Woodstock 12  Here's how RW members rated this race (79 votes). | 1 to 10 of 18 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
| The big picture 2006 (18 votes) | | Overall score | | 74% | | How many would do it again? | | 81% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 94% | | PB potential | | 49% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 62% | | Value | | 69% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 48% |
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2006 race reviewed by: Dashed
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Three laps in the grounds of Blenheim Palace !
In full: The route is hilly but at least you know what to pace yourself for after doing the first lap.
Needed water station half-way round. This would give you four water stops in 12m race. The day was warm so needed it.
Great race otherwise and achieved my goal of not getting lapped ! Will be back nexy year.
Date of review: September 21, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: reddy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Enjoyably different
In full: Towards the hilly end of 'undulating' but none the worse for it, and those wishing it to be a half or a 10M have probably missed the point. Beginners may be better off with the 10k in October though. Beautiful setting, pretty well organised, only £6, decent facilities, (although no showers), but be warned - you entry gets you into the park free, but not anyone else with you, and it isn't cheap. Drinks half way round wouldn't be a bad idea, but it was warm this year and I feel the heat more than most. Good pre Abingdon warm up race, expecially if you turn up an hour early and do a lap as a warm up to turn it into a hilly 16 ! Also its on Saturday afternoon, so no early start, and doesn't interfere with saturday nights out ! I'd do it again, and quite a few there sounded as though they come back year after year.
Date of review: September 20, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Gareth Morgan 4
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great scenery but room for improvement in organisation.
In full: Really enjoyed the route and lack of traffic but there are a number of areas that could be improved. Only two half full cups of water when running 12 miles is not sufficient. I finished mid-pack but walking back to car park marshalls were taking off bibs and walking away with runners still needing encouragement and possibly help.
Date of review: September 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: The Woodle
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Is it Hilly. Yes it is. Do hills put me off, I'll get back to you on that one.
In full: Right then Blenheim Palace is a fab place to run.
Yes there are hills and yet more hills, but they are the fun bit!!!!!!!!!!
It is nice to do a quiet race only 207 finished and I was number 129 out of that.
Marshalls were good and you can annoy all of the yanks that come to vist the palace.
Do it again, you bet I will, It is a perfect race before the Abingdon Marathon in 5 weeks....
Date of review: September 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Featch
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: I hate that first hill and I train on it each week.
In full: Living in woodstock I couldn't really let it pass me by so I may be a little biased. That said however I have to say that the Woodstock Harriers do put on a very nice race (first hill aside)Yes there are a few cars but they certainly don't 'whizz' by, and although the finish could do with a little work it is otherwise a lovely run in a beautiful park and not so busy that you can't enjoy the scenery.
Still hate that hill mind
Date of review: September 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Minnie5
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Didn't enjoy this race at all which may be coloruing my view of the overall organisation
In full: Disappointed that I didn't finish (not the race organisers problem I know). Unfortunately did the Burnham Beeches half marthon a few weeks ago (and did finish), and Woodstock suffers in comparison regarding atmosphere and facilities. Also it isn't traffic free - lots of people whizzing about as if they owned the place (they probably did!) Very fast - I watched the finish - which many people missed and had to be redirected!
Date of review: September 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: _Woody
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Great setting, undulating (not hilly) good fun.
In full: Enjoyed the course and scenery and there plenty for the faimly to do while running.
I would call it undulating (not hilly) as there was only one significant uphill bit this was followed by a steady downhill for over 1 mile on each lap. I think this makes it alright for running a good time.
2 Suggested Improvements from me:
- we were charged £7 for adult spectators which needs to be flagged up by the organisers prior to entering. This also made it a bit steep in terms of value for money.
- the area in front of the palace was the only hotspot for vehicles. I was forced to stop by a coach turning in front of me and I saw two other incidents of runners taking evasive action around cars who were turning onto the parking area. I think more should be done to warn these drivers. While the Race marshalls were great, the Blenheim Palace stewards seemed oblivious to us.
Date of review: September 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: GreatNorthWood
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Potentially good race let down by some issues.
In full: Pros: Beautiful scenery. Very hilly. Could be a great race.
Cons:Let down by having to pay £7 for my wife to come and watch and a very negative marshall at the end.
No clock timer so didn't know my time until the races results were posted on the net.
Also, wouldn't this be better as either a 12miler or a half, rather than 12miles 198yards?
Date of review: September 18, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: steven caswell
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race hard tough but great rollon next year
Date of review: September 17, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: neil barratt 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: This was my first 10K plus and I really enjoyed the challenge.
In full: Had driven down from staffordshire to run the race with brother-in-law and really battled it out at the end. Went for a sprint finish and crossed the line just ahead of a runner that the timekeeper had prematurely placed ahead of us. This sent the jobsworth into a frenzy and he very publicly and rudely admonished us for sprinting across the finish line. Since when was a race a non-competitive sport? After running 12 miles I was looking forward to well earned pat on the back but was left feeling very deflated. However, many thanks to the other runners for cheering us on!
Date of review: September 17, 2006
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