Events

Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: So thirsty, so thirsty oh I remember the water station is 1/2 mile before the finish line
In full: My GPS said this is 20.8 miles - but is has been known to be wrong.
Goodie bag was just a promotional pack for other advertisers - no goodies.
Did I mention I was very very thirsty? Water station 1 mile in and 1/2 mile at the end. That is a long way on a hot morning.
I must say the other runners were fantastically friendly. Never met such a nice group of people on a run.
3 miles of running along a motorway was not what I was expecting and unfortunately my earphones blew up so I couldn't drown out the sound of the traffic. However my head was down most of the time thinking about how tempting the puddles were to drink.
Most of the scenery was lovely though.
Date of review: March 13, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Very very poor organisation......
In full: The water station issue has already been mentioned, this was very poor, how hard can it be to get enough cups / water for your confirmed runners? The worst was the half marathon distance - it ended up as 14.7 miles!!! Goody bag consisted of a pen and a banana, no medal, no t-shirt....We had to walk about 0.5 miles to a new start as the old one wasnt working, so chip timing is irrelevant. All in all a complete waste of money, no chance of me running this "event" again
Date of review: March 12, 2012

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Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Well what can I say
In full: I accept that every new race will have teething problems and am easily pleased but what on earth was this race.
In no particular oder of importance: even if the organisers may say that the loos were campsite responsibility, how hard can it be to provide 50 extra rolls of toilet paper to cater for the increased footfall - lots of other races do that. Highly strung and extremely unrelaxed bib desk lady- don't mean to pick on individuals but first impressions count. Jelly babies at the start are nice but why not have at least a few out on the course - I know they said no food but that would have been appreciated I think. For a course that's advertised as picturesque etc. to run alongside the motorway for a few miles, disappointing - so much potential Marshals clearly non-runners, while some of them tried their best, most just sat there playing with their phones barely looking up - and it wasn't for lack of runners greeting them! As the race organiser chose not to put mile markers out (surely no big deal to organise, even with several different races going on!)and the marshals had not the faintest idea when asked, there wasn't really a way of knowing exact mileage. Biggest issue was the lack of water - how can you run out of water / cups. Incredible. Either make it a self -supported race or supply water - no in-betweens. Ran into massive crowds (finishers from other race) / cars after the first lap - a few marshals helping runners out by warning / crowd controlling would have been appreciated. Ran 20 meters past the turnoff to the finish, though not recognisable as such (yellow sign but no "finish") this was entirely my own fault - my responsibility to know the course. But: turned round and got screamed at (I'm not exaggerating) by a marshall "WHY DO YOU ALL HAVE YOUR NUMBERS OBSCURED?! Hadn't said anything / looked at him accusingly for not shepheding me towards the finish / in fact didn't look at him at all - completely uncalled for. My race number was neatly folded up and well recognisable on my shorts. What a joke of a race.
Date of review: March 12, 2012

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

In short: Obviously problems with the later races but the 10k (well 11k) was challenging and friendly, loved it. Would do again.
Date of review: March 12, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: 20 miler, with potential, but definitely not achieved.
In full: At the start, I thought we was in for a special race. Thought it was genius using a camp site as a base, clean loos, hot showers and even a good pub on site. Transit to carpark good on arrival.

But it didn't really deliver. Chap on the bike very friendly, and 1/2 other marshals supportive, but on the whole was like have 'agency staff' standing looking depressed. And as for the water situation; massively dehydrated, unable to use any gels because of water situation. And wow, the mini bus back to the cars, it was like being on a gran prix.

It should have beeen an exceptional race, but it just failed on some key points....
Date of review: March 11, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great scenery - bad organization particularly with water stops
In full: Where do I start. Delayed start because our "race leader" was currently out on the course because he was also the medic !. No announcement or display of number of water stations. Only 2 water stations on each lap, one at about 3 miles and the next at about 10. I was a sub 3 hour 20 mile finisher but by the time I reached the 2nd water station on the first stop they had run out of cups and were fishing the used ones off the ground and swilling them out in the drinking water. Mine tasted as though it had been in soapy liquid so I had to spit it straight out. Very unhygienic and bear in mind this was before the half marathon had even started. Also at 9am inadequate mini bus turned up for transfer to the start and asked for as many people to cram on as possible and announced they would be back in 10 mins. With the length of the queue I thought that we wouldn't all make the start time so I made my own way there and took some others. The 20 mile course was hilly, not undulating and was half a mile longer than advertised. Also after completing one lap I had to weave between the half marathon runners who were spread right across the road walking to the start and I nearly got caught between 2 cars. Beautiful scenery and I didn't mind the hills and the other runners were very friendly but I would not run an event again organized by these people only because of the terrible and very unhygienic water situation.
Date of review: March 11, 2012

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Challenging run - especially in the glorious sunshine. Shame about the unenthused marshals and lack of water stops.
In full: It pains me to say it but was fairly disappointed with this race. The route was a mix of everything which was enjoyable and challenging - especially with the glorious sunshine. However, there was more encouragement from passing walkers and cyclists than from the marshals along the route, most of whom didn't look up from their phones as you passed by. There was no water at the second water stop when I reached it and no race memento at the end, despite the listing saying there was one. I do these runs for the challenge but it's still nice to have something to show for it and remember it by. The 'goody bag' had a race leaflet and an energy bar in it, which for a £25 entry fee was bitterly disappointing. If I do this run again it'll be on my own as a training run. It just wasn't worth the cash. Such a shame.
Date of review: March 11, 2012

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