Bristol Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (888 votes). 2007 race reviewed by: Simon Hunter 4
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice route poor organisation
In full: Very disappointed to discover that to mmet up with family entailed walking back down course find a crossing point. Even then had to use an unofficial one. No signs to help out. Wandered round in a large number of competitors and spectators looking for point to get back into Bristol. After finish very long walk to get medal etc. Agree with all other comments so far
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
|
2007 race reviewed by: Andy28
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Cut my half PB by 8 mins, but race organisers have several problems to sort out
In full: Very happy as I cut my half PB by 8 mins to 1h 36m. Great atmosphere from both 15,000 runners around you and all the folks cheering you on. but race organisers need to sort out getting race packs out earlier, T shirts, remove the cobblestones from a PB course and change the goodie bag from a can of soup(!) to a banana and a cereal bar.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Devon Red
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Highlight of the day... a PB!
In full: Too many downsides :-
Results supposed to be on the web by 9pm, but they are not.
Race t-shirts, I don't care who is to blame I paid in February and 10 weeks delay is appaling.
Start, awful, twist and narrow, no marshalling to ensure people were in correct time zones. too many yellows and pinks at the start of the blue zone... this is dangerous!!!!!
Soup!!!!!!!!!!!! Why????????????????
Bananas??????????????????????
Teenage drink station marshals were in the main good but a few idiots who did not appreciate the effort runners put in and larking about and throwing water as people ran past.
Didn't see all the mile markers, where they every mile?
Where are the results??????
Poor signs at the race village for bag store.
Best part of the day was the atmosphere, the crowds were superb, loud and uplifting for the front runners at least.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Weavers bottom
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: MUCH better than last year - what was the soup about?
In full: Lovely race. Scenery so much better than Bath! Lots of support in the city which provided a better finish than last year. Personal best helped as well!
Why bother to give everyone a can of soup though? I even missed the normal range of junk pamphlets.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Ian Whitehouse
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good run, although cobbles were painful
In full: Difficulties for spectators getting a cross the road espcially at start if coming from the village and also at the finish.
Whilst I appreciate the difficulties of planning the route, the course had too many cobbles and turns - I preferred last years route (reversed - I know others didn't)
Where were the bananas? if no bananas they should have been replaced with some other nurishment at the end - I was hungry, although there were plenty of drinks.
This is the 4th time I have run Bristol, I'll probably be back next year (if I eventually get the T-shirt). If your not from Bristol, I think it's worth the 400 mile round trip I made - It's good weekend away with run included!
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: oscar 21
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Enjoyed the run but a few negatives that niggle
In full: The start needs sorting. Wider road, fewer numbers or stricter control of runners expected times. What was that narrow back street doing in the first mile!? Done this 4 times now and each year I expect it to be better organised. Feel like i'm being ripped off particularly when the T shirt doesn't arrive and the "Goody" bag was an embarrassment.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Millsyc
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Not the best day - even with a PB!
In full: Putting the fact that the course is rather dull (except seeing the Clifton suspension bridge and SS Great Britain) to one side, this year the organisation of the event was poor. Not enough water stalls at regular intervals, large amounts of the course being on cobbled streets, the goody bags (one tin of soup!!! Not very useful after a race!!) and drinks after the finish line were difficult to find and then the access for pedestrians to move across roads were all less than acceptable Whilst today was not my first half in Bristol & I am a Bristolian, I felt the runners and those watching were let down.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: MinasC
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: many problems to be ironed
In full: If the organizers wish to see 20,000 runners next year, here is what needs to be done:
(1) The course needs sorting out; the out-and-back bit is fine; the twisting, turning, cobblestone city bit is not. Nor are the city centre fumes and the indifferent crowds (2)No goodie bags left at the end; if you pay so much money and just get a medal and lucozade it seems mean, compared to other events; (3)Crowded at the start; (4)most marhsls were good but some of the volunteer teenage marshals were downright rude (re: runners' physique). In all, a disappointment except for the medal.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Jim_in_Nam
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 5th Time.... last 2 have gone downhill
In full: The organisation has gone downhill the last 2 races. At least this year there was no hanging around on the line for 20+mins in the sun like last year.
Numbers coming in the post 3 days before the race is inexcuseable when the event fills so quickly.
Cobbles at 10/11 miles were a killer and toenails suffered, badly.
The can of soup in a goody bag - to think I went back to collect a bag!
A lot of work to do in preperation for it's 20th Year.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: bela
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nothing special although course much better than it has been.
In full: A few things
call it a goodie bag??
the starting pens - more oganisation required maybe reduced slots.
access around the course for pedestrian, particualy across bridges.
Date of review: September 9, 2007
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
