England Kilomathon™Here's how RW members rated this race (162 votes). | The big picture (162 votes) | | Overall score | | 68% | | How many would do it again? | | 66% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 62% | | PB potential | | 74% | | Atmosphere | | 57% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 55% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 68% |
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2012 race reviewed by: Martin Spence
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A lovely route spoiled by very poor race day organisation
Date of review: November 22, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Paul Howard 11
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great route- awful organisation
In full: Route was lovely through a park and by river. But start and finish points 5 miles apart. You had to pay extra to get back to start. And bus organisation was non existent . Not enough toilets at the start. Bags left unattended at finish. And finish was in the middle of a field away from everywhere!!!
Date of review: November 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: jenny davis 3
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: A shambles.
In full: Not sure where to start. The volunteers looked completely miserable apart from about 3 that said keep going, you're doing well etc.
There were no toilets for the first 6 miles that i saw.
The goody bags were rubbish - saw it said we get a t shirt as well? I didnt receive this or see any at all? The bag included a bar, some coffee sweets and think some energy drink tab things.
Our bag was left in the middle of the muddle field and they were not supervised! Anyone could have taken it.
The bus situation was an absolute joke. Me and my dad had booked in advance and paid £6 for bus tickets. When we finished in the middle of the muddy field in the freezing cold, stiff and achey, we then wandered to where we assumed the bus would be (as not signposted) There was a small mini bus parked there. After waiting about 20 minutes in a queue of around 50 people at least, I went to the front to see what was happening. I was advised that the driver of the bus was on a break and wouldnt be leaving for at least 20 minutes. Then would have to come back and we would have to wait at least an hour and she said that was the minimum. There was no way I could have stayed in the cold for an hour so she called us a taxi and we went over to McDonalds to wait for it.
My dad ended up paying £20 for the taxi we shared with 4 other people as no one else had any money apart from 1 man who paid £5 which was all he had.
Ruined the day completely. If the volunteers were more cheerful it would have made it so much more pleasent, and also if the bus sitution was sorted out it would have been better. This years race was awful and we will not be returning.
Date of review: October 31, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Amandax
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Route not what I expected and longer than 13.1k
In full: Didnt use buses or baggage facilities as husband drove to end so cant comment on the problems.I didnt see email re not parking there til after as it went in spam folder but he had no issues.I enjoyed race but did think it was going to be all in the park so surprised about beginning in industrial park. Liked medal and goody bag but no tshirt as advertised. Plenty of marshals but didnt find them overly supportive. Pre race info was good. Prob wont do again, bit of a trek and early start but at least I got to see white water rafting
Date of review: October 31, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Alison Fryatt
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: 6.55k race was OK, but organisation could be better
In full: I opted for the 6.55k distance. Had considered the half kilomathon but, having read the comments, glad I didn't. The 6.55k started and finished where the main races ended - in a field by the White Water Centre - so at least I did not have the shuttle bus problem. The race pack had said there was no parking available, but we were able to park there, probably because there were only 20 runners, of a possible 2,500. Less than a Parkrun! There was a cafe in the White Water Centre for hot drinks and bacon or sausage baps but this wasn't advertised. Race started half an hour late, they said due to transport difficulties. As a result, I was running into the longer distance runners as I headed towards the finish line. The DJ at the start/finish was cheery. Most of the marshals were uncommunicative but they were probably bored with so few runners - I got a bit lonely running through woodland in my own company a lot of the time. There were a handfull of kids doing a shorter race and I felt sorry for them having so few people to cheer them on. A staggered start and finish for all the races at the same location would have created a better atmosphere and avoided the transport difficulties.
The distances are great for someone wanting an extra challenge but there are obvious organisational problems that need to be sorted before I'll commit to the 13.1k next year.
Date of review: October 30, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Simon Lashmar
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great course, well marshalled & signposted. Let down by the lack of bus back!
Date of review: October 30, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Helen Smithson 2
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Poor organisation spoiled what could have been a good race
In full: There were some good points to this race: the marshals were very cheerful and helpful and the scenery was pleasant and interesting once we left the industrial estate behind. It was also good idea to start the race at Lee Valley Athletics Centre which had plenty of parking and good facilities. However, there were also some serious problems with the race and I for one will not be taking part in a Kilomathon again unless they are sorted out.
(i) The race ended in the middle of a field, miles from anywhere, and with nowhere to buy a hot drink or shelter from the cold - not a great idea at the end of October, particularly given the delays with the shuttle transport
(ii) The bus transport back to the start was totally inadequate for the number of runners/spectators. Bus transport had to be booked and paid for in advance, so the organisers knew how many people would want to use it. What went wrong?
(iii) The road closures did not appear to have been managed properly. There were few signs for drivers and at one point I saw a car driver try to make a right turn into a "closed" road we were running along.
Was there a race licence for this event? I've tried to upload my result to the Runbritain/Power of 10 websites and I get a message saying no record of a licence.
Date of review: October 30, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: twiglet snail
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Great Run, Terrible finish.
In full: So much potential! a novel distance and something a bit different, all totally ruined by an appalling finish, in a muddy field miles from anywhere it seemed. Many thanks to the cheerful gut who, after we had stood freezing for half an hour got us together in the mc donalds over the road and ordered a taxi for 8 to share, a lifesaver!I had so looked foward to the day as a chance or something new and the stadium would have made a great finish, but i for one,will not be back.
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Sinead Courtney
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: I eneded up running further than 13.1km as the distance between the 10km & 11km points was incorrect! Very disappointed at the end of the race as there was nowhere to rest/change into warmer clothes, my bag was lying in the mud for anyone to take and none of the organisers could point me in the direction of the closest train station. Very bad transport links- wish we has finished where we had started. Overall, I found it challenging and enjoyable (until the end).
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: James Maskell
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Poorly organised, no sense of pride, money grabbing
In full: I find it ridiculous that an 'organised event' has so many issues, I genuinely don't know where to start. Firstly (although this didn't effect me) the baggage situation was a joke, bags were just dumped in the field for you to find yours. The funnel on the track circuit at the beginning was a laugh too. The fact that the gates were closed in the nature reserve probably showed that they hadn't even sought permission, the end was depressing and the bus situation a joke. I wont be doing this again, what a joke!
Date of review: October 29, 2012
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