The PicnicHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (159 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Darren Woods 2
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Toughest Marathon Lives upto it's name
In full: This is a great hard race well organised by Dr Rob. The steps are really hard to go up. The marshals were fantastic and great to see fellow runners cheer you on. I will be back to tackle the half-marathon course next year!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: NickGZ
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great fun race
In full: Excellent day - well organised, superb marshalling, "team spirit" atmosphere - probably best suited to those who enjoy pain.
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Encona
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Best marathon in UK
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Robert Swift 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Fantastic run enjoyed every minute, views, atmosphere, support all brilliant!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: BARLEYMAN
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: THE PICNIC IS THE BEST RACE EVER. THIS IS THE TUFF ONE. I STRUGGLED TO FINISH BUT IT WAS WORTH EVERYTHING THAT IT TOOK FROM ME.IF YOU ONLY DO ONE HILLY MARATHON IN YOUR LIFE DO THIS ONE.
In full: THANK YOU SO MUCH DR ROB FOR ANOTHER GREAT RACE ON BOX HILL.I MARSHALED THIS RACE TWO YEARS AGO AND KNEW THEN THAT I'D HAVE TO ENTER NEXT TIME.THIS RACE IS SO SPECIAL. YOU WILL NEVER RUN ANOTHER RACE WHERE SO MANY OTHER RUNNERS GIVE YOU SO MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT.YOU ARE SO IN THIS TOGETHER. AND JUST TO FINISH MEANS SO MUCH. FROM THE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR JUST BEFORE THE START,THE NATIONAL ANTHEM,THE STEPS,THE STEPPING STONES(UNDER 6 INCHES OF RIVER)I COULD GO ON FOREVER BUT YOU GET THE PICTURE.AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE TRIONIUM MARSHALS ARE WITHOUT DOUBT THE BEST MARSHALS EVER.YOU CAN TELL THAT A LARGE MAJORITY OF THEM RUN IN THESE HILLS.THEY KNOW THE SCORE AND SAY ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.WELL DONE AND THANKS TO EVERY ONE OF THEM.SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. RICHARD PARR.
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Capricorn
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Toughest race I've down, hard as nails, brilliant organisation, best marshals ever
In full: The hardest, craziest race I've done - from singing "God save the Queen" at the start, to the submerged stepping stones to the 4 ascents of the stairway to hell. Having names on the race numbers is a brilliant idea (I'm going to keep that number for ever) - it's always nice hearing someone cheering you on by name.
Organisation - absolutely faultless, and the marshals all deserve medals too. All had a great sense of humour and the cheers from the water point at the bottom of the hill could be heard for miles - lovely, happy sound :-)
Best race mug ever too - I got a real surprise when I used it for the first time !!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Trevor Foale
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: One word .... TOUGH
In full: This is the hardest race I've done and will probably ever do. The organisation was excellent, the support from the marshalls was second to none. Don't do this race for a PB!
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Gareth Davies 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: The 2011 Picnic - A run you remember for a long time
In full: A superb event organised by Dr Rob - 2011 did not let anyone down. Even the pre-race monsoon (15 mins before the start) added to the excitement/danger of taking part in Britain's toughest event - but upon completion the most rewarding race you do every 2 years.
The course was fantastically scenic over the amazing Box Hill course , trust me there are steep hills in Surrey - my legs will testify to that. The Picnic marathon started at 2pm and the Midsummer half runners got off at 4pm , there was great runners atmosphere , all names were on the race numbers so we all knew each other - and what was amazing was the uplifting words of support from all the half marathon runners to the Picnic crew , they knew after spending and hour on the course what the huge effort the marathon guys/girls were putting themselves through.
I few runners went for an early bath across the stepping stones at the River Mole but at least it cleaned my trainers for another year - wet feet..pah !!!!
If you are going to plan to do one race in 2013 make sure you register with Rob on the Trionium site - luckily next year you only have the midsummer half marathon - you'll be running over some of the Olympics cycle course ..but in reality this is so much harder and you don't need to be on Team GB to take part.
Hope to see the same faces again at the Knacker Cracker (jan 2012) , Leith Hill half (march 2012) and also the Greensand marathon in October 2011. Finlly thanks to all brilliant marshals including Hannah and team at the killer steps to to the White Hill, the teams who constantly encouraged all the runners in the woods , without your support the race would have been twice as hard - I can still hear the whooo-hoos now !! Great fun yesterday , thanks
Gaz
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: BRM
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: And was Jerusalem builded up in small, leafy suburb of Hell, RH5 6BN
In full: It is my special privilege to second the wise and generous words of Nathaniel Brook - Victor Ludorum MMXI. Truly, this was the best race ever - only the next one can outshine it.
But fug those fugging steps and the fugging JCB they rode in on!! Are you listening Dr Robert?
Date of review: June 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Nathanael Booker
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Best race I've done. Extremely hilly, superb views, great camaderie and a picnic at the finish. Tough but totally worth it!
In full: What a memorable race! It's as tough as claimed but I'm already looking forward to 2013.
The marshals were without fail superb, and there was a wonderful 'in it together' camaraderie amongst the runners (you pass people going in the other direction for most of the race). Thank you to everyone for the encouragement while I struggled with cramps during the second lap!
Dr Rob had everything organised spot on - just enough route markings, numerous refreshment stops (water, jellybabies, three with Lucozade), and a scrumptious picnic at the finish. The bagpiper on White Hill was another nice touch.
A big downpour just before the race started made things interesting with slippery paths and flooded stepping stones to cross (4 times), but that's all part of the challenge that is the Picnic. Don't miss it!
Date of review: June 18, 2011
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