Forest of Dean Trails Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (240 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Pierre
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good course, average facilities and poor value
In full: Liked the new course, a definite improvement on the old one. No early bottlenecks any more, and the start/finish were in the same field. However the entry fee felt like a bit of a rip off. There were way too few toilets, which led to people having to queue for half an hour or more, and quite a number missed the start as a result. Surely given the number of entrants the organisers should have planned that one better. They also weren't exactly generous at the end - no goody bag, just a bottle of pop, a boiled sweet and yet another medal for the back of the drawer. A T shirt would have been nice but they were on sale for another 8 quid - no thanks.
Date of review: March 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Clare Jewell 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Missed the start and the chip timing as I was queuing for the loo!!!
In full: Race started on time, down a narrowish road but I wasn't with it as I was still in the loo!!! - the number of loos, as has been said before was woefully inadequate. I eventually got to the start a good seven or eight minutes late by which time it was too late to use the chip timing and I don't think I was the last. Thanks to the marshals who radioed ahead to say I was on my way. Cheery marshalls and army cadets at the drinks station. The downhills more than made up for the uphills. Was feeling under par today but enjoyed the trail and the scenery - more toilets please next time!!!!
Date of review: March 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Liz Ashton
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Pretty scenery but a really dull, lifeless atmosphere.
In full: The course was great - pretty but challenging.
But the toilets were woefully inadequate, getting out of the carpark was a shambles at the end, and the atmosphere before the race, during the race and after the race was just dull. And I heard that the ambulance stations didn't have a supply of vaseline...really? In a race? Amateur. Also, fizzy Lucozade at the end instead of water? Ew. My friend is diabetic so couldn't get hold of a drink straight after the race...which is a fairly standard expectation. I did this three years ago and found that standards had slipped. Complacency maybe?
Date of review: March 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: EmmVee
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well organised off road race in stunning surroundings
In full: I was definitely below par today but still had a great time. Weather was good and the organisation was excelelnt. This is a great race in beautiful surroundings
Date of review: March 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: David Turner 9
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Godd race but tough with challeging hills
Date of review: March 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: postieboy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Excellent race on mainly good quality trail surfaces with a good time very possible despite a few steep hills
Date of review: March 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Straycelt
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: ood off-road half. Good support but pricey and overcrowded
In full: To clarify pricey, cups of water, medal, boiled sweet and a bottle of lucozade at the end with an option to pirchase the t-shirt. Very tight start and course meant it was difficult to get into pace if you were anywhere near the middle to back. Perhaps a waved start (It is chipped) or pens would help. Loos hopelessly inadequate for numbers involved. Took me almost 40 mins thus late for the start! Great marshalls, good crowd support for a trail race and good fun. Cracking scenery so all in all a bit of a curate's egg. I will be back though
Date of review: March 28, 2010
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2009 race reviewed by: Jordan Lane
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: What a run, off-road fun throwing you straight uphill with little let up til mile nine, nearly equalled my flat time purely through sheer-enjoyment of running through the woods and getting stuck in.
Date of review: October 12, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Catherine Daly
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Respectable half marathon run. A good off road run and plenty of people to cheer you around the course.
Date of review: July 14, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Chris Moore 10
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice trail run. Decent scenery. Good support.
In full: Very well organised with little hassel. Lots of support and marshalls. Two small grumbles. Don't like the new timing chips: pain to attach to and remove from shoe (also not reuseable). Also would had liked year on medal or ribbon.
Date of review: March 19, 2009
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