The Brooks HellRunner - Hell Up North SaturdayHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (17 votes). | 1 to 10 of 17 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
| The big picture (17 votes) | | Overall score | | 93% | | How many would do it again? | | 94% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 85% | | PB potential | | 38% | | Atmosphere | | 87% | | Organisation | | 85% | | Value | | 75% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 67% |
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2011 race reviewed by: Rebecca Barker 2
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A memorable experience!!!
In full: This was only the 2nd race I have done. And boy was it memorable! The mud really was something else and despite the hours in the shower after I would love to do that bit again! The run itself was definitey harder and longer than I bargained for but a great challenge. I was a tiny bit disappointed it wasn't more 'fun' and actually found the atmosphere less friendly than at my first race (Paras' 10). There weren't very many people cheering you on (although massive thumbs up to the awesome steward who got us all up THAT hill). That said, I am glad I did it and would recommend it for its off-road glory! Well organised on the whole, loved devil's disco (but want more of that type of stuff) and PLEASE at least 1 more water station. While I wouldn't say it felt elitist at all (fancy dress etc!) it's probably not ideal if you're not very confident about your fitness and/or ability to scale steep hills!
Date of review: September 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: phillip hill
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: WAY better than last year and not as hilly as Middle
In full: LOVE LOVE LOVE this race, better this year as it was a good 12 miles i reckon, although the lap at the start was a bit rubbish but i did get to high 5 the devil!!
love the bogs but that water station couldnt come quick enough as i think the sunshine caught everyone by surprise.
My only concern is that soem of the bogs were really really deep and when i stepped in i dropped in up to my chin, and im no shorty, so god knows how some people managed.
Hats off to the guy in the Mankini and to my race buddy Chris think he was 887 or something like that, he saved me from a face full of Bog after i tripped over a hidden log, the same one i tripped over last year!! i never learn.
needless to say i will be back next year, and i will do the Middle again in Feb
Date of review: September 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Chugger
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I love this. Done it every year and every year it gets harder and better!!!!! Well done guys
Date of review: September 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Chris Scott 20
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: absolutely superb
Date of review: September 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Old but slow
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Wetter and better than ever
In full: This was my fourth time out at Hell Up North, and I can honestly say that it was the best yet. Parking and pre-race organisation was faultless, and we even got away on time this year. The organisers had responded to criticism of the distance being slightly short last year by adding a new loop after the first hill - which i wasn't a massive fan of - but which they made up for by picking an even better route through the forest, and making the bogs of doom even more splendid than usual. There was also a medal at the finish this year, not to mention a superb technical t-shirt, a pretty good goodie bag, and lots of different free drinks.
Best of all, Hellrunner always attracts a great crowd, from the bloke in the Mankini to the young fella carrying an ironing board and an iron (who I'm ashamed to say became the man I just had to beat). All in all, this is still my favourite race of the year, and if you haven't done it yet, you haven't lived.
Date of review: September 13, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Alex Staniforth
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Punishment of the sole, redemption of the mind... is very true!
In full: The only way this superbly light-hearted, fun, well organised, well routed, well marshalled race could be improved is hot showers afterwards! Haha, the parking was spot on this year too. There was all the facilities there we needed (except hot showers) it had a professional but light hearted feel, the devil made a funny touch, as did the Bog of Doom and the devils disco which I hope to see next year! A halfway marker would be nice as it's too wet to bring GPS watches. The goody bag is superb too, very very generous and could not be criticised. Lovely medal too.
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Caroline Mackenzie
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: I loved the running, but I really loved the mud - newly converted BOGTROLL!!! :-)
In full: Only my 4th race Dunstable 5k trail,Silverstone half, Chicken Run 10k and I'm not a speed queen BUT I totally loved this run, the variety of paths, scenery, friendly folk to chat to and the "fun runners" in costume AND the BOGS!!!!It was a great experience and the kids loved watching...more hoses at the end please tho...I am still finding mud in every orifice!!!
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: hillrunner.org.uk
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great Day, Great Organisation! Very Very Enjoyable!
In full: I survived Hell! It cost a bit to enter but you get free parking, fantastic medal, bottled water, very generous goodie bag and a Hell runner tee along with meeting the devil himself. Fantastic course (around 11 mile) and loved the bog of doom+ the bog disco and hills of hell! Very very enjoyable day, the only thing stopping me going back for more is the risk of injury! Would go back just as a spectator to watch the runners go through the bog which is located near the finish, plenty to do for the family as well A+++++.
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Nicola McGinty
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fab race, not for the faint hearted or those that don't like mud!!!
In full: First time doing hellrunner was very impressed with everything. The course was very hard and did want to cry when a marshall told me 'well done you're about half way!!!' Loved wading through the bog of doom to the rocky theme tune, felt like I could take on the world! Would love to see some hot showers next year so I don't smell quite so bad on the journey home !
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Lucy Roberts 5
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: I've still got mud in places there really shouldn't be mud.
In full: Great Event!
I was daunted about the prospect of this race to say the least, since I didn't class myself as a particular fan of hills or mud. It's fair to say that I still don't like hills but boy do I LOVE MUD! I cannot put into words how much I appreciated the dubstep tunes blasting from the dj gazebo pitched at the first proper bog. I could have stayed there all day.
Great organisation, I could have killed for a water station much earlier on and some additional hose pipes would have been handy to at least wash hands but all in all an enjoyable experience that I would do again! It's a tough course (I'm battered and bruised and walking like a Teddy Bear) but fantastic atmosphere and it was great to see runners helping each other out at the bogs. Mankini man is my idol.
Date of review: September 12, 2011
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