Shakespeare MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (815 votes). 2005 race reviewed by: Julian Hemming
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good organisation, poor medal, no enegy drinks!
In full: Good organisation, started on time. Plenty of loo's on course. Very hard first marathon in the sun, starting at 1pm far to late in the day means a late finish!
Was aware from the pre race literature that only water was available so had to carry our energy drinks/gels for the duration of the marathon. Disapointing medal compared to Bristol and Reading halfs but admid they were much more expensive.
Pity that the run in was being dismantled before the last runners were in.
Race marshalls generally very good. Plenty of drinks stations.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Blacklab
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good organisation, start time too late, could have done with sports drinks
In full: Not as flat as I had expected there seemed to be quite a few hills. Organisation generally very good although I arrived at the start over 10 mins before kick off and had to climb over railings to get into the paddock, even then I was on the wrong half-marathon side of the road - definitely too crowded at the start. Both start and finish well supported and charming. Could definitely have done with sports drinks on second lap would have made a big improvement. Also start time too late as it was the hottest part of the day and would have been nice to have more time in the afternoon before heading off home. Overall OK but won't do it again. Not a PB course either.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: si moseley
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: great marathon run. one for the calender.
In full: cant understand some of these negative comments from runners. this i felt was a cracking run more flat than i expected, you could pb this. ok, company does get less on the secound lap, but most marathons do.and what a great run in, along the cycle path. yes it did seem long and endless.but isnt this all part of the battle.as JB says "its all part of the process".stay fit, see you next year.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Turtle baby
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Beautiful scenery, lonely second lap.
In full: It was very warm at the start and took sometime to get past the start line. Great support up to the half way point, then everybody disappeared! The last 4 miles on the chalky long path was soul destroying, a real killer. Really needed some sports drinks on the way round instead of just water, but it was my first and I did it!! The hills were fine, just would have preferred an earlier start to avoid the sun.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Alan Every
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Do I not like the route!
In full: Marshalls, organisation, water stations and feel of the event was fine.
I really enjoyed meeting up with RW forumites beforehand.
However, the course was shocking. A bit undulating, a steady climb followed by a sharp knee cruncher descent. The run along the tramway/cycle track was totally mundane. Knowing I had to run even further down this track on the second lap broke my heart. Was not sure whether the 1pm start was a good idea. Event needs more organisation around the start by marshalling people into time slots.
No offence to the organisers, but I will not be back to do this one again.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: GreatNorthWood
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great scenery. Way too hot though
In full: Great atmos in Stratford but felt there could have been a bit more encouragement in the villages outside. Altogether an excellent event though.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Phaedrus
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% |
In short: First marathon, hit trouble on 3rd third but I've tried not to make that cloud my judgement
In full: Pros: Friendly marshalls, good crowd support and interesting course.
Cons: Too hot, partly due to daft start time, no energy drinks or food, two laps is repetitive and Greenway very dull, not flat and soul destroying second time around when struggling.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Andy Croft
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Positive overall but with some room for improvement
In full: I really enjoyed the race, good marshalls, good support, great at the finish.
BUT
Too expensive, I'm a sucker and bought the T-Shirt (I know its a weakness) but then with the car park that's over £35!!
Why wasn't the overflow car park open on the rec, it would have saved hundreds of runners some extra hassle. Couldn't the traffic wardens have had a little common sense, £30 tickets issued for fun when cars were causing no real problem.
Please time mark the start, fun runners at the front, faster runners stuck at the back. The start and first lap are too tight to have the runners mixed up like this.
Start earlier
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Miss Piggy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: First half is excellent, but then then you are on your own
In full: The first half was excellent. Lots of runners (most just do the 1/2 mara) and lots of supporters around the course. Still some long stretches of no support, but there are enough runners around to keep you company.
The second half is a totally different race. Very isolated, not many runners and very few supporters. At the back of the pack, even some of the marshalls had given up encouraging the runners, and lots of the runners were walking in an isolated trance.
Coming from East Anglia, I felt it had a few hills and there were definite stretches where it was undulating.
Although I wouldn't do the full marathon again, I'd defintely recommend the half.
Oh, and starting at 1pm meant it was getting quite chilly by the end, even though it was extremely hot for the beginning.
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Hairy Gibbon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My first marathon, finished it ..... YIPEEEEE!!! Dreadful time, but who gives a monkeys I've done a marathon!! I rule all !!!
In full: Very hot day, it would have been nice to have had an earlier start so you can spend the rest of the day enjoying Stratford. A big thanks to all of those people who were still cheering us stragglers on, I owe you all for helping me finish my first marathon. Thanks a million !
Date of review: April 25, 2005
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