Finchley 20Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (302 votes). | The big picture (302 votes) | | Overall score | | 75% | | How many would do it again? | | 88% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 53% | | PB potential | | 65% | | Atmosphere | | 61% | | Organisation | | 76% | | Value | | 72% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 61% |
|
|
2013 race reviewed by: Gerald Baron
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In full: Have now run this race on four occasions. I like the 4x5 mile format, as one can develop a good rhythm. There is a good standard of club runners taking part, but this, to me, does not seem to alienate the less fleet of foot, as the encouragement from marshalls and helpers is very genuine. Upon returning to the clubhouse, hot showers were available; cakes, tea and coffee. With all these amenities, the appalling weather was soon forgotten. Well done Hillingdon AC.
Date of review: March 25, 2013
|
2013 race reviewed by: Colin Braybrook
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent pre-marathon race
In full: Very well-organised 4x5mile lap race. Plenty of water-stations and supportive marshals; some very fast runners at the front but plenty of mere mortals further back. In the middle you can lap and be lapped, which stops it getting dull in the latter stages. Thank you Hillingdon AC.
Date of review: March 25, 2013
|
2013 race reviewed by: David Brooks 9
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Interesting route (*4 laps) with excellent marshals
In full: It really was a wet morning which made the marshal's job all the harder and I was so appreciative of their efforts - they really made the race.
Despite the undulating nature of the course it was still pretty fast. I enjoyed this race very much and would definitely do it again.
I was running 7:50 min miles and was expecting to get lapped at some point but not on the 2nd lap - v impressive running by the leading pair.....
Date of review: March 21, 2013
|
2013 race reviewed by: PhilPub
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised, good 20 miler marathon prep
In full: Well organised, and very enthusiastically marshalled in poor weather. Reasonably quick, rolling/undulating course around roads and pavements. The four lap format is useful for trying out different marathon pace strategies. Nice to see a practical goodie bag with chocolate and sugary drinks in! Would definitely consider this again as pre-marathon tune-up.
Date of review: March 21, 2013
|
2013 race reviewed by: Lisa Kirby 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Excellent event despite the rain
In full: Best thing about this race were the fantastic volunteers who were on the course throughout the bad weather.Special mention to the people giving out jelly babies at mile 3, the enthusiastic lady at mile 4, Andy T on water at mile 2,and all the others who were encouraging and smiley. I really enjoyed the run despite the weather.
Date of review: March 20, 2013
|
2009 race reviewed by: trainer
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: great time trial for a sprimg marathon and well marshalled
Date of review: March 11, 2012
|
2011 race reviewed by: Peter Ash
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: The marshalls were fantastic - so enthusiastic and encouraging.
Date of review: March 20, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Jolyon Attwooll
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent, fast course, enthusiastically marshalled. A terrific warm-up for a spring marathon
In full: Belatedly, just like to echo previous reviewers. The marshals were terrific. Drizzly conditions were great for running, not ideal for standing outside for several hours, but they didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the race officials whatsoever. Again, hats off to the running lady near the petrol station and the lady half way down the hill after the four mile mark. Undulations were a welcome variety, at no point were they arduous, and the downhill bits seemed quick. The one slight negative, which couldn't really be helped, was the cars passing from miles 0-2. They did on occasion get quite close, especially when more overtaking was required on the third and final laps. But a big thank you to Hillingdon AC - was surprised how much I enjoyed this race.
Date of review: March 16, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Samantha Nottage
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great for building up your distance in a small, well organised race. A few hills to add some variety but nothing that should put off a beginner.
In full: Great marshalls, guy at Breakspear Arms, lady at petrol station who danced for us all and the lady and her team after the golf club (not sure she was even a marshall). Good support at the finish from spectators and other runners who'd already finished. Sure it mentioned a t-shirt on RW event page(?) Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed t-shirt or not. 4 laps good for pacing but not so many you'd get thoroughly bored.
Date of review: March 16, 2011
|
2011 race reviewed by: Eugene Nyunt.
| | 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: Run rabbit, run rabbit. Run ! Run ! Run !
In full: My first 20 mile race and I'm still surprised at how much fun it was running multiple laps. The weather was just right and cool, plus it was great preparation for my spring marathon. Keeping count of the laps required was straightforward, although some of the fantastic marshals out around the course had been doing so anyway: Final lap, Yo !. Also the lady near the petrol station was great encouragement. I was really pleased to have taken along some Torq gels since I definitely needed a few of those on the final two laps, since only water, dilute squash and jelly babies were being stretched out. Bring some energy and you'll be fine.
Date of review: March 15, 2011
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
