Events

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Well done to FVS for hosting one of the best marshalled races on the calendar.
Date of review: November 3, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: 2nd lap first please
In full: I wasn't sure what I was doing sheltering, with no success, from the rain in the stands before the race... but that runner spirit stuff gets you going despite the conditions. Another trip down my girlhood memory lane - returning to my home town to run - so each twist and turn of the course held a memory and kept me going. The marshals were fantastic - the poor lady at mile 9 drew the very unlucky straw in my opinion. Thank you to the jelly baby lady at mile 11 and the singing lady on the other side of the underpass going into the valley (mile 5?) AND all the others too. Glad the rain stopped just before I finished as it made the end more bearable! Will be back. Thank you
Date of review: November 3, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Very good and friendly marshalls
In full: Yes it was raining, but then it does in November. The organisation was a great improvement on last year although it would have been easier to post chips and numbers surely. Despite the slightly drab urban setting i quite like the course - no major issue but would have been good to do the longer loop first time round. Thanks very much to everyone who turned up in the pouring rain to make the event work so well
Date of review: November 3, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: As veryone else has said the weather made this race a struggle. Howevere the organisation made up for it. Well done to all concerned
Date of review: November 2, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A benign course which was tough this time
In full: The weather was awful of course, but you take the luck of that when you book to run in advance. I enjoy wet conditions (perverse, I know) but not running into a wind tunnel which this was in parts. I really admire the marshalls for standing there so stoically - much harder than running on a wet day. The course is fine - a PB possibility in good conditions. I agree with another poster who suggested it may be better to do the longer loop through the park on the first lap as it's better for morale. Overall, I enjoyed it, so many thanks to FVS for organising it.
Date of review: November 2, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Magnificent Marshals in abominable race conditions
In full: Well considering how bad it got with cold rain, wet leaves and the wind blowing down bits of the very undulating course - FVS made this race a success with excellent marshals. It looked as if it was going to be a grim old hard slog on the start line and in that respect it didn't disappoint.... well you can only come out mentally stronger from all this....physically your wrecked.
Date of review: November 2, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Terrible weather but organisation seemed fine so no problems.
In full: As all have said, the weather was a bit wet and in the open areas rather blustery. The route isn't the most interesting, with all the underpasses, but its what you'd expect in most mid sized towns. Around the lake might have seemed more scenic but running through the rain made it hard to see that bit. Finishing in the athletic stadium was good, felt like a proper runner. Finally, teh marshalls were fantastic. They had it the worst, just standing in the rain for 2.5 hours. A big thanks. And most important, all three of us got PB's.
Date of review: November 2, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Very well marshalled, especially considering the conditions
Date of review: November 2, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Dunkirk Spirit! As good as it could be in the filthy conditions. Nice fast course. Can't believe posters saying it's hilly...are they Dutch?
In full: Organisation sooo much better than last year. Good spirit shown by all. Marshalling second to none.
Date of review: November 2, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: if you like hills in your training runs you will love this race
In full: Firstly i have to point out that i posted a PB. The official chip time was 1:40:01 which is 6 minutes faster than Maidstone two weeks ago and two minutes faster than my previous best at Hastings.

Some other people to thank were Clare, a runner from Harlow and a man who i know as Virgin Mac man, who i had the pleasure of running with on the 2nd lap and although we did not speak i feel that we helped each other round...

I must also say a big thank you to the marshalls they were brave souls standing in the rain to aid us runners.

This is a good race that works well, i understand the argument of two laps vs an extended one lap using the extensive cycle paths but i like this race and will happily sign up again for next year, and will pray for better weather.
Date of review: November 2, 2009

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