Great Cumbrian Run Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (322 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Bethers
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great day despite the weather
In full: Superb atmosphere. Feels like your running more up bank than down!!!!!!! Great start and finish venue's. My first 13 miler since 1987, (old Brampton to Carlisle route, this course is far better) i will be back next year.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: pc plum
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Windy
In full: Got a pb by about 4 minutes so i suppose my feelings about this race are gonna be positive for that reason. Despite posts on the message board i was happy with the organisation. Got my number and race info through in plenty of time. Picking up the chip was very quick and painless. Ample parking near the castle. Plenty of marshalls and water on the course. The course was ok, though more undulating than i thought it'd be. The wind and drizzle at the start was pretty depressing though!
Will do it again, but may be back to Jedburgh next year instead.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Warrington Road Warrior
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent value for a well organised event.
In full: The race starts in Carlisle Castle and there was plenty of paid parking nearby, there were some toilets, chip collection and a lucozade stand at the start. The race started on time, and made its way through the city centre and out around local villages before returning past the football stadium and into a large park with sheep in it before ending at the running track. Haven't been to Carlisle since I left Cumbria when I was seven and it was nice to be back, I'm pretty sure we ran past the vast majority of sites that Carlisle had to offer.
Water stations were ample at 3, 6, 8.5 and 11 miles, I didn't see any mention of where they would be at the start or in the pack but I'd be lying if I said I looked closely. At each station there was a 500ml bottle of water and some stations had lucozade (i hate the stuff so can only verify the first and last stations but wasn't looking). Each station was manned by cheerful army cadets and were well staffed.
The medal was personalised for the race and of high quality and the goody bag contained a bottle of water, a NB technical shirt, some bourbon biscuits and some leaflets - for the £17 race fee it proved decent value and the goody bag itself was a nice drawstring NB plastic bag, really handy for laundry! They were also handing out bananas!
There was plenty to do at the end, the local radio were reporting live and there was a NB shop - personally I'd have liked to see a bit more at the start to have done but it was nice to start at the castle.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Tom Osorio
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good organisation and support meant the wind and rain was fun.
Date of review: October 25, 2009
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2008 race reviewed by: bananascooby
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Brillant race, very well organised
In full: Made up with this race, its taken me nine years to get under 2 hours and finally at long last I've done it, 1hr 52. Organisation was really good, course was a good mix of town and country and I will be back next year.
Date of review: November 13, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Ian McMillan
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: new course better than the old out and back course if a little more undulating
Date of review: October 29, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Claire9
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great new course, brilliant atmosphere and a big pb for me!
In full: I've run the Cumbrian Run a few times before and I have to say that it was by far my most enjoyable. I enjoyed it so much that I managed a pb by over 5 minutes and my first sub 1:40 half marathon!
The marshalls, cadets and spectators were all very supportive. The course had minor undulations but it made it much more interesting, as did the scenery along the new route. A great mix of city, parkland and country villages.
The t-shirt, medal and goody bag also helped to make it great value for money. It's always good to get a little something to eat and drink at the end of a long run.
I also really enjoyed starting at the Castle and finishing in the Stadium. I hope this course stays for future years.
A few minor improvements could make it an even better race than it already is, including:
- More pre race information. I thought Mike's blog on the Cumbrian Run website was a great idea, but unfortunately there were only two posts in the months leading up to the race. A few more next year, especially building up to race day, would be good.
- Lots more toilets at the start.
- Speakers within the Castle so that runners can hear what's going on at the start.
- Advance notice of water stations would be useful to allow runners to take enery gels beforehand.
However, these are minor gripes and it was definitely one of the most enjoyable half marathons I've done.
Date of review: October 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: wilso1
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great from start to finish
In full: Excellent race,parking at the start short walk from the finish.Great course,gathering inside the castle at the start was good aswell.Good support from locals.This race will not be forgoten as it was my first sub 90 minute half.Definitely doing this one again.Thanks carlisle
Date of review: October 25, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Steve Head
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good Event
Date of review: October 24, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: jacquey O
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Billiant!!
In full: Well done to all the organisers, the marshalls, cardets and the large crowd that turned up to cheer, definately made the day.
the new course is a winner! cannot be bad if i bettered my time by 17 minutes! and this was a hiller course compared to the old one! looking forward to next year.Keep on running!
Date of review: October 23, 2008
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