Bedford Harriers Oakley 12 & 20Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (458 votes). | 1 to 10 of 23 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 |
| The big picture 2011 (23 votes) | | Overall score | | 83% | | How many would do it again? | | 85% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 78% | | PB potential | | 55% | | Atmosphere | | 73% | | Organisation | | 83% | | Value | | 78% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 63% |
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2011 race reviewed by: running belle
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: One of the best organised races I have ever done (I've done quite a few!) Marshals were superb - very well supported course and all really encouraging. Perfect test run for a Spring marathon.
In full: Lots of club runners, but only because most people don't run 20 miles for fun! I was training for London, but had a great run at Oakley. Nice hoodie as souvenir.
Date of review: April 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: jules_perox
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: ++Tougher 20 miler WITH hills! Shock horror!++
In full: This was a lot more challenging than i kinda expected to be honest! Good course, beautiful scenery but those hills! Man, they were tough!
The Marshalls deserve special mention as I don't think i passed one without them shouting encouragement, especially the one at mile 18.75 ;o)
Loved the Hoody, thought the goody bag a little bit of a token gesture but I enjoyed the bar.
Start needs organising better. The 'walk through the masses as far back as you can and then turn round' idea was a bit daft!
But didn't spoil an otherwise tough, enjoyable race.
many thanks to the Bedford Harriers
Date of review: April 8, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: martin Lynch 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very good course, challenging but not horrendous. Good organisation and fab hoody
In full: In General a good event liked the course and ran it well and excellent prep for London. Ran Ashby two weeks prior and 20 secs quicker this time and would say the course is a little hillier although felt like i was doing a runner from a taxi for the last half mile. I would say i thought Ashby was a bit better organised probably due to sponsorship and the extras susch as gels and bottles of water and the space at the start and finish etc. Would also like chips that record you at the start. However good event and would recomend and the Oakley hood is better as well. Thankyou Bedfors
Date of review: April 2, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: David Gillett 5
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Most of this race was brilliant and I would do it again but the hall was too crowded even an hour before. Most marshalls were super friendly but one or two were a bit over zealous. The finish is a killer!
Date of review: April 2, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Katarina DarcyChtaibi
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A gnome at home on hills!
In full: Same old hills again at the Oakley 20 (wish that they would flatten as the years progress) but surprisingly do-able in costume and I somehow (and have no idea how) managed a PB! Hoodies once again with this years going to be put to good use for my gnome costume as and when I get around to making one. A big thank you to everyone that spent the Saturday setting up (shouldn't really include myself in that bit!) and those who spent Sunday standing outside providing real encouragement to the runners (the youngsters from the Scouts were great). Thanks Mark (bike marshal leading front runner) for notifying me that the lead runner was on his way (was in shock when the lead runners cheered me on!). Really nice support from participants too this year (those in particular have already been contacted). I struggled on the grassy finish (but always do in fields etc hence why I tentd to enter road events more than anything else). Was a little worried on the bridge on one lap as there was a blockage of traffic whereby both ends wanted to keep moving forward and drivers seemed more concerned for themselves than the runners (white van man, move over next time unless you'd like me to end up on your bonnet next time as I almost got squashed between the bridge and the side of van, not good when I already have balance and coordination difficulties). So glad that the weather was o.k. this year and Anglia Water had not started digging up the roads for repairs!
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: home cook
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I'd do it again (if I ever have another marathon planned)
In full: I ran the Bedford Harriers half in December last year and found it well organised with great marshalls. Entered the Oakley as final LSR before VLM, and Bedford Harriers did not disappoint me! Well organised, course challenging but not too tough with plenty of friendly marshalls. I liked the two loops as passing the school at 12 miles made it feel like halfway when in fact there were just 8 miles to go! My first attempt at 20 miles so the housing estate and field finish did not bother me, just glad to get round without walking! I'll wear the hoody with pride, thanks to Bedford Harriers!!
Date of review: March 29, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Catcat
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A number of issues let the race down for me
In full: course was ok, picturesque villages at the top of the course were nice, running through the housing estate at the end wasn't. Nicely undulating, certainly wouldn't call it hilly
The narrow bridges were a bit tight as well,particularly with lots of cars trying to get over at the same time.
didn't like the long lap / short lap course. being a slow runner I was being lapped at about mile 9, meaning had to endure 3 miles of being passed, not overly motivating.
Really got fed up with marshalls shouting keep to the left, I got it the first dozen times it was shouted at me. And if you're going to get everyone to keep to the left don't have the water station people (1st one) stand in the middle of the road so that you have to go on the wrong side of the road to get round them. Some of the road condition isn't great at the left side, camber is steep in places and falling apart in others.
Organisation was quite efficient although not certain the school could take any more people in it.
Car park was just too far away, I got there just over an hour before the race but got sent to the other car park, a good half mile away and uphill on the way back.
Liked the hoodie, marshalls were nice and friendly (when they weren't telling you to go left).
Date of review: March 28, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: SteveRoy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised with a nice hoodie as memento
In full: Another great Oakley event, marshalls superb - nobody will miss you in the dark with the green hoodie memento either.
Date of review: March 28, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Cobblers Mark
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Excellent Race, Great Organisation.
In full: After doing the Ashby 20 a couple of weeks ago, I didn't think there would be a 20 miler as good. This one was certainly on a par!
Excellent organisation, beautiful scenery, great course - nice to run slightly different laps as well, great hoodie at the end, extremely friendly marshals offering great support, plenty of water stations, jelly babies... what else could you ask for?
Thanks to the organisers and everyone involved, you all made running 20 miles so pleasurable.
Date of review: March 28, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: The Egg
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Full marks to Bedford Harriers for a gerat event
In full: Second time of running - second PB - can't fault the event (well working showers would of been nice) other than that great event, good (but challenging in places) course - Marshalls and Orgnaisation were excellent - and the Sun even shone at the end!
Date of review: March 28, 2011
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