Isle of Wight Marathon and Half  Here's how RW members rated this race (138 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: paul cameron 5
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Hills broke up the course really well, a bit chaotic at the beginning, but they got round that easily by re-measuring the last bit and adjusting the finish accordingly.
Date of review: February 3, 2009
|
|
2009 race reviewed by: Piers
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Ryde 10 - Nice Hilly Course
In full: This review is on Ryde 10, don't know why it defaults to IOW Marathon. Anyway usually love this course but given that I was under the weather and that the weather was awful meat I had a dreadful day. Ho hum. PS Next year make sure we go up the right hill, the extra climb was not appreciated.
Date of review: February 3, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: michael rix
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: A mixed bag
In full: There have been many runners questioning the length of the course - my Garmin registered 10.01 - which was great as another 200 yards to the finish would have mean't I wouldn't have dipped under the hour. I can understand the problem we all faced with not knowing the start/finish lines as when I proceeded to the start I saw the organisers trying in vain to erect the relevant signage but the wind was so strong it was impossible for them to do so. This personally I can accept as long as the organisers look at ways of learning and improving for coming years.
I agree with the previous entry that there could have been more signage/marshalling as there were two occassions at about 7 miles where I didn't know which way to run and had to 'use the force'!
Thanks to all those marshalls that did turn out though on a horrible day for running.
Date of review: February 3, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Choisty
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Good Course, Good Atmosphere, Poor Organisation
In full: The facilities for changing at the start are OK and much appreciated on a cold and windy day. The organisation at the start was OK, not easy to work out where it was and a mad charge to get there so we could stay out of the wind as long as possible which is not the organisers fault as they started the race on time. The course itself is hilly and challenging especially into a strong wind but enjoyable and keeps your interest throughout. However I was at times running with just one other runner with no one else in sight and on 2 occasions there were turnings un-marshalled, now I inderstand not wanting to marshall on a cold windy sunday morning but a few extra would of been ideal. Once we got to the finish it was chaos the finish line had moved since the warm-up and the finish sign was obsructed making it impossible to work out a true finish time, I picked up a PB by 10secs but I'm not sure it really counts as the course could well be short, which is a dissapointment on probably my most expensive race of the year, if you include the ferry crossing.
Date of review: February 3, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: marathon plodder
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Great course, shame about the finish
In full: The course is great, challenging hills, especially Puckpool hill at 8 miles. Could have done a few more marshalls in places. Main problem was the finish though. It was a disaster, due to being led the wrong way after the start, they moved the finish back along the prom. There was no indication until the sign propped against a tree, which was hidden by various runners and supporters, no funnel and those who ran in along the road to the finish weren't even aware they had finished.
This was a real shame for what is otherwise a great race.
Date of review: February 2, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Richard Guest 4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: a bit windy !!
In full: apart from the uncertainty as to where the start of the race was,and the bracing weather, a good race.
Date of review: February 2, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Islander M
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well marshalled but start and finish poorly arranged, unlucky with the weather
In full: The weather was bad with cold temp and high winds all marshalls were excellent but there were no markers to clearly show the start and when the race started many were surprised as there were no announcements. At the finish there was no line to cross and i saw several people wondering if they had actually finished. Sort out these bits and the race would be a good one. The course has 3 toughish hills start middle and a nasty steep thing at the end otherwise it was reasonable and there were long downhill stretches so a pb is not out of the question - I have to say that having knocked 2 mins off mine!
Date of review: February 2, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Gary McCawley
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough but scenic.
In full: A bitterly cold day didn't stop around 300 competitors turning up to compete in this HRRL race. A scenic but hilly course taking in Ryde,St Helens and Nettlestone. Well done to the marshals for providing support and encoragement on such a cold day. Smooth organisation apart from the confusing finish. It had moved from its original position earlier in the morning. Also well done for publishing the results and photos so quickly.
Date of review: February 1, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Tony Smith 17
| | 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: Great Scenery
In full: Great scenery and "die hard" marshals out in the cold cold winds. Tough but enjoyable and challenging course. A few points that could be improved for next year. The start was early, at least 3 minutes by my watch and a few others around me. I was there 5 mins before so ok, but there were a few people frantically trying to get to the start. I almost went the wrong way at the end, you need a marshal to send you around the duck pond. I had no one to follow as the next runner was quite a bit in front of me. The finish was quite bizarre. I had to ask if I could stop running... The answer I received was yes this is the finish, but there are spectators standing in front of the finish banner.. Maybe ask them to move or move the banner. However overall a nice race and a big thank you to all the marshals and people involved in organising the race.
Date of review: February 1, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Mutters.
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice hilly course, good marshalling. club house a little small for the amount of runners thaat ran this year. Overall organisation was good as normal with the harriers. Finish a complete mash, 10 mile marker was about 200 feet from where it was at th
Date of review: February 1, 2009
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
