Sheffield Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (528 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: James Taylor 35
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: PB this year hence the PB potential
Date of review: May 11, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: sam bellamy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: my local half, nothing special i'm afraid to say.
Date of review: May 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: rick stebbings
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice because it's my local race but it's not a pb course and the water stations are bad!!!
In full: My first time and I enjoyed the race despite conditions being quite challenging, it being warm with some real gusty winds. The start in the stadium is novel but narrow and i had to stop & check myself a few times before we got out onto the open roads. The support on route was generally good especially the city section, which is essentially the middle third of the race. The goody bag was really poor, worst i've had in recent runs. The course was more up & down than I expected but I can live with that, but I found the 3 subway excursions a bit much and a real rhythm breaker. How about closing a few more roads? It is only for a morning once a year. Being channelled down underpasses doesn't grant the runners and the event the respect and prestige it deserves and should aspire too. My biggest gripe is the drink stations. A 5000 runner big city event and we get water in plastic canteen cups!!! How are we meant to drink them??? I spilt half of mine over the poor volunteers that was trying to hand it to me and ended up coughing and spluttering trying to drink the rest. Every other event I've run I got bottles of water at drink stations and that's been perfect. Surely an event this big & popular can find a sponsor who can provide something better than that. At the last 2 stations I gave up trying to drink anything & just threw the water over my head. Come on Sheffield £26 entry?? Get it sorted for next year otherwise I fear the event might start to go on the decline. Yes it's popular but don't be complacent, the start and especially the drinks provision needs to be reviewed and improved.
Date of review: May 10, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Jonathan Legon 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: As usual really good experience
In full: The race was well organised as usual. The people were friendly, atmosphere was great and I did my best ever time. I disagreed with the timing chip though, and I trust my Garmin so I'm believing that, especially as it said I was quicker than the chip said!
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: bladerunner1980
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: it's too hilly to produce many pb's but as a genuine race it's a great one. the support on eccleshall rd is fantastic and thats the most clapping i've heard on bramall lane all year!
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: RunningLinds
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good route & volunteers, shame about the missing lucozade station and goody bag!
In full: First time I've done this race (despite being a sheffield resident) and I enjoyed it. The atmosphere was good and the volunteers did a great
job (except maybe being caught on the hop at the first station!!). The baggage area was well organised and finishing in DVS made for a nice ending. However I felt the event could have been better by: if a sports drink station is advertised they should do it. I was banking on this and ended up semi-hitting the wall. Also the goody bag was poor given the cost of the event and the fact it was a city centre HM (see the organisers of the Norwich HM - that was fantastic!). Also given the heat it would have been nice if the drinks at the end were obvious. I was disorientated and thirsty and couldn't see any water so then had to battle my way back to the baggage area through the crowds to get a drink from my bag. Will do it again but will take no chances and come better prepared next time!!!
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Robster
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A fine day out
In full: This race was just that, a fine day out. I enjoyed the run, the support was excellent on Eccy Road (both last year and this year I arrived when Atomic by Blondie was blasting out) and the DVS is a great place to cross the finishing line. However, it is not a great place to start the race if the toilets on the trackside are locked and as a complex it really is quite complex! I walked from one end to the other trying to find the changing rooms to be told go out on the track and come in between blocks 1 and 2 then go down a corridor etc etc. Signs for competitors would not go amiss and I really would have liked an energy drink at the end like last year. Plus, it can't be more expensive to have a technical t-shirt which is far more useful.
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: NellyMarcos
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good organisation, good atmosphere, but ditch the goody bag and charge less
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: daniel s
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Enjoyable race with a novel start/finish location, great crowds at the halfway point and a good route through the city centre.
In full: I enjoyed this run, with the highlights being the finish in the stadium, the massed crowds between mile 6 and 8, a nice route through the city centre and the kids handing out jelly beans and wanting to high-5 every runner.
A couple of minor downsides. The exit from the stadium is too narrow, as are some of the underpasses and pavement sections, which slows things down a bit. I also thought the first water stations were struggling, probably due to higher numbers of athletes taking an early drink on a hot day. Still grateful that they took the the time to volunteer their time to help make the day a success.
A nice T-shirt, kit bag and medal plus the significant on street marshalling and barriering justified the entry fee.
All in all I'm glad I opted for this over Leeds.
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Pamela Bruce
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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