Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: This has the potential to be a classic
In full: Being a big fan of the Hogweed Trotters' excellent Hilly Half I was expecting great things from this race. If a few things are improved upon this could be a classic race.

Most of all, the directions in some places do need to be improved upon, but I expect it can't be easy to put signs everywhere on a course like this. I'm glad I'm not the only one who was confused and had to guess a couple of times. It was a very small field, and having not run due to injury for a few months I struggled to keep up with the pack.

Also a better loud speaker is needed as we couldn't hear a word of the pre-race briefing.

These are minor points however, and are more than outweighed by the good things. The scenery was fantastic, and I stopped to take in the views a few times. Good tough, challenging course, ideal preparation for cross country season. Excellent value at a tenner and a very pretty medal. Lovely tea and cakes at the finish. Friendly and supportive marshals and a friendly, but slightly clubby, bunch of runners.

Hope to come back next year, aim to have a go at the major if I'm fully fit!
Date of review: October 18, 2010

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Nice tough hills and beautiful scenery...far too easy to go the wrong way:(
In full: I loved the part of this race that I completed, but I took a wrong turn and went so far wrong that it wasn't worth me turning back (@1:30). Got a lift back to the finish with a friendly marshall. The major improvement here has to be with the directions. If you end up separated from a pack of runners you are left much on your own to "guess" which route to take at certain points. I did however enjoy the scenery and having done the mimsy last year know that this is a race worth giving another go.
Date of review: October 18, 2010

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A really nice event
In full: This is a good event and has a lot of positives: friendly marshals, great location, lovely (although rather challenging with some step ups and downs) course, good starting time on a Saturday morning.
There are few opportunities to improve, bit more organized at the start (use the megaphone to get the runners for each race to come forward for their start), some key points on the course would have benefited with a marshal, the floor was OK but did not really give direction, a couple of extra water stations would have been good.
Overall I really enjoyed it and will return for more
Date of review: October 17, 2010

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

In short: Nice enough course, bit too much on the road though. Marshalls very friendly but a couple of places weren't clearly marked so people got lost.
In full: The organisers put flour down but instead of a blob an arrow indicating direction would be more helpful, there were at least 3 places where people had to make route 'guesses' including the leading 3 who turned round to me and asked if they were going the right way, I could only answer I was following them! ALOT of confusion at prizegiving the competitors were sorting out the finishing order themselves! If these problems were sorted this could be a very good race with alot more competitors.
Date of review: October 17, 2010

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