Quintiles Bracknell Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (260 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Judith Oak
 | | 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: My home race, not the prettiest but great atmosphere and fabulous support all the way round. Smashed my target time so very pleased!
In full: This is a great race for all standards. Mostly flat but some killer long slopes (not really hills) half way through! Dig in and don't look ahead and you'll do fine!
As last year, great organisation, fabulous support all along the course from the locals. There were even more water stations than last year and the lovely kids were there again towards the end with jelly babies!
My 3rd half marathon and knocked 7 minutes off last year's time and a PB! Will definitely run again next year.
Date of review: May 13, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Peter Welsh 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Really good run - good for PB
In full: This is the second time I have ran the Bracknell half marathon and both times I have set my PB.
Date of review: May 11, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Peter Needham 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Everything a half marathon should be
In full: - Faultless organisation from entering the race to leaving the venue
- Interesting, traffic free course
- Not over-crowded
- Exceptional value for money. £14=quality medal, t-shirt, drink bottle, re-usable bag
Date of review: May 11, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Grayster H
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very well organised impressive half marathon
In full: I give this overall top marks for many reasons:
- excellent race venue with good facilities
- very supportive marshals all the way around controlling traffic where needed
- multiple water stations
- good size participation (not too big for course)
- challenging lumpy course due to the ups and downs of subways plus the "long hill".
- superfast final mile
- excellent t-shirt and goody bag
Basically there aint that much nice to look at in Bracknell (except the short reservoir and river segments) unless you like pedestrianised housing estates and roundabouts but this race is a little gem. Good chance of a PB and brilliantly organised. Had forgotten how good it is.
NB: they do need to add time indication signs at start and I would move the start line so people come out of the race venue at the back of it (rather than at the front). Both factors led to the start line-up being very mixed up in ability.
Date of review: May 11, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Tweats
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Glad I did it, a fantastic, well organised event.
In full: I lived in Bracknell for 2 years and never thought it was that green, a fantastic route. I've done other half marathons thoughout the South East, this was definately the best organised. Every mile was marked and had yellow arrows at all stages. There were locals all along the route to clap and cheer and brilliant primary school children to hand out water and even jelly babies just after mile 10. A bargin at £14, please keep the race as it is, the small number of entries also made a great race.
Date of review: May 10, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: AKM
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great community feeling
In full: I drive through Bracknell quite a lot, and always thought of it as little more than a collection of roundabouts and dual carriageways, with oddly-alphabetically named housing estates set around. So running a half round it looked like the ideal way to discover if it's actually a real place or not.
And what I found from this race is that yes, it is a real place, with friendly locals who don't let a drizzly and chilly May morning stop them coming out to support runners along the 'testing and at times picturesque course' (to quote the local Councillor in the programme).
There are ups and downs (both natural and, through the use of subways under the roundabouts, artificial), there are twisty bits, there's one long sweeping uphill from about 6-8 that gives you decent views over the town as a whole - all in all, a good varied course. And it's almost entirely residential, which means lots of people come out and cheer you on.
Organisation was excellent and the t-shirt is top quality, making the race a bargain at this price. The kids staffing the water/sponge station were really funny, too.
Date of review: May 10, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Sprint for the line
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Smashed my PB to pieces!
In full: 1.49 last year to 1.36.07 this year, has a great race - well marshalled, good support and love the course - I'll be back!!!
Date of review: May 10, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Stuart H King Stragg
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bracknell's little gem
In full: I'm a first timer to this race and i was very pleasantly surprised at the first rate slick organisation, marshalling was terrific and crowd support generous on a cool morning. Easy to get to, parking was well organised and finish was a top notch. i enjoyed the small field (please keep it that way) and sponges were an added bonus- i can fault nothing. Big pat on the back to the organisers for their hard work. the only minus is the underpasses take a big toll on the knees due to the twists and turns and they ache today, but the benefit of off road outweighs the small -ve.
Date of review: May 10, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Andrew J
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Really enjoyable - and surprisingly quick...
In full: First time for me at Bracknell - work there every day but never been tempted. Was not expecting anything like as quick a time as Reading, but first few miles had to hold back as course was quite zippy. Hills at 8/9 were a bit of a test, as was the gradual incline up to finish coupled with the twisty bits in the underpasses. Never the less managed to PB by nearly 3 mins....!! Good organisation, easy parking/toilets, nice goody bag. Support and water stations very good too. Overall very nice race indeed - hope they keep it this small.
Date of review: May 10, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Steve Griffiths 8
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Top notch organisation, excellent marshalling, loads of crowd support...
In full: and very enthusiastic children at the water/sponge stations.
Although missed out on a PB, beat my time from last year.
Date of review: May 10, 2010
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