BUPA Great South RunHere's how RW members rated this race (813 votes). 2007 race reviewed by: JPM543
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Wind, rain and great support
In full: I live on the outskirts of Portsmouth and it took me 1hr and fifteen minutes to get onto the common. Must be all of a 5 mile trip. Fortunately left as soon as i finished and misssed the traffic - back home and in a warm bath 15 minutes later!
My second attempt a a 'competitive' run after the Chichester Priory 10k earlier in the month and managed a time of 1hr 8 mins. What a feeling turning onto the seafront into the wind knowing that there was the better part of 2 miles straight into it!
The support all the way round was superb - encouragement there when needed
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: mummygon'runnin'
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: This was the longest race I've done...so far, and I ran with a huge grin on my face from beginning until end. I understand now how simportant the supportive crowds and atmosphere are! Well chuffed with my 1hr 22min time!
In full: If you struggled with the traffic, try getting a rail bus! It took me an hour to get from Chichester to Portsmouth, and then I had a gentle warm up walk to the starting area, and a gentle walk back to the station afterwards!
The last two miles were tough due to the wind and rain, but once you reached the last 800metres, the crowds just pushed you home!
Loved the whole experience, and am proud to be 2398th!
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Bob !
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Why did it cost £3 to park?? An hour to get off the common!!
In full: Fantastic race! shame about the travel experience, Early into the Car Park, but a n hour to get out? I thought we were paying for extra marshalling, where were they, then??
As I say fantastic race, excellent support.
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Martyn Hodgson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Awful Weather, Good Crowds
In full: Ran this race with an injury so was not looking fwd to it. The weather was horrible but the "litle miss and mr men" team made us feel welcome. Especially the sandwiches after :-) Hated the last part as could see the people ahead of me even though I had 4 miles to go. 1st time @ 10mile although did the Great Eastern 1/2 marathon 2 weeks ago (weather alot better). 1h42m not bad for injury and weather. Thanks to all supporters!
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: TheRunningLinguist
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Pomp is total pants!
In full: The GSR is where it all started for me - my first big and my first long race. For the past few years it's been a highlight of the racing year. Big race, big atmosphere and I've really enjoyed making a weekend of it - boosting the local economy with a hotel stay; eating out and doing some shopping in town and Gun Wharf.
I had my misgivings when they increased the entries. My concern was the event was going the way of the GNR - all about the profit not the quality of the experience or encouraging people into the sport. The parking charge was evidence of this trend in my eyes (although as a latecomer I didn't have to pay). The GB could have been more generous with more imagination in approaching sponsors.
Actually the race itself was well managed. The wave system seemed to work this year and I found toilets without queues and lovely ladies cleaning between users.
The real problem was the traffic management. It was awful - 2 hours sat in my car trying to clear Portsmouth!!! An hour trying to get to the race start from j12 M275.
I'm not sure if it's the police or city council's fault, but Portsmouth clearly could not cope with the volume of traffic and that was pretty obvious when one of the two agreed to the increase in numbers. (Westonbirt arboretum could show them how it's done, they managed a huge volume of traffic very efficiently when I went a week ago).
I've done this race 5 times now and am unsure if I'll be back again unless the numbers are reduced and the date is brought forward - the weather was so much better when it was at the start of October.
Portsmouth is a great city but I'm beginning to wonder if it's time the race went elsewhere (with better transport). The experience has put me off coming back to the city for quite some time - surely not what the city council wanted.
I thank the people fo Portsmouth for their patience yesterday in having so much traffic chaos descend on them.
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: DeedeeDoodle
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Wet and crowded!!!
In full: Perhaps an increase in numbers too far?? At the start of the white wave - and perhaps for the first few miles there was very little room for people to breath let alone run!! Organisation was good - however, the addition of the helicopter hovering over the crowds made it difficult to hear the tannoy - so many of us chucked our binbags ready for the start only to find out that the start was delayed...
It would've been nice if there was more in the way of places to eat... sat on a coach going home many of us felt the same, cold and hungry!!!
Baggage set up worked well, nice touch to have security on the door - and was nice to have somewhere warm to stretch afterwards!!!
Usual problems with traffic at the exit (and entrance!!) - but it was expected !! I'll probably be back next year - but I think I'll book a hotel!!!
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Bouch
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: I had never run a proper race before. Today I have signed up for 2 more!
In full: I am an absolute beginner to running, and my fitness comes from other sports, but i loved this. Everything about it was brilliant.
After agreeing to run for charity I was slightly sceptical as to whether I'd enjoy it, but the atmosphere on the course was fantastic, with crowd roaring through the city centre and households out on the side streets, banging pots and pans. The organisation was good, I paniced as my chip and number did not arrive through the post (thanks royal mail) as I have moved and had a redirection, but upon finding the info hut all was sorted in a couple of minutes.
To cut a long story short,apart from escaping the city afterwards (2 hours), I enjoyed it and will be back for many years to come.
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: yeti
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Bloomin' hard work but great all the same
In full: As a first-timer to running, this was always going to be a challenge, but at least everyone was in the same boat with the weather. Didn't leave until 3pm as I thought it would be easier to get away later, but it still took 2 hours to get out of Portsmouth - don't know if there's anything that can be done about that, although I would consider a 2nd night in Portsmouth next time (if the hotels reconsider their pricing!) Hope to come back next year and try and beat my time in glorious sunshine! Thanks to all the crowds who ventured out and were fantastic along the round.
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Karen Short 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Loved miles 1-8 and hated 2-10
In full: This was my first attempt at the run and my first try at 10 miles. I loved miles 1-8 but wasn't prepared for the unbelievable wind and rain which felt like nails hitting my face in the last 2 miles!!
Looking forward to next year, fingers crossed for the weather!
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Sophie Ryan
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: great atmosphere - which made up for the freezing weather , and difficulty getting homee! Thee bandss where fantastic and tthe crowds were all aroundd the route cheering you on
Date of review: October 29, 2007
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