2009 PUMA HellRunner: Hell Down South Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (468 votes). | 1 to 10 of 49 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 |
| The big picture 2010 (49 votes) | | Overall score | | 80% | | How many would do it again? | | 73% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 35% | | Atmosphere | | 78% | | Organisation | | 59% | | Value | | 62% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 64% |
|
|
2010 race reviewed by: senidM
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: hmmm, don't think i'll bother again!
In full: My second time, but not impressed, this is a run for blokes who decide that it sounds like a laugh while in the pub, and if that sounds patronising, yup, its meant too.
Without the two water features this is a very boring trail run, and too narrow for the number of runners, i.e. you can only go at the pace of the guy walking uphill in front of you, its a hellrun, not a hellwalk!
And the water features, well they're ok, but very artificial, just spoil the run really.
So, as a club runner, the general consensus was, why bother in future? There are much better trail runs out there, or good old fashioned X-C.
Date of review: December 15, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: Yasmin Abouda
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: On a muddy slope...
In full: Ok so as this was my second year at completing this crazy race, i thought it best to review and rate it.
This year the weather was unbearably cold so the prospect of the bog of doom, along with many of the other water 'features' was not so appealing. However, the course did not disappoint and everything was as the year before - just partially frozen!
The course itself is great and different terrains are a great way of breaking the run up. However this year was a disappointment compared to 09, the organisation and administration really seemed to be lacking.
As a costly race you would expect the basics. This year there were way too few marshalls. I didn't see one medic (I did see a large number of people suffering from the cold) and they really had skimped on the fun extras. No energy drink as you come up to the start line, no hellman on stilts either at the beginning or through the race and no band at the halfway(ish) stage. These were some of the essential extras that made competing so much fun and it was ashame to see these had been cut out.
Will I do the race again? Yes and hopefully next year means Hellruner will be back on form!
Date of review: December 14, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: Dicky M
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Cold, cold, cold !
In full: Course had lovely views but there were quite a number of bottlenecks which meant it was more of a 'fun-run' than anything else.
Unlike others on here, no real problem with the organisation of the race - I think it was made quite clear that facilities on site were sparse.
But, given the cold weather and interaction with water that every competitor had, a marquee with some form of heater should have been put in place for runners at the end.
I saw several people in trouble at the end, and some trying to get back to their cars in a bit of a state.
The Air Cadets doing the baggage get top marks from me. I think they did a great job, as did the ones handing out the water and the Army Cadets doling out the goodie bags.
Goodie bag contents were pretty good.
Didn't hang around for too long afterward to gauge 'atmosphere' - too cold !
Date of review: December 7, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: Simon Butler 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hell's frozen over and not what it once was
In full: I had great fun running this but with the air temp at minus 3 degrees it was a little chilly in the water sections. This year saw the return of the car park near the start. This was at a £4 premium but well worth it if just to reduce the likelihood of hypothermia walking to the alternate car park about a mile away.
Despite the loos being frozen up, the start being disorganised and several runners taking short cuts I still love this race.
Date of review: December 7, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: Claire Campbell 6
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not as tough as it says on the tin!!
In full: I was expecting this to be a tough race but it was only the British weather that delivered on this front. Most of the distance is a moderate trail run with a few short sharp hills and two water obstacles near the end. As the course goes a long way out there are no spectators for most of it, just a few frozen cadets standing around in a few places (hats off to them by the way!). It was good fun but I saw a couple of people in difficulty near the end and there was very little medical help for them. There really needs to be just two big male and female changing marquees or something at the end for people to get out of their wet stuff, I was borderline hypothermic and so were many others. Great fun if you've never done anything like this before but doesn't come near the organisation and atmosphere of events like Tough Guy.
Date of review: December 6, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: wehaveaproblemmouse
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hellrunner - they wish. More like bit of cross country and a waterdunk.
In full: Disappionted overall. I thought this was going to be "hell". But for me it just felt like a long cross country run with a couple of swims near the end. The organisation was fine. T-Shirt was ok. Just not worth the money and didn't live up to it's OWN hype.
Date of review: December 3, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: Hilary Willett
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Challenging & freezing. No help for almost hypothermic participants!!!
In full: Having ran this race last year, I found it to be easier going underfoot as the ground was much drier this year. However, the bog of doom had ice on it before the start and the air temperature was below freezing. Therefore the race was much harder than last year after going through the water hazards as you were absolutely freezing. This to the point that I still have some nerve sensation problems in one of my fingers. Note to self: must not fall into the water next time! The hills were tough but if you spent time training on hills then they were not too much of a problem. There were no silver blankets (or any official assistance) at the end. I am surprised no one had hypothermia. There was also no band playing half way round so there was less atmosphere than last year. All this said, I beat last year's time by 6 minutes so was pretty chuffed! I would consider doing it again (check the weather forecast beforehand!!)
Date of review: December 3, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: Simon Dean 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bit of a Let Down, V Cold but FAR easier than expected
In full: Having entered a number of off road races which include water hazards in the past and enjoyed the challenge, I thought Hell Down South was going to be a real challenge. Also, having viewed the video it looked as though the organisers put in a lot of effort to make the event special. Sadly, my experience of the race did not live up to expectations. The actual run was pretty straightforward trail running with nothing that was any more challenging that normal training runs. I admit that the water hazards were absolutely freezing and upped the difficulty factor somewhat, but with temperature at -2 on the start line, I guess this was to be expected. I was so glad that my friends and I had come prepared as there seemed to be little help at the end of the race for those suffering with the cold. This could have had serious consequences for less well prepared runners and I think is something the organisers need to think carefully about. I know this race is run at your own risk, but the unusually cold days this year could have resulted in real problems for some people. The loos were the most hellish part of the day to be honest (and I hear they were even worse on Sunday). So I won't be doing this one again. There are cheaper, more challenging and more fun events to be run!
Date of review: December 3, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: Emily Gibbs
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Insane but brilliant
Date of review: December 3, 2010
|
2010 race reviewed by: david pomeroy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: the race its slef was fantastic but was let down by the organisation sadly :(
In full: I loved the mud, course and pysical challange of the race. Running while that cold and wet was hard but enjoyable. :)
Sadly I came away anoyed at the organisation and saftey of the race. For the money we paid it was not good. Some members of our group came close to hyperphemia ( We all understood it was a posibilty and what the race was about ) How ever you expect the organziers to understand this and be set up for it. First hand i saw this was not the case. There needs to be tents with heaters where people can get changed with blankets and peopel to help. Luckly we were part of a big group and could help each other in and out of clothing. The way the first aid dealt with people who could cope was terible.
Date of review: December 2, 2010
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
