Southend Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (393 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Sir Cowarde de Custarde
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Given the right weather, this has to be a PB course.
In full: Teething troubles from 2008 have been ironed out, and this race went superbly in 2009. Although I was brought up in Thorpe Bay, the opening up of some former MOD land meant that I was running somewhere I had never been before. £11 for a course which was closed to traffic with effectively 9 drinks stations is fantastic value, and the medal at the end had been specifically made for the event; I shall definitely be back.
Date of review: June 18, 2009
|
|
2009 race reviewed by: paprnek
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great race, very well organized
In full: The only negative thing of this race was the weather. I liked the course and don't see any reason for those complaints about 2 laps. Frequent refreshment stations supplied with the sponges were very appreciated. Thank you.
Date of review: June 18, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Lee loo lyn
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Warm but enjoyable run
In full: Didn't think I would like the lap circuit particularly with a field of this size - but I rather enjoyed this experience. Good range of running abilities, cheering crowd, handy out of London with the start time and a good day out running along the coast in traffic free bliss. The breeze helped wick away some sweat but the heat did dry you out...which brings me to the water stations - while they were frequent enough and well staffed, the circuit and field size equated to bottle necks on this hot race day. The handlers were a bit crammed together making it hard to spot a free cup and keep from slipping on the empty ones underfoot. Nice easy route and well organised otherwise. Good price, nice medal and for a worthy cause - will be there next year(with my own drink bottle!)
Date of review: June 18, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Rachel Deacon 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great atmosphere - excellent all round race for all runners
In full: Ive done a few runs this year, and most of them have been "marred" by people who are only interested in their personal performance. This was an excellent combination of a good run for the speedy, and an excellent atmosphere for the not-so-speedy. Wardens had wet sponges and Starburst chews and clapped everyone that passed. Water stations were well positioned and well manned, and the start/finish had a wonderful family inclusive atmosphere... It was great - with one exception...
... A patch of shingle less than 1/2 mile from the finish succeeded in ripping ALL the blisters off my foot, causing untold pain and making those last few steps unbareable... Who's idea was that???
Date of review: June 17, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: dagenham snail runner
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: great race. well organised with lots of water stations and wet sponges.
Date of review: June 17, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: gomumgo
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A good race but just too hot - would be better with an earlier start.
In full: Well organised overall - agree with the comments about some of the water stations and very hard to drink out of plastic cups even at walking pace. Sponges very welcome in that heat though - great idea. Queue out of car park a pain but only what you'd expect at a big race. Great marshalls, very encouraging. Hope that all the runners I saw being attended to by the St John Ambulance have recovered.
Date of review: June 17, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Tracy Russell
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good race, marshalls were very supportive, difficult to get to water s stations and had to wait for cups, people didn't know to make way for faster runners , results not available at venue
Date of review: June 17, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: james greenwood 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: More boring route you will ever come across!
In full: Having run the Southend half in both 06 and 07 I was disappointed to hear that the route had been changed. The start point is very poorly sign-posted and just made it in the nick of time! Very flat course so good PB potential if you can get over the monotony of literally running up and down the same straight stretch of road for the best part of 10m!
Date of review: June 17, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Ray Matthews 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very fast course. A bit repeatative but good Pb as long as its not too hot or windy
In full: My only complaint is that its Tuesday evening and the results are still not on the web site. This is really annoying as its not a difficult thing to organise. The weather is not in our control but this is. I think runners world should insist that all race organisers have to post the race results within 24 hours of the race.Come on Southend get your act together !
Date of review: June 16, 2009
|
2009 race reviewed by: Dale Constable
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not the best, wrong time of year.
In full: Plenty of parking, got there early so no problems. At the start of the race it was all for one, couldn't hear anyone telling you anything and then the air horn went off to start the race. Did like the chip timming so you know your correct time later in the day and position finished from the web site. The loop on the course does your head in going past the same point 4 times, but you could get a PB if the weather is cooler. When the race finished went straight away so no problems getting out.
Date of review: June 16, 2009
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
