Shakespeare MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (815 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Mark Woodfield
 | | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Shambolic, terrible, awful, etc.
In full: Expected to run the full marathon today, so finding out that this was cancelled whilst stood on the start line 3 minutes before the off is just unforgivable, especially given that a weather warning was put on the website yesterday with a statement that the race would go ahead. The terrible weather was always set to continue overnight, so the last minute cancellation smacks more of not wanting to lose money than protecting runners.
A special mention must go to the parking arrangements, with a voucher for reduced parking rendered null and void by seemingly fine machines that happily ate coins but produced no tickets, numerous machines that actually informed you they were out of service making the queues for tickets from few functioning machines lengthy, and then having to queue for almost an hour and a half to get out of the car park.
Will not be entering this event again.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: John Hanson 5
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Enjoyable but tough because of conditions
In full: A tough run due to the weather. I agree with comments about the lack of communication with regard to the marathon being cancelled.
A VERY big thank you to all the marshalls and supporters along the way, your support really helped.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: sallyg1
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Poor communication and organisation
In full: I won't repeat earlier comments about last minute communication but it was shocking how many of us marathon runners didn't hear the announcement. Course too tight in places, difficult to manoevre for the first few miles. Organisers should have cancelled the day before but the cynic in me thinks that Stratford didn't want to lose all those £6 car park fees, hotel bookings and coffee shop takings. Clearly the organisers should have known that parts of the course were vulnerable to flooding and we all saw the forecast days before. A wasted trip.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: ChrisS
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: on the damp side . . .
In full: What a shame that the terrible weather affected what is normally such an enjoyable and well organised event. I can imagine the organisers agonised over the decision to cancel the marathon for ages beforehand, desperately hoping they could keep it going for the enjoyment of all the competitors. However when they took that difficult decision I am sure that they took it with the safety of all the competitors in mind and am immensely grateful for all their efforts before and during the race. The weather was pretty unprecedented, and whatever decision they took, there would have been some criticism.
When the race got underway and I got over the disappointment of my first sub three hour marathon (ha!!) being cancelled, I thought it went relatively smoothly and I felt so alive in the battering headwind on the Greenway! THANKS so much to all the supporters along the way who were so enthusiastic – especially the Marshalls who gave up their Sunday Morning and all the kids who manned the drinks stations. Seriously though Welford – cold wet sponges? Are you having a laugh!!
Hopefully next year’s weather will be better and the race can get back to being a highlight of the running calendar – good luck to the organisers for 2013!
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Nick Richards 6
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: wet and cold...frustrating!
In full: As a marathon runner I was very frustrated to find out the event had been canclled too just a half, but fully understand the tough shout it is to make. However to only find out of fellow runners..wasn't cool. If I had not been told (as I didn't hear the announcement) I would have plodded round in a paced 2 hour ish time in an attempt to make a negative split. I am sure there were people out there who this happened too.
Good work from the Marshalls as it was horrible out there but maybe an announcement on the website or appology after the event wouldn't have gone a miss!
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Gumball Boots
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Cancelled marathon and a quagmire for a half
In full: I was signed up for the marathon. Standing near the front, I was fortunate enough to hear the announcement about the cancellation of the marathon, but it was apparent from the comments of the marshals on the way round that this hadn't been communicated to them - maybe someone on a bike ahead of the race could have passed it on.
Pretty gutted about it being cancelled as it had been my target event (and first marathon) for the last 6 months. On reflection I think the decision was the right one, but it could have been made earlier if not the day before (we knew the weather was coming and the local knowledge hinted at in other reviews suggests it was inevitable).
First half of the race was on roads, it was wet but runnable. The bit on the greenway was heavily flooded and is most definitely not a road - I can see why the course is no longer certified as a road race. The 20mph headwind, driving rain and the 50mph gusts bringing runners almost to a standstill were certainly an adventure though. To finish the day off it took 1hr 10mins to get out of the car park (rec ground).
On the plus side, the support from the army of people camped out at each water station in the driving rain was terrific and they should be applauded.
Last comment for next year - space blankets (or just bin bags) would be a big help for keeping warm at the finish.
Time to scour RW for another suitable marathon....
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Richard Stillion
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hmmmm.........
In full: This was going to be my first marathon. I had just gone by the start line when I heard the announcer saying that it was only a half today! Really, really poor shout. I had seen the weather forecast and also checked the website which even had a line or two warning of adverse weather and that the race would go ahead. Bad call. Very poor communication, which has been echoed on other comments already. And, despite the weather, my family came along to support me, so they had a wasted journey too. To be honest, I'm still not sure why it was cancelled.
I also agree that the medal with no date was a bit poor and a small bottle of water and banana wasn't great.
I then waited longer in the car park to get out than it did to do the half! I actually got out of the car and went over to the marquee for a free coffee while I was waiting.
If I can take a few positives though, I'm sure the course would be fantastically scenic on a good day.
And a MASSIVE thank you to the marshals for being out there on a day like this.
Also, there was a very hot shower in the changing facilities at the Rec.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: SoS_flyer
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Disappointing...
In full: Communication was the key today and unfortunately they got it wrong here. Whatever the reason (and I appreciate the organisers do a great & difficult job) walking round the corner to the start with 5 to go and being told by a passer by that the marathon was off is just not cricket!
Weatherise this was fine, not the nicest but I've raced in worse and will do so again, you train, you practise and you prepare, it's what running is all about! I can only presume that the rumours I heard about flooding were correct but the only part I could see in any danger was in the last half mile and surely this was avoidable?
Difficult to understand the motivation without hearing the official explanation, all I would say at this point is disappointing, the communication could and should have been better.
Maybe I'll try Manchester next year, they can deal with rain up there!
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: jason wakelam
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: damp squib
In full: First of all, big thanks to the volunteers making the effort. God bless you for standing about in horizontal rain offering people wet sponges.
That said, it was extremely frustrating to have the marathon was cancelled at short notice. For those that didn't hear the single announcement given just before the race start, the explanation was that there were ruts in the greenway path that were covered with water, on the part of the route that the marathon runners would take.
It's all makes a bit of a nonsense of the organisers insistance that this is a road race. The last 4 miles of the half marathon route (all we were allowed to run) was a clay/cinder path that got ever more swampy as the race progressed.
My message to the organisers:
1) Let grown-ups decide if they want to run or not. Most if use have put in months of training in weather pretty similar to this.
2) Paper cups are a waste of time - half size water bottles are what's needed.
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: cj runner
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Harsh weather but great spirit
In full: WELL DONE everyone who made it round today! Awful weather for a good race location.
I was looking after one of the water stations (we were out for 4 hours in the rain!) and I thought there was a very good spirit from runners, lots of jokes and smiles at halfway.
As a marathon runner I understand the disappointment of the late notice cancellation of the 'full' - however it must be understood the flooding of the marathon course (in the extra loop). The rain has continued full pelt way beyond the end of the half marathon and all locals know how serious flooding has been in this area (welford/greenway).
Yes a medal is better with the date on, and no the weather wasn't fun for any of us - and well done for getting round!
Date of review: April 29, 2012
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