Isle of Wight Marathon and Half  Here's how RW members rated this race (138 votes). | The big picture (138 votes) | | Overall score | | 75% | | How many would do it again? | | 76% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 76% | | PB potential | | 43% | | Atmosphere | | 63% | | Organisation | | 68% | | Value | | 79% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 56% |
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2012 race reviewed by: Richard Waldron 5
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very friendly, well organised and all at a very cheap cost :)
In full: Really enjoyed this race, will definately be back to race again
Date of review: October 31, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Carol Bull
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: The hilliest half ever!
In full: Me and my hubby decided to do this race while on holiday on the Isle of Wight. It is one of the hottest, hilliest and hardest half marathons we have done but we thoroughly enjoyed it. I admit cars were a bit of an issue at the start however I didn't have any problems with finding my way round the course despite being near the back for the whole race. It was extremely hot and I was very grateful for the offer of additional sponges and water poured into my hands in the last few miles. Everyone was really friendly and I thought it was a well organised race done by a running club with a lot of experience. My hubby was much nearer the front and enjoyed the cameraderie with the other runners, especially the encouragement up those hills. This is a challenging, no frills race with a medal but an enjoyable one.
Date of review: September 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Declan Boothe-Brennan
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great half marathon, I thoroughly enjoyed it although the uphill sections were very challenging.
In full: I had just turned 17 less than a fortnight before the race, so I have a feeling I was the youngest there. I hadn't done much training over 20km (once or twice), but with help and support from the locals I managed to run it in 1:56:56, so I am very happy with how the race went. We spent the day at Sandown after the race, the scenery was spectacular. Very impressed :-)
Date of review: September 4, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: AristoPJ
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Hot and hilly with traffic and guess work with the route towards the end
In full: This was my first ever half marathon and I have to say it wasn't the best of choices on my part. I knew it was going to be tough and hilly, but I underestimated it somewhat, though the heat on the day definitely didn't help.
I have to echo some of the other comments on here. The start was a bit shambolic, there was a bit of a lack of marshals towards the end, could have easily taken a wrong turn, especially towards the end. The sponges were much appreciated though, but where was the drinks station at the finish line? I must have missed it.
I will probably be back next year, just to see if I can go sub 2 hours as I narrowly missed it this time, but this is a personal challenge rather than being impressed with the race course or organisation itself.
Date of review: August 21, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Matt McDaniel
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Hilly and Hot
In full: Interesting start, given that cars were rolling through the start line until a group of people just stepped into the road to start the race.
Ridiculous start time of 11am, there are ferries from 7am allowing people to get to IOW early enough. For a mid-summer Half to start at 11 is crazy.
Tough course, good challenge, PB's are unlikely for most. I did the Needles XC half earlier this year in similar conditions and in fact ran mildly quicker, so that should put the course in perspective.
Given the entry fee I wouldn't expect road closures but maybe worth seeking some investment next year to reduce time spent, often alone, on busy roads.
Date of review: August 21, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: nje13
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: A very tough first half-marathon
In full: Undulating is not the word, it was lots of steep hills, virtaully no flats. For my first half marathon I found it hard being on my own for long stretches towards the rear of the running pack, there were times when I had to guess which way to go as there weren't marshalls at every corner. Marshalls at water stations very friendly, refilled my bottle and the sponge stations were welcome, glad to see the race organisers had foreseen it would be the hottest day of the year!
Date of review: August 21, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Sonny Green
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: ive memorised the number 8 bus route
Date of review: August 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: kim carter 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: where were the marshalls??
In full: Standing on the start line dodging cars when an official saunters up , no announcement, enjoys his hooter blowing moment and we are off. Hot , hot hot, hilly beyond belief, pleasant to look at but what was that smell ? Rural I can cope with but too much on a hot day. However, I entered and was determined to give it a good go. The main feature lacking was any sort of interest from the very few marshalls. Water stations unprepared, unless I waited a few minutes... when you are as slow as I am , no minute can be wasted, but boy , I needed that water. Lack of signs or marshalls on the course, I had a debate with another lady at the top of a hill as to which way to go as it was not signposted, luckily we chose the right way or we could still be out there ! I think I finished as the 'finish' line was so low key , it was almost non existent !
Date of review: August 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Grayster H
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: 2012 Half - Brutal hills, brutal!!!
In full: It's been a few years since I ran this one and the new course is much, much, much tougher. It still includes many of the old hills but also a lot more. This really was tough road-running from the start right until the end. Aside from the one mile on the flat by the sea before climbing into St Helen's, this is a constant up and down course. The last two hills coming into Ryde are hard work.
The start was very low-key, perhaps too much with cars driving through the start line until 2 mins before kick-off. No announcements, no sign of anyone - just a hooter and off you go straight up a 1.5m incline!
I do like these IoW runs but I always think it is a bit of a shame so much time is spent running on roads in the middle of the island - busy roads at this time of the year too. Water stations are bare minimum - water. Orange squash would have been great.
Will be back to seek revenge.
Date of review: August 20, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: Ivy Mike
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough, hilly but enjoyable.
In full: Thanks guys. First marathon for mw and what memories. Last 6 miles were tough though, hills seemed, and were, there from start.to finish, but.this made the challenge only more so.
Date of review: October 9, 2011
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