Birmingham & Black Country Half-Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (220 votes). | 71 to 79 of 79 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
2009 race reviewed by: karen jerwood
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: nice, relaxed race - very easy to manage in terms of logistics - nice scenery...the only downside was the number of short hilly bridges to go up and over - especially hard on the knees...plus the dark slippery tunnel!
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Mike Berry
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Perfect place to finish a race
In full: Very relaxed atmosphere throughout. The time trial type start meant that you can get into you pace straight away but the lack of grouping did mean you had to work that pace yourself for the whole race. The speed is slowed somewhat by the surface and the bridges but for those of us who train along the canals, we know how to take them in our stride. Finishing at Brindley place is perfect for a couple of cooling beverages with your club mates.
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Victoria ooh la la
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good!
In full: Pretty much everything that could be controlled by the organisers went well.
- Loos rather than portaloos were greatly appreciated, though there appeared to be no light switch so actually using them was rather traumatic!
- Start well organised and loads of space to run. Thanks for taking our bags.
- good to have regular water stations en route. It's impossible to get enough on board from those little cups, perhaps a bottle of water at the finish line instead? I got so dehydrated.
-the shower facilities were fantastic! girls they even had hairdryers! I really hope this is available next yr and if not i hope we can at least pay to use them on the day.
-free soft drink at the pub!
-the route, well a canal enthusiast would love it. Perhaps I am becoming a canal enthusiast. it was nice. those blimmin bridges were painful though!
-the tunnel! oh the tunnel! I thought it was hilarious. cobbles in all directions, pitch black and slippery with slime. hope no one fell in! Nice and cool though as it was extremely hot!
- I got a PW but that's not the organiser's fault ;)
-Thanks for engraving the medal, as it is identical to my leicester medal except with a polo-hole
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Stephanie Bath
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very flat which suited me! Interesting route reflecting the industrial past. Would definitely run again
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: jules_perox
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: ++Interesting race, with only yourself to beat really!++
In full: Thought the start was interesting..."Got yer number, soon as you hit the mat you're off!" Okay then!
Was generally an interesting race to do once (for me) running along the canals. Excellent organisation in the start groups as the towpath was far from crowded and it was perfectly possible to run at your own pace.
The famed tunnel was 'interesting' (word of the post!) and proved a point of interest in the race.
I appreciated the Dioralyte later on as the race was made pretty tough (even though it were flat) by strong sun and heat towards the end.
My goody bag was okay-ish, spose! being a bit harsh as I'm sure it's an expensive thing to put together at the best of times.
Just want to mention one last thing. At the end I was needing some time to recover from the heat. A bloke worse off than me was being tended to by the St. Johns Ambulance brigade. Nothing unusual in this but it seemed like this particular group of people had come from DEVON! Isn't it about time that there is a race set up for the benefit of the St.Johns? Or is there one already?
Just a thought...
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Booster
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Top event. Flat but tough-go figure!
In full: Plus points: general organisation, timing system, drinks stations, marshalling, showers, free soft drink in the boozer.
Minus point: a strong suspicion that the course is longer than the 13.1 miles.
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: DaveyG
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: michael halloran
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: my second time - much better organised than last year - more toilets at start. On the whole really good and I would do it again.
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Chris M
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well done Organisers, see you next year I hope
In full: Awesome race, very different from your normal mass start races but more like a time trial event. Great urban surroundings and very friendly.
Date of review: July 4, 2009
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