Events

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great atmosphere at start and finish - the price of a 1pm start?
In full: A brilliant crowd for start and finish, and some good support throughout - even for the slower runners like me. Found it hard work in the sun though, and would have liked energy drinks. Going against popular opinion I liked the Greenway - made a pleasant change of environment without cars.
Date of review: May 1, 2005

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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: Pleasant race, too many enteries
In full: Terrible start time, 1pm, need energy drinks on route, and stop the cars, it would enhance the race. Probably too many enteries, but enjoyed the experience.
Date of review: April 28, 2005

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

In short: 1pm start still - they just dont listen! Same medal as 4 years ago, and same medal for 1/2 as full, which doesn't seem fair. No energy drinks. Friendly. Flat last 10 miles. Parking £7.50! We aren't spoilt for marathons, I'll do it again anyway.
Date of review: April 28, 2005

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

In short: Good course and well organised except too many runners.
In full: Quite expensive but just about acceptable. I would like to see less runners or the roads closed during the race. The start is also a bit crowded and at times there is almost a danger of getting injured. Would be good if they could put up zones for expected times to help avoid this.
Date of review: April 28, 2005

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

In short: Not a bad event. Needs an earlier start time and also need to organise the start better.
Date of review: April 28, 2005

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

In short: Gem of a race either doing half or full
In full: Great organisation & support 20 to 24 1/2 hurts a bit on that gravel path.
Would of enjoyed it a lot more if wasnt injured but will be back next year to improve my time.
Date of review: April 28, 2005

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

In short: Good race but needs an earlier start time
In full: Agree with most comments so far, expensive entry fee for what you get at the end, just a medal, bottle of water and a black banana!! Could have done with a better goody bag and a t-shirt. A late start in that heat not good, a morning start better particularly for those doing the marathon. Could have done with energy drinks as well as water.
Date of review: April 28, 2005

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

In short: Nice settings, well marshalled. Great day
In full: Nasty hill at around 8 miles but not too bad after that. Enjoyed the atmosphere, the runers seemed a good lot. Very hot day and reenforces the need for re-hydration - stop running and take a few moments to get a good glug of water. It is time well spent!
Plenty of things fo rthe family and I wll do the run again
Date of review: April 28, 2005

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

In short: Seems to get tougher every year.
In full: As previously mentioned... 1pm start a 'killer', particularly in notorious and typical Stratford sunny sundays.
Lack of energy drinks (water only) at feed stations. Medal handed out was identical for both races, and was also the same as previous years, also no 'free' t-shirts
Bearing in mind some marathons offer both medal and t-shirt and cost less than a tenner to enter (Taunton).
Shambles at start line up, with no pre-determined pens so runners were bunched up regardless of their predicted finish times.
Although it was made clear by the announcers that half marathoners were to be on the left side of the road, and marathon runners were to be on the right side it was still evident that half marathoners were crossing over to the right hand side in order to be nearer the front line.
Time pens should definitely be introduced, eg. sub3, 3-3:15, sub 3:30, 4hrs etc.
Also, given the cost of the race i think championship chips should be used (single use type that can be thrown away after the race) in order to clarify finish times !
No siren, hooter, or gun sound at the start of the race, not too sure why, but Quentin Wilson did shout 'GO' at the start ?
I may do this race again (if improvements are made).
Costly parking even on a sunday (what a rip off £7.50)
Race organisers, please take note !!!
Date of review: April 27, 2005

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

In short: Hot .Hilly in places. Friendly and well organised. Need sports drinks station for marathon runners as only water offered. 1.00pm start a killer. Nice welcome finish at the end.
Date of review: April 27, 2005

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