoke to a few other finishers at the end who agreed with me.
In full:
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: ANDREW WHEELER 5
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Mu
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Welsh Alex
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A Lesson in How to Organise a Big City Half
In full: :-))
Two wave start was great, easing congestion of previous years. Route was scenic and the best version of the Bristol Half that I have done. Superb crowd support esp for the last few miles as we wound around the city.
:-))
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Melissa Harvey 2
| | 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: great day!
In full: A good run this one. The wave start worked better than than last years squeeze. The goodie bag was better than last years too. All in all a great run, well organised and will be back next year.
A minor query though, i'm sure i read i the info book that the cobbles were not in the run, can you imagine my shock when they were!!
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Stuartrcmc
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A proper City race with good atmosphere and nice scenery.
In full: I was up at 5.00 in the morning to get there from London so I was determined to enjoy this one. I hadn't received a race pack prior to the race but was pleased that the organisers were able to sort this out on the day.
I didn't know Bristol that well but I really enjoyed the course. I guess a lot of people might have been lulled into a false sense of security by the flatness of the first 8 miles. The collection of small uphill stretches near the finish combined with the heat seemed to be finishing off a lot of runners. There was also a lot of support along the route which really helped on a deceptively hot day.
I got round in just over 2 hours. I wanted to go under 2 hours but found the last couple of miles a bit of a struggle. Really enjoyed the event and would recommend it to the uninitiated.
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: tjrunning
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fast course, organisation much improved
In full: Achieved a PB, first time under 1:40 for half marathon. The organisation was much improved over previous years although I would echo concerns over the routes out of the Runners Village, there was no clear route to College Green. The cobbles and hills at about mile 11 were expected (as I live in Bristol) but painful nonetheless, perhaps the organisers could consider an alternative. Otherwise a fast course and well supported.
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: WeV
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Best race I've done
In full: This is my third half of the year, my last being the awful Tewkesbury half. Organisation was brilliant. Parking was easy (got there early). The baggage area worked better than I expected. I was on for a PB up until mile 9 when I hit my wall. Not enough training - no fault of the course. Will probably do it again. The only drawback was trying to get out of the city at the end with all the road closures. It was a nightmare. Probably ok if you know the area.
Date of review: September 15, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: CaesarC
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% |
In short: Generally a very good event and a decent course. Good atmosphere as well. Overall rating would be higher but for a BIG problem in trying to get to College Green to collect my bags - this could have been easily avoided IMO being familiar with the area
In full: I know most of the course well having worked in the area for a long while and jogged along stretches of the course in lunchtimes so few suprises for me, apart the cobbles and hill toward the end were a bit of a shock to the system at the end of a largely gentle course. The atmosphere there was great and there was a buzz around the place before the race and at the finish.
On the whole it was very good and there seemed to be a lot going on as well, however the experience was spoilt for me when it came to trying to get back to College Green to collect my bag (made worse because I was meeting my family after and my prolonged absence caused them some stress as they didn't know the area). To cut a long story short, after wandering around trying to find a way across the course and not being able to find help, I was eventually directed on a long detor along the harbourside before having to double back a fair way. Very frustrating because the long run off after the finish blocked off an easy direct route to College Green, whilst the lack of information and guidance led to a lot of aimless wandering around. I think that a couple of simple measures could have averted this situation.
Date of review: September 14, 2008
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