Berkhamsted Half-Marathon Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (532 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Mark Colman
 | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% |
In short: Stunning scenery, good atmosphere and challenging hills
In full: A good and challenging race. The hills were tough but the scenery after mile 2 were stunning. A thoroughly good pre marathon workout. Overall marshalling was good but could be improved one or two points on the course. It was a shame the route was not completely traffic free as some drivers and cyclists proved impatient. Chip timing is great and I appreciate the increased costs but could do better with the poor goody bag!
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: moira craft
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: tough, hilly, but somehow enjoyable!
In full: The only criticism I would make is the fun run coincides with the race and I felt it was quite hazzardous at times. People were walking with small children along the same narrow path that us runners were trying to get a decent pace going....overall though enjoyable with a lovely downhill finish.
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Justin Phillipps
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: A great race,with a few hills thrown in for good measure,will definately be up for it next year.The only negative was having to meander through the fun run which broke our pace.I was up the front so It must have been really frustrating for the main field,maybe next year have the fun run after the half marathon.
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: runningcupcake
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic route but some super steep bits!
In full: The race was one lap through the beautiful countryside. This year was fabulous weather which made it all the more enjoyable. This was my first half marathon and even though there were a couple of incredibly steep hills (one that was about a mile long!) the race was very enjoyable.
Some of the race was through the town and there were people out cheering you on, some of it was through empty country lanes.
The marshalls were great (even someone at the finish line to take the timer chip off your ankle for you)- plus this year you got a banana (reveiws said last year you got an orange) and a medal at the end- my favourite combination!).
The only tiny issue I had is that as I was one of the slower runners by the time I got back to the finish (2hr30ish) I nearly went the wrong way as there was a big crowd of people leaving and the marshalls weren't clear, plus they had run out of goody bags. They were more in "packing up" mode. But the race started on time, there were toilets/ changing rooms etc and everyone was very friendly. The running out of things at the end is just a small point.
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Lee Horsman
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Lovely but hard!
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Richard Montgomery
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Beautiful weather, great scenery, challenging hills
In full: A great race, ideal warm up for marathons later in the year. A few testing hills that are challenging, but plenty of downhill sections to recover. Not much PB potential, but beautiful surroundings take your mind off the clock. Only suggestion for next year would be to have the fun run start either well before the HM or afterwards. It got pretty congested around the 3-4 mile mark, both from fun runners and cars - I guess the weather brought out the day trippers . Otherwise a great event, well done to the organisers.
Also well done to the Stig, who overtook me at Ashridge House
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Stumpy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Only problems other than the traffic on the way round were suicidal cyclists and being held at a junction for a few seconds. The hills were easier than I remembered (must be the training paying off!) but was still glad to turn the corner for home! Will do it again as it so local, but woudl be nice to get more than just a plain medal and a banana in return for the entry fee...
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: kelly corrigan
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hills were a killer, but scenery was lovely!
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Joby-Wan Kenobi
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The scenery far outweighs the hills.
In full: The weather was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, but a couple of miles in to this race I hardly noticed. Challenging early on with a few hills in miles 2 and 3, the course gives way to beautiful scenery with some great flat and downhill sections later on (including a fly-by of the awesome Ashridge House).
Second best bit? The last section, which is half a mile or so of downhill with the cricket club (start and finish point) in plain view.
The best bit? There's a bar at the cricket club. Forget your ReGo, pint of London Pride for me.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, will most likely be back next year.
(oh yeah - the rubbish bits were 1) sharing parts of the course with 5 year olds doing the fun run - this should have been done at a separate time, and 2) sharing tight country lanes with motorists - most were patient but you always get the odd pillock.)
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: jane MOSS 4
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: March 8, 2010
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