Events

Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A race that basically worked despite some bad decisions relating to organisation
In full: Ok course, pretty challenging too. But some simple changes would make it go much smoother and be better for runners:
- Runner numbers posted not collected at start hall
- Clearer directions to the start
- Why does the 50k start just as the marathon comes up behind it? A bit unnecessary, confusing and pointless.
- Why have only 5 mile markers in a 50K?
- Medals and T-shirts at the finish would help (I got neither since I had to get back to the station 4 miles away and didn't even realise I'd have to walk an extra mile in the wrong direction to get these).

It has the basics to be a decent run, but the factors above meant it wasn't as smooth as it should have been.
Date of review: January 29, 2009

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

In short: enjoyable race
In full: this was my first 50K, the 4th lap is certainly tough and the last mile towards the finish was tougher. 5hrs time limit may sounds stingy but it is enough for me to run slow enough to have a descent conversations with others.
Date of review: January 27, 2009

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

In short: Reasonable organisation, 4 lap route was daunting!
In full: Reasonably organised, although drink station run out of hi five, not good if you didn't bring your own. For quiet country lanes there was more traffic than I expected and alot didn't want to slow down. No drinks at the finish although they were set up in carpark close by, but no one said! Courtesy bus back to the hall was a welcome touch.
Date of review: January 26, 2009

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

In short: Great scenery, good marshalling let down somewhat by flaky organisation
In full: Applications: Application process easy via RW website; info. sheet received by post from the organisers was sufficient, however, I'm sure organisation will definitely benefit once website (and forum to post questions / comments) is up and running.
Registration: Straightforward, efficient set-up at the hall and well organised.
Pre-race: A fair amount of confusion about where to meet and how we'd get to the 50K start - approx 1 mile away from Registration (some 50K runners mistakenly headed off with Marathon runners to their start and joined those of us heading to 50K by chance!)
Race: Great, friendly marshalling and good atmosphere and chat between runners. Enough drinks for me, no food available though. Course was tougher and more 'undulating' = hilly than I was expecting, but enough to keep the interest even for 4 laps. Everyone seemed to cope OK with the bands used to count the laps, although I had trouble getting 1st one off was helped by kind marshall with strong fingers! :-)
Post-race: Didn't enjoy the walk back to the hall after finishing (my choice as bus would have taken too long and I needed to hit the road). Join the others posting comments for 50K and Marathon that medals should be given out at finish - having to ask around to locate medal and t-shirt back at the hall was dissapointing after running so far.
Overall: Many thanks to all involved in organising and marshalling this event - lots of hard work involved and much appreciated.
PS: On a final note, would like to join others in sending condolences to the family of the runner that died. Very sad.
Date of review: January 26, 2009

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

In short: Decent enough long distance race in the country.
In full: Start was a bit confusing with marathon in one direction and 50k in another. More water points would be a benefit and also better distance markers, especially down the finish straight- that really did not seem to end. Did anybody find the distance was out by over a mile- or was that just my fatigue? Marshalls good, course testing with those few short hills. Awards a bit low key and an anticlimax after racing such a distance.
Date of review: January 26, 2009

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

In short: Needed some more water points
Date of review: January 26, 2009

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

In short: only managed 3 laps last yr, so pleased to finish this year.
In full: good support from stewards and few supporters. finish line seemed to take ages to arrive, maybe a couple more signs saying where /how far away it was.
hope the man that was in a bad way on side of road was ok
Date of review: January 25, 2009

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