Events

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

In short: Well Organised, beware THE HILL!
Date of review: August 8, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In full: Only critism is there weren't enough water stops, especially for such a hot day as it was
Date of review: August 7, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Well organised Half
In full: As above, a well organised half by the Dartford Harriers. Course is more than undulating in my opinion and was made wuite tough at times by the hot weather.

Marshalls were friendly and encouraging but like other have said, could do with another water stop in the second half. Lovely medal at end and enjoyed the finish on the athletics track. Would I do it again? Yes due to the great and smooth organisation
Date of review: July 24, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Nice scenery in the middle
In full: I ran this because it had recieved rave reviews on RW previously. I'd say that it is a better than average road half marathon, but I wouldn't rave about it. Organisation was good, with lots of marshalls on road crossings - although there could have been more in the final busy town park, where I had to take evading action to avoid running over a toddler who had sprinted out of a junction into the path. Marshalls were very entusiastic. Water points were a liitle oddly spaced - every 2 miles in the fist 6-7 miles, then only one in the second half, where runners are likely to need water (especially on a day as hot as this one). Scenerry was mixed - a couple of miles of housing estate at the start and finish, but lovely kentish country lanes in the middle. Course not particularly flat, but not particularly hilly either: the "big" hill at ten miles is longish, but not steep.

Atmosphere was mixed - as often seems to be case on road races: lots of friendly chat or at least smiles, but a noticeable minority who insist on wearing headphones (against race instructions), oblivious to those around them, or barge through elbows flying when overtaking. If you're in the middle of the field, does it really take much effort to smile and thank the marshalls? - they've given up their Sunday morning for your benfit, after all.
Date of review: July 24, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: I loved every second of this race - even the killer hill
In full: This race wasn't as hilly as I was expecting. I'm not a fan of hills and avoid running them when I can, but only the last hill around mile 10 was pure evil. The others were just an annoyance! And of course, what goes up must come down and the downs weren't too steep which meant you could gain some speed on the way down. It was a very pretty race through the countryside with a lap around the race track at the end. A nice medal, banana and orange squash at the end. I didn't get a PB but I did finish 10 minutes faster than I thought I would. A great race which I will be doing again next year :-)
Date of review: July 24, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Hilly, tough, challenging course, not enough water stations at the last half.
In full: easy to get there, nice car park with good marshals, 10 min walk to race HQ, nice start then dull Dartford streets, after M25 its a country side with few steep hills, lots of friendly people around...
around mile 10 there is a long steep hill, not enough water stations on second half of the race again dull dartford streets, finish is good though, bit of wait in cramped area for kids to take chips off your shoes then nice medal, orange squash and banana, water, sponges..
i enjoyed the challenge it is more like a half trail marathon!

Date of review: July 24, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Really wll organised and a nice local feel to the whole day!!Enjoyed the pedestrian bridge crossing and Gore hill towards the end!
Date of review: July 23, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Scenic, friendly, well-organised with a killer hill
In full: I was enjoying the atmosphere as soon as I arrived. The organisers were friendly and chatty, the guy on the microphone put everyone in good spirits. This spirit was also reflected in the marshalls around the course - clapping and cheering. It really made all the difference.

The scenery was beautiful. With the heat the first two hills (although not as hard as I'd feared) were tiring. I put that down to the sun rather than the course. That last (10 mile) hill hurt. I gave up trying to run when I saw people walking faster than those running. I really could've done with a drink just before that hill but not sure the route/traffic would allow for that.

Wonderful entry into the final 400m on the race track - never had a name shout out before :) I prefer a medal, orange squah and banana to a goodie bag any day.

I'm glad I this wasn't my first half marathon. But as my first non-flat race I loved it. I'm sure I'll be back.

Date of review: July 23, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In full: This was my 4th race this year and I say that the whole organization was excellent, the staff were very friendly and helpful. The scenary was very picturesque...I have thoroughly enjoyed it and will do it again next year.
Date of review: July 23, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Excellent rural course, with super organisation. Exemplary
In full: While did seem to be a lot of water stations in the first half, I was amazed at the sheer number of people (especially club runners) walking up the Gore Road hill. These are runners on better than 8 minute/mile pace, they should have looked at the parcours, done a suitable amount of hill training and paced their run in the knowledge that there would be an effort at 9.5miles. As for the other two "hills", there was one reasonable incline and another sharp ramp. North Kent is not short of ups and downs... Practice. The organisation by Dartford Harriers was brilliant and the atmosphere was great above in the park and track area, helped by the weather. A medal and a banana was plenty, nobody wants lots of leaflets about massage and gels.
Date of review: July 23, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator