The PicnicHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (159 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Sc0ut
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Will keep you smiling until the next Picnic in 2013!
In full: A truly wonderful and fantastic race. A huge thank you to Dr Rob and his team. The marshals are without doubt peerless - you made me smile and forget the pain! A massive thanks to my fellow runners, no matter which direction you were headed, whether on your first lap or second, you lifted the spirits of a tired and hurting escapee from an asylum. Jelly babies will no longer evoke childhood memories - just bring to the fore the masochistic tendency to start climbing never ending steps.
Date of review: June 20, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: grecian 2000
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Having now finished, I can say that this marathon is the craziest and most monumentally brilliant out there!
In full: 3rd time that I've completed the Picnic so I must be completely insane. Struggled more this time around possibly due to knowing what we were in for!
The torential downpour was almost biblical, and it felt like we were being warned of what we had let ourselves in for.
The steep and long hill from the start has to be treated with respect, and with a fair amount of walking when you tackle it again on the second lap.
The toughest part of the course though for me is the first set of steps which are 2 miles in on the outward half of each lap, and 2 miles towards the end of each lap on the way back to the start/finish. Its difficult to get in any sort of rhythm when descending and the ascent forced me into a painful and slow walk. The 4th and final set is a relief as you can smell the finish from there.
There are plenty of other challenges which you have to confront including the other set of steps (The Eiger Steps) which you ascend/descend twice - these are more runnable on the descent and the rousing support from the marshals at the foot was a massive boost. You also had to cross the river on submerged stepping stones (very carefully), an out and back up and down the cowfield (no cows this year to stare you out) four times - again with fantastically enthusiatic marshalling, and that treacherouslt slippery and muddy decent to the marshal point at the mid-way point of each lap. In between there are some nice runnable sections but you have to hold back a bit for all the murderously tough sections.
The exhaustion, pain and difficulty were more than offset by the scenery, great camaraderie amongst all the runners (munroers as well as picnicers), the best marshaling that I've experienced, and the glory of completing the marathon. I was seroiusly questioning myself when I hit the many dark moments, but I can only see myself coming back again for more in 2013!
Great bright t-shirt and chunky medal to be worn with pride. The only slight grumble was that the picnic promised at the end was gone by the time I had finished, but otherwise everything else was of the highest order.
Many thanks to Dr Rob and his great team.
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Lorenzo
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Sheer, unbridled madness
In full: Second time on the Picnic for me and it was just as hard as the first time - I'd completely forgotten how tough the Eiger Steps were.
Everything ran like clockwork with fab marshalls and clear signage - even the storm stopped just before the start.
You'd have to be crazy to even think about doing this, but luckily for us, Dr Rob loves putting on races for crazies.
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Arthur Zammit 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: There are marathons and there is the Picnic
In full: They were not kidding when they said uk toughest mthon but sprinting down that hill for the last time was amazing, a must for long distance runners.
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: orange head
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Brain numbingly tough
In full: Even harder than i expected.The steps are murder.On a lighter note ,the marshalls were brilliant and very supportive ..A brilliant race.
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: 2 Beers
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Hardest and the best!
In full: Most certainly the toughest 26 mile race I have run. Excellent organization. Dr Rob has done it again. I agree with all the comments below and if you fancy a bash at a really tough mara then make sure you sign up for this in 2013. The spirit and camaraderie of the runners, marshals and spectators surpasses all others and really needs to be seen to be believed. 5 stars, 10 out of 10 and a massive thumbs up!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: philip blennerhassett
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Brutally hard, but made bearable by the great marshals, wonderful scenery and of course some excellent fellow runners!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: jonathan godfrey 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well organised. Best marshals of any event I've run. It's painful but rewarding.
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Robert Westaway
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Simply put; The Picnic is the best race in Britain
In full: Another stunning race organised by Dr Rob.
This was the second time running this event for me and I managed to knock nearly 40 minutes off my previous time. The Picnic is literally as hard as nails but the 'out and back' (twice!) format helps immensely as you get to encourage (and be encouraged by) the rest of the field. This coupled by the bespoke medal, t-shirt, novelty gift (this time a colour changing mug) and post race picnic make it value for money.
A special mention has to go out to the marshals who are amongst the most encouraging and friendly in any race I've ever run, especially the guy at the top of the Eiger steps, thanks for the kind words.
In conclusion this is one race I'll be back for every year it's run!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: glen hawkins
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: It wouldn;t be Britains hardest without dissapointed DNF's !!
In full: Brave enough to try again......at the moment.. no way on earth! The uttermost respect to those who took part, let alone completed that beast. Thanks to Rick and Paul for getting me to the 16 mile mark! It was just to tough..even to walk!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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