Events

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

In short: Great 10k with a bit of mud and lovely cakes
In full: Another fine 10k race in the lovely Hamstreet woods nature reserve. Bit muddy after heavy rains, but mainly fine undulating trails. No big hills. Friendly village vibe and great cakes at end. Excellent 600m kids run before main race.
Date of review: June 14, 2012

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

In short: All good clean dirty fun!
In full: I did this one last year and again I found it very enjoyable.Much muddier than last year,required a bit of concentration to negotiate through and around the many muddy sections, especially the ascents.

Excellent marshals,both friendly and encouraging.Although there was nothing intimidating for beginners about the event generally,the muddy trails could be a bit offputting for less experienced runners, unless they had a good sense of humour and/or a very cavilier attitude.

Regarding the earlier comment that the course description was misleading, I must come to Nice Work's defence, on their website and on the pre-race information it does indicate that the race is off road and run primarily in and around Hamstreet Woods.

Well done everyone! Maybe next year we can run it on a dry hard surface!
Date of review: June 11, 2012

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

In short: Great scenery, not too elitey and fantastic home made cakes
In full: This was my first ever 10k race and I very much enjoyed it. Some hills but not too challenging, a bit muddy in places but nothing you could not run around (or through as some people tried) and very friendly stewards and crowd. Well organised but I wish I had brought my trail running shoes as I expected it less clay muddy. Thanks for a great race morning.
Date of review: June 10, 2012

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

In short: Here's mud in your eye!
In full: My first trail race since school cross-country across soggy Exmoor - definitely agree that the website needs to be clear that most of the race is off road. After the first km, you do two laps of Hamstreet woods, which I wish I had known beforehand as the staggered km markers were incredibly confusing (and as usual, that crucial 1km marker was missing!)

The trail was muddy in places and there were a couple of hills, but nothing you couldn't run up. And, what goes up must come down, so some long downhills provided a bit of respite.

Marshalls and crowd were fantastic as usual; you can never underestimate a bit of encouragement! I nearly got taken down by a stray whippet but most dog walkers were good enough to keep their pets on a lead.

Nice atmosphere at the start, very efficient registration for those of us who hadn't signed up beforehand and best of all cakes at the end, baked by the generous ladies of Hamstreet.
Date of review: June 10, 2012

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

In short: Slightly challenging
In full: Only my second ever 10k race, and my first off road. Running through Hamstreet woods, I actually found it less straining on the old knees than road running but undulating surface means you work harder. The hills were no where near as hard work as I expected, more slopes than hills (and thats coming form somebody who lives on Romney Marsh)the mud in places was challenging but fun due to the recent heavy rain fall. My time was only 2 mins slower than my first ever 10k road race last week. Excellent organisation, we paid on the day, mainly because weather forecast was rubbish (well it is only June!) However, weather stayed fine for the whole race, enjoyed the morning very much, so much better than spending the day at a DIY store. Only small gripe would be the KM markers were a little confusing as the run is two laps in the woods. The first KM marker we saw was 8km, then 2km. Shortly afterwards I saw one for 7km and asked a steward if the front runners were already at that distance to which she replied they were, but it turned out to be only 3km in (I didn't think I had run that fast). Best part was finishing in a reasonable time and the smashing array of home baked cakes laid on by some very kind ladies - Thankyou they were much appreciated.
Date of review: June 10, 2012

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

In short: Make sure you pay close attention to the extra notes....
In full: Came into this expecting a road race, as clearly did a few others that turned up, and found it anything but! Only about 1K was road based, the rest being woodland with very muddy paths (que washing of racing flats!) which bought about a lot of sliding about, a few injuries, and a few close calls. This is CLEALY not a road race, and to suggest it is is very misleading, it should very much be relabelled as a cross-country ready for 2013s event.
The best point of the event was probably the start/finish line as there was a village fete going on, which had a decent crowd, and bringing with it a friendly atmosphere.
With all the above mentioned, after todays experiences, although nothing massively unplesant, I don't think I'll be going out of my way to return to this event again in a hurry.
Date of review: June 10, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Left the woods feeling just a little battered
In full: Blimey a week before i was sitting on a beach in Mexico drinking cocktails and eating plenty, what a wake up this race was. After only a couple of K i was knackered. Great village atmosphere, and nice to get back off road. Great cake at the end.
Date of review: June 14, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great friendly race with post-race cakes !
In full: Lovely athmosphere in the splendid village of Hamstreet with locals out in force. Route was 2 laps of woods with fast finish on green. Some ups & downs but no big hills. Some mud post rain made it fun. Gorgeous spread of cakes at the end. I had 5 pieces...
Date of review: June 14, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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: Great race, hard work, thoroughly enjoyable with good support
Date of review: June 13, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Very enjoyable event. Wonderful woodland trail run. Muddy and slippery in parts,.Good fun for all, not just for the elite trail runner. Nice community feel to the whole event.. Thank you everyone!
Date of review: June 13, 2011

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