Events

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: 1pm start way too late - never want to see the Greenway again
In full: First (and last) Marathon - 1pm start is way too late to start running a Marathon and no amount of training prepared me for that last long tedious slog down the Greenway. Worst of all - same medal as last year and no banana at the end!!
Date of review: April 26, 2005

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

In short: It was my first marathon and it didnt put me off!!
Date of review: April 26, 2005

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

In short: Needs an earlier start time
In full: A good scenic friendly race
with a good atmosphere.
1pm start I found to late
would have prefered a 11am start. Good idea to have the half and full marathon go off together
Date of review: April 26, 2005

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: scenic course but too expensive
In full: I found the marathon course very scenic and managed to finish under 4hrs. However for the amount paid in entry fees, i feel that alot of scrimping had taken place, even to the extent of the amount of water given out of soddy plastic cups. A 1pm start is ludacrous and potentially dangerous due to the high temperatures and so i wasnt surprised that many pulled out due to heat exhausation.
For the amount paid to enter the race, i could have done 2 or 3 marathons.
Date of review: April 26, 2005

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

In short: Good race but part of course very monotonous
Date of review: April 26, 2005

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

In short: Great course but needs improvements. See below for what I thought!!
In full: The day itself was nice. However I felt that it could have been better organised. For instance I had to ask at least 6 marshalls where the baggage centre was which was a good 15 min walk from the start of the race. Not good esp if you arrive an hour before the race (which normally would be able time but to get through the crowds is a nightmare!).

Water stops there was plenty although I wasn't impressed by the fact that they ran out of proper water bottles and we had to make do with tiny plastic cups that when you tried to take a sip it would splash everywhere.

Also it wasn't clear as to when the race started. I vaguely remember running and we weren't even at the start yet.

Last point to note is the cut off time for entering the full marathon. I had no idea of this until some kind soul told me at the 12 mile mark. Cheers for that but it would have been helpful to have known sooner so I could have run harder.

Sorry if this is all negative but having done marathons before I felt this was one of the worst organised events and could do with some improvements, especially as you paid £18 to register and in terms of goodies you only get a medal and banana.

The course is good but I'm not sure if I'll spend that much esp with what I got out of it.
Date of review: April 26, 2005

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Good race, but ...
In full: the course is very hilly, the start at 1pm is at the hottest time of the day and I could have needed energy drinks at the water stations. Moreover, water in small plastic cups is hard to drink while running.
Date of review: April 25, 2005

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

In short: Well organised, frequent water stations, good marshalling & friendly locals all made this a good day. Drawbacks - no sports drinks or the like at the water stations and a 1pm start on a hot day, but otherwise a great race. Recommended.
Date of review: April 25, 2005

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

In short: Enjoyed (the day after that is!). Found that you could push yourself as it was not so hilly
Date of review: April 25, 2005

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

In short: A very enjoyable day, well organised and the medal made for a very good momento!
In full: The race day was a lot hotter than forecast and added to the hilly section, it was tough going for the middle part of the course.
The steep downhill was more of a challenge than a help and was a poor reward for the uphill slog beforehand.
The course was interesting all the way round and a very good test. It was probably the most challenging of the courses I have run so far.
The crowd gave good support all the way round and especially in the finishing straight.
The medal was of a good standard and is a nice momento of a very enjoyable day.
The only criticism would be that the late start makes for a very late finish for the full marathon runners and by that time there are very few people left to give the runners any support.
Date of review: April 25, 2005

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