Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In full: Not sure if this is the right way to respond but yes the runner who went down at the 9.5km mark was fine. Transferred to hospital to be on the safe side but released later on in the day.

The weather took us all by surprise as the forecast was cloudy and overcast. In fact a Spitfire flyover was cancelled due to the bad weather around us.

We do read feedback and discuss the comments made at a debrief meeting - how else can we improve things for the following year? Afterall this event is organised by parent volunteers and not a running club / runners, so how else would we learn?

Thank you all for coming, taking the time to review us and helping to raise funds for our village.
Date of review: June 2, 2011

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

In short: Well done HBO
In full: A lovely day for a race. As it was so hot we could have done with an extra water station.
That said I love this race.
well done and thank you.
Does anyone know if the runner who collapsed at 9.5k is ok? I hope he is.
Date of review: May 31, 2011

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

In short: Nice run & well organised
In full: This is one of my local events & yet shamefully until became a running convert last year I didn't know it existed!!
Having suffered the hills of Ashdon & the extra km's of Birchanger already in May I was looking forward to this one.
I had read some past reviews & didn't know where to pace myself but decided on setting a 55 min target on my nike+ (sneaking a cheeky headphone in - although many opted for both ears).
After a nice first 5k I lost my way as we climbed back out of the village between 5.5 & 7.5k before giving myself a kick up the arse to push on & clock a PB of 55:16 (although my Nike+ said 55:02 so I'm intrigued at how that happened).

I think the course has lots of PB potential, I took 90 seconds off of my fastest that had been around a rather flat Regent's Park. The hill at 400m was a bit of an ache just as you want to put the foot down though!

T Shirt was nice, as was the bottle of water. Would have been nice to get a medal as well. In terms of car parking, we got parked at the Primary school having heeded the advice to get there early.

Also plenty for the wife to do while she waited as it coincided with the flower festival.

Excellent event, looking forward to next year.
Date of review: May 31, 2011

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

In short: Nice run, more water stations?
In full: This is a nice small essex village run, very limited parking/facilities, so as long as you know that, the fact that there are 1500 runners is not a problem, i.e. get there early so you can park and use toilets before the queues.
Obviously some did'nt hence the delayed start, also they may have been at the back, again if you know the venue, get there early and up to the front. Sorry club runners if there were lots of 1st timers on the start line(not me, honest).
My only real complaint would be not enough drink stations, on a hot day 1 is not enough, set up 3 at least please, if it turns out wet you've only wasted a bit of water! Saw 1 runner down at 9.5K, hope he was ok, but was that dehydration?
Organisers please consider.
Date of review: May 30, 2011

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

In short: A race worth coming back for, year after year.
In full: My 3rd time running this race. Always one of my best 10k times but still haven't managed to get under 54 min. Something to aim for in future races here. Very well organised as usual, considering huge turn out. Minor problem at start - apparently too many runners allowed up beyond 35 min mark, making it difficult for true 35 min runners to get moving quickly. (Not a big prob for me, but frustrating for some). I'll be back next year for my PB!
Date of review: May 30, 2011

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: An extremely well organised race
In full: This is the first year I have entered the race and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well organised, good facilities and a t-shirt at the end. A really good turn out of spectators which is always great when you're running.
Date of review: May 30, 2011

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

In short: A really enjoyable run
In full: I did this for the first time this year. The organisation was good. The chip timing was great as for me this was a PB run. The scenery was lovely, traffic-free, and the spectators were really encouraging. Water stations were welcome as it was a hot day and the T-shirt was nice... love the green! There were lots of club runners but this is certainly a race for all levels. This is definitely on my calendar for next year!
Date of review: June 28, 2009

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

In short: Great race, nice weather too.
Date of review: June 28, 2009

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

In full: The race starts in the picturesque village. The course does a figure of eight through gently undulating countryside and looping through the village so that supporters see you come through at the half way stage. Bottled water & a good T-shirt at the end. I didn't experience much queuing for the chip bin and T-shirt. The start was slightly confusing because the MC announced a problem with cars blocking the course and the race would be delayed until it was cleared. Some minutes later I noticed most runners had moved up from the starting pens and so I went up near the start too. I'd heard no follow-up annoucement that the course had been cleared but it started on time at the correct time as far as I could tell. My only criticism is the announcements could have been better at the start. Unless you are used to quite flat races this definitely has PB potential.
Date of review: June 1, 2009

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

In short: Overall, a very enjoyable race!
In full: A nice route, pretty and undulating, made it interesting. Good to come back through the village and good support. Portaloos outside the church were the best I have ever seen at a race. Nice t-shirts.
Only downside:
1. When the start gun went there were non runners still on the road. Start could be better organised.
2. As others have already commented, congestion at the end for handing chips back and getting t-shirts.


Date of review: May 28, 2009

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