Events

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

In short: Debacle!
Date of review: May 29, 2012

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

In short: Shame about the weather
In full: First time I've done Stratford half and was worried about it being a bit warm when I entered. No chance of that, conditions were atrocious.
In the circumstances I thought the organisers adopted a sensible approach. Though I can understand the disappointment of those who had entered the full marathon.
Marshals were fantastic as were the spectators who braved the elements. Despite the weather I enjoyed it though it was very hard work.
Date of review: May 13, 2012

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

In short: Seventh year running for my hometown race.
In full: Despite the truly awful weather I really enjoyed it this year. Didn't really have time to think about being sore or out of breath as was trying so hard not to be blown over! I have sympathy for the organisers who had some difficult decisions to make on the day but I think they made the right ones. I'll be back again next year. I do wish they'd knock the entry fee down just a little bit though. I know it's for charity but £30+ is quite steep and then to only get a banana and a bottle of water at the end is a bit tight.
Date of review: May 8, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In full: cancelling the marathon.sensible but on 2 mins notice?gave runners no preparation.in my opinion would have been fairer to postpone both events/re-schedule later in the year.racing in those conditions was a nightmare.
27 quid entry-no goody bag or t-shirt?seems a bit harsh
Date of review: May 7, 2012

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

In short: Scenic course in good location - but bad weather damaged the atmosphere!
Date of review: May 6, 2012

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

In short: no medal
In full: all that running in the crappy weather and all for nothing!! thanks guy's. your grrrrreat
Date of review: May 5, 2012

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

In short: Mixed Feelings
In full: We all knew the weather would be bad but I didn't think it would be *that* awful. Was more like February.

Atmosphere was very good. A lot of friendly people there and I can imagine on a sunny day it would be a wonderful race.

I only found out the cancellation of the full marathon because I was quite near the loudspeaker. I can imagine that a lot of people would not have heard it.

I think they made the right decision and if they'd have cancelled it the day before it could have been a worse mistake.

My only grumble really was about the finish, which was congested unnecessarily. I was lucky enough to get a medal but where was the goody bag? Pretty expensive race, so not amused by that.

Don't know if I'll run this again but a big thank you to the marshals, people at the water stations and crowds who supported the runners.
Date of review: May 3, 2012

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

In short: Nice, but...
In full: Big thanks to the marshals- truly astonishing weather and they must have been out in it for 5+ hours. Worth bearing in mind that the decision to cancel the full and just run the half is only partly about the runners but also about the marshals et al who have to stay out there.
That said organisation needs improvment- from past reviews appears fine until they have to deal with something like the atrocious weather on this occasion.
To some extent I don't mind a limited goody bag- I know this when I choose to race, but a shame that the year is not on the medal.
Date of review: May 1, 2012

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

In short: Great Event in very difficult circumstances
In full: I think negative comments are unfair and sometimes reflect lack of knowledge of the course. All the runners at the end seemed to accept the sense of the decision. Very difficult to make that decision earlier. Marshalls were great as were supporters who both really made an effort in terrible conditions. We need to move way from a blame culture if we are to retain our integrity and dignity.
Date of review: May 1, 2012

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

In short: Weather was poor - organisation was worse
In full: OK, so all reviewers have probably mentioned the cancellation of the full mara. I'm not sure if it was because of the weather or the surface of the Greenway (and if it's good enough for the half then why not good enough for the full?). Communication at the start was feeble - many of us did not know that the race was cancelled until we were well into it.

Other than that though, the organisers could - and should - make some changes next year
- the path on the road in the final mile was too narrow to allow much overtaking and those of us who wanted to do the full were still full of energy
- where was the risk management on the course? The weather had been predicted for days and they failed to provide alternatives.

Marathons are supposed to be challenges for most of us - they should have treated us like adults and allowed us to do the full at our own risk.
Date of review: May 1, 2012

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