Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Getting better all the time...but the original start area of Little Park Street was better
In full: This is my home town Half Marathon, so i've done it since it was re-introduced and am pleased that it is getting better all the time.
However..although the finish area at Millenium Place was amazing and gave all runners a strong down-hill finish, the starting area just round the corner in Hales Street was far too narrow for most.
The original starting area in Little Park Street was far wider & more runner friendly.
The route is now fairly unchanged and although challenging; there's no serious hills to contend with.
As said before, Millenium Place was an excellent finishing area and made good use of it for once and the atmosphere there was fantastic.
A nice touch for those at home to follow the race was the 'race-live' as they could keep up with their friends/relations as they finished via the PC.
However, RaceAhead's results service is a bit rubbish as it's been over a week since the Cov Half and although all the runners & their times are listed; there are no club names.
Check out the Birmingham Half's results service..that same evening..and you could even bring up the results for everyone in your club.
One other thing organisers...the prize listing..what's that all about??
Prizes for elite runners, prizes for non-elite runners...eh?
Don't make things any more complicated than they need to be.
1st 2nd 3rd Men,
1st 2nd 3rd Women, and various age groups etc.
It's a shame that with only 1500 runners in the half marathon the numbers are a bit low for what is essentially a well organised City event, but perhaps Birmingham's Half the following week snaffled quite a few that would have normally run Coventry.
With better promotion and a few little tweaks here & there; Coventry's Half should be a regular event in the Half Marathon Calendar.

Date of review: October 27, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A terrific day
In full: This was my first half marathon, lined up in my approximate finish time and found this was the perfect start, as soon as we passed the start mat, the running began ! Run was well marshalled and well organised, lucozade at around 8 miles was most welcome, the only fault was the HUGE queue to deposit your bag at the start, the labels could have been sent out with our numbers and speeded up the process immensely, this is only minor and I am looking forward to running this race in '09. A hearty well done to all those involved.
Date of review: October 24, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Proud for Coventry!
In full: It has all been said...A good mix of flat & hills, (my GPS showed 790 ft of climb about 90% of the notorious Hilly Half at Bourton), and good views of the city. Two small complaints....why on a wide road at the start were we squeezed through the narrow start gate,....and why is it that the results list doesn't show category, so while you are told where you came within category, you can't see how far behind the others in time. N.B. Not sure why people whinge about goody bags; a banana & biscuit helped replace a few calories, anything else I can pop along and get at Poundland or Spar.
Date of review: October 23, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Loved it!! A great race, with lots of support from the locals : ) Also got a PB
In full: A well organised race, with good atmosphere and friendly co-runners. Nice to get out of the city centre for a while but an unusual view of the ring road!
Not many hills and a great fast finish downhill. Look forward to next year!
Date of review: October 22, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Fantastic, well organised and loved almost every minute :-)
Date of review: October 22, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Exceptionally well organised, great day
In full: Excellent with only one gripe, the bagge tent was too small and understaffed causing great delays at the start. The rest was a smooth as the best I have seen in 20 years and a big pat on th back for all the volunteer marshalls.
Date of review: October 21, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: This event seems to get better each year.
In full: I've now taken part in this event 4 times and it keeps getting better. All the niggles with the course in previous years appear to have been ironed out (and I thought the crash mat on the wall in the subway was practical and hilarious). Support was very good throughout most of the event. All good!
Date of review: October 21, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great race, great day, fab organisation
In full: Well done Cov! First time I've run this event, and only my second half but still managed to improve and get a PB. Organisation, marshalls, signs - all good. One very small suggestion, can the organisers send out baggage tags with the entry pack, it might speed up the bag drop-off.
Date of review: October 20, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Excellent organisation, nice course
Date of review: October 20, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A really enjoyable half back in my home town!
In full: Really enjoyed yesterday's run. Good course, nice mix of scenery and terrain, and I think it could actually be quite quick despite the few short sharp climbs. Will definitely be back next year for a quicker time!

Organisation was good, exceptionally no loo queues and plenty of spectators on route. Lots of water stations too for a half.

Just two pleas to the organisers. Can you sort out the mile makers - twice there were two (6 miles and 11), but not at the same point on the route, and a wider start gantry? Was a bit of a squeeze getting through, so more congested that it needed to be. I loved the downhill finish though!

Otherwise a great day, and I'll be back in 2009!
Date of review: October 20, 2008

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