Events

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

In short: Dissappointing - wish my home town could do better
In full: As with all below:

Too twisty, too narrow (especially start and finish), soup!, where was the banana / bar etc, in 2002 there was a band (incidentally I thought a better route in 2002), cobbles, starting pen of 1hour to 1h45 is too broad.

In short they could do so much better and there are no end of cheaper and far better organised halfs in the region (Stroud for instance).
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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

In short: Much better than last year, but still room for improvement
In full: This is a very fast course, although the cobbles at 9/10 miles were hard work. The start was much better organised, although I was given a number which did not correspond to my projected time. Would agree that that 'goodie' bag is a waste of time if all they can get is a tin of soup. Expensive but overall not bad value as includes shirt (if it ever arrives), a nice medal, and bottled water and energy drinks around the course (much cheaper than Bath which is more expensive and doesn't even include a shirt). My local race so will be back again next year, hopefully the organisation will improve further. One major problem was getting out of the Runners Village, there was no route out of the village to get on to the other side of the start/finish area where my family were waiting for me, it took me over half an hour of walking to find a place where I could cross the course.
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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

In short: Is this race organised by poeple who have never run??
In full: I must echo most of the comments.

Firstly the good: Crowds support.

The bad: Everything else. I hope there is an official apology or someone gets sacked; No mialing of numbers until last week, colour coded race numbers changed at last minute, one tin of soup?? and a twisty cobbled section at the end, no T-shirt.

This has to be the most expensive tin of soup ever!

I hope they read this forum and do something about it.
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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

In short: I'd do it again because it is my local race. Wouldn't travel for it as organisation shocking.
In full: Flat course whoose PB potential gets reduced by poor organisation at the start. Is the same year after year. I was lucky this year but runners world thread suggests loads were not.
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A quick course, but organisation was lacking in some areas
In full: Starting with the good bits, I ran a PB and enjoyed the course. The drinks stations were well organised and support was really good in a lot of sections. The start seemed a bit chaotic, with no marshalling of the colour coded expected finish times, but I didn't get held up, so can't complain.

BUT. Still no t-shirt or prospect of a t-shirt until near Christmas. And I finished in 1 hour 38 ish and I didn't see any sign of a goodie bag. However, reading the comments I am glad I didn't get it.

I want to support my home town run, but there are so many better races around. Value for money wise, this ranks bottom of any race I have run - this year or any year.
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Entered since february, and the only thing arranged on time was the Soup?
In full: I think just one word springs to mind, PATHETIC! Surely organising 15,000 (or however many it was) tee-shirts in 9 months isnt rocket salad is it? "Due to unforeseen cirumstances" wow, surely 9 months preparation time is enough to iron out any so called unforeseen circumstances. And then on the day to be handed a goody bag with just a tin of soup in it takes the biscuit. Why bother handing out goody bags at all if thats what you are going to put in there.

Only plus side was the quality of the medal, as they are always good. However, how often does one use their medal after race day anyway?

The organisation of this event really needs to be looked at, because quite frankly, its a complete shambles.


Date of review: September 10, 2007

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

In short: An improvement but could do better!
In full: I liked the T-Shirt! and thought the route was better than last year! Yes agree about the Soup! and the "Non-Goody" Bag (did they do it to get a laugh!!!)

As this was my Fourth Time .. I still yearn for the Goody Bag from 2004.. but perhaps i see 04 thru rose tinted glasses as that was my very first half marathon..

Perhaps Bristol should look at the likes of the smaller much much much cheaper races! and look at their goody bags and organisation at the end of a race!! come on bristol .. you cost as much as the london marathon now!!!!
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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

In short: Much better than last year.
Date of review: September 10, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: An Improvement on last year!
In full: Someone in the organisation needs to do better than a can of soup!! Get on the phone to the biggies and get some samples! You wont need to increase the price, like Lucozade they want the exposure! Other than that I do profess to enjoying it this year, I might be back!! (for more soup??)
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Still trying to increase field before organisation sorted out.
In full: 3rd year and I'm giving up on it. More focussed on numbers than getting it right. Can't organise a race pack, T shirt or goody bag despite event closing ages ago. I hear the T shirt is not even a technical one (again) for all that entry fee. How can Reebok (owned by Adidas) take 10 weeks+ to sort this? Cobbles were a bad choice and I would havepreferred no goody bag to lugging a can of soup. Could feature in RW most bizarre goody bag award.
Shame, because it could be great. They have an impressive area for pre and post race. Thought new route better overall except getting onto Portway. This year the start appeared better for the mass participants, but what was that back-lane about? Crowd were superb as always.
Try Lake Vrnwy next year as reports are great.
Date of review: September 9, 2007

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