Aviemore Highland Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (70 votes). | 1 to 10 of 18 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
| The big picture 2007 (18 votes) | | Overall score | | 82% | | How many would do it again? | | 94% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 99% | | PB potential | | 73% | | Atmosphere | | 82% | | Organisation | | 47% | | Value | | 71% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 73% |
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2007 race reviewed by: eddie black
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% |
In short: Great course !
In full: Fantastic route through Glenmore forest / loch morlich. Organisation generally good but the bus transfer needs to be fixed. Bus drivers didn't seem to know where they were going also busses seemed to be late in leaving Aviemore. That said great event.
Date of review: October 24, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Mark Strickland
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Fantastic views, one or two blips this year but nothing major
Date of review: October 23, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Ellem
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: I loved it.
In full: One or two organisational problems - but I still enjoyed it. Fantastic scenery, the marshalls were very cheery and the course was great. Didn't like the last half mile though - too rocky and narrow with no chance to speed up in the last mile.
I'll be back next year.
Date of review: October 23, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: _andy
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A superb location for a race - mostly a trail race, with a few road miles at the end.
In full: Another sunny day at Aviemore which was almost too hot at times. The route is superb, but the undulations, paths and tracks would make a serious PB unlikely compared to a flatter, road HM.
Ok, there was a problem with the buses at the start, but this can be easily solved next year: more buses plus have them leaving a bit earlier would solve this. The chip timing was mis-leading since the end of the race ONLY was chipped, which meant that some runners lost a couple of minutes just getting up to the start line; again this could be solved with a proper timing chip (e.g. Sportsystems disposable chips as used at the Stirling 10k the previous month). I actually managed to use one of the two showers after the race, but these facilities were woefully inadequate - what a shame that the race organisers were unable to get use of the adjacent facilities in the Macdonald hotel swimming pool.
From a personal point of view, I ran on tired legs and went off too fast. Mile 6 was a killer [and was it closer to 1.1 miles based on my mile split?] The second half of the race was mere survival for me and I was three minutes down on the time I'd hoped for. Still, I've put it in my diary for next year - 19th of October 2008!
Date of review: October 23, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Nessie
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Love this one!
In full: Beautiful scenery - and even the weather was perfect again. Challenging but fast route - danger of tripping while looking at the views.
There were problems with the buses which delayed the start, but being on one of the first buses, and being a slow runner, it didn't really affect me.
Still a fixture on my race calendar.
Date of review: October 17, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Raymond McMillan
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Loved it! Found it tough in last 3 miles. Very friendly.
Date of review: October 17, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Stoney Stomper
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Stunning, speedy run in beautiful area - will be back again.
In full: I did this run last year too and again I loved it and I knocked 7 mins off last years time, Yay! Undulating track start for about 7 miles, then steady, speedy downhill on tarmac - remember to save some energy for the wee killer hill at the end! It's not a big hill but it feels like it on tired legs. I carry a wrap around water bottle with me on runs but my boyfriend is once of the speedy ones and he found the water station with cups not a lot of use - maybe try bottles next year? The busses could have been organised better but that didn't spoil it for me (probably because we were lucky as the sun was shining again - would have been a different story if we'd been waiting in the rain). Thanks to all those cheering all the way round, especially the kids handing out sweeties!, the marshalls, water station folk and finish line folk! thanks :)
Date of review: October 17, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: SAJ
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: good race marred by poor organistaion
In full: great potential to be an all time favourire let down by poor chip timing, lack of marshals and a poor organisation
Date of review: October 16, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: wylls
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Exciting and varied course
In full: Despite feeling a bit under the weather I really enjoyed this race - scenery was spectacular, course was interesting. My only complaint is the chip timing which was a little misleading since we were all given the gun time anyway!
Date of review: October 16, 2007
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2007 race reviewed by: Osn
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Wonderful place to race. Compared to last year organisation has slipped..
In full: Cards on the table 1st. Ran it post-viral and had a poor race but that hasn't clouded my judgement, honestly. Unfortunately there wasn't enough peeps on drinks stations (especially 1). Consider bottles for next year - easier on volunteers staff and better for runners. 3rd drink station too far along the road.
Busses - oops!
Not really sure about your timing. If I understand correctly we were chipped for accurate timings but they all started at the same time (gun time). I know this will have helped the organisers to collate results but it was a pointless exercise for us runners unless you were starting right at the front.
Having said all that I will be back next year (and well hopefully) because it's such a wonderful course and all these problems were minor and can be easily recified.
So in summary, it's a brilliant place race but needs a bit more attention to detail from the organisers but I'll be back.
Date of review: October 16, 2007
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