Vision Express Stafford 20Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (153 votes). | The big picture (153 votes) | | Overall score | | 68% | | How many would do it again? | | 79% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 61% | | PB potential | | 54% | | Atmosphere | | 56% | | Organisation | | 67% | | Value | | 78% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 56% |
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2013 race reviewed by: Christopher Limmer
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Cold but brrrriliant little cheap race
In full: Does exactly what it says on the tin, great training race for the big spring marathons. I really enjoyed the multi lap aspect of the course too. Only very very minor gripe is that some fellow runners seemed a little oblivious to other runners who were lapping them. Though I guess that is a sign of a good beginners race as well as a fast one :)
Special thanks to all the marshalls for being out in the cold for hours for us all today!
Date of review: March 10, 2013
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2012 race reviewed by: matt griffiths 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In full: i didn't get a memento :(
Date of review: March 17, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: KEvans
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Definitely to be recommended
In full: My first time of running this race and I was very pleasantly surprised. It isn't hilly - not in my book anyway -it's more undulating, as a previous reviewer described, and it has the potential to be quite fast I'd say, as there seemed to be plenty of PBs on the day judging by the official results. The atmosphere was good, the marshalls were friendly and encouraging and I found the route enjoyable. There was water available at the end but you had to search a little for it and as has been mentioned, the availability of race mementoes was a bit uncertain but for me those minor points didn't detract from what was an enjoyable morning. All in all I'd definitely recommend this race.
Date of review: March 14, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: acp
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A good race to break up the monotony of long, lonely, training runs for a Spring marathon.
In full: Loved the parking right next to the start and finish. I was bit worried about the 'hills' after reading previous year's posts but I was pleasantly surprised and would describe the course as undulating rather than hilly! Would have liked to have seen a course map before the event possibly with elevation details. Also, I collected my mug before the start but could easily have missed out - maybe you could have told people this was an option in the race details? All in all a good race to use as part of marathon training.
Date of review: March 14, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: iamjellybelly
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Tough & Hilly but ideal Spring Marathon warm up
In full: This is a bargain race at £11 entry for 20 miles! It’s a very straightforward event to take part in, you can literally turn up 20 minutes before, park the car, stretch and then go. It starts and finishes at the University so is a breeze.
The race itself however is very tough, it has a couple of big hills, one particular one which is about a mile long and because the course is over 3 loops you have to tackle it 3 times!
In terms of organisation, there were plenty of marshals, 2 drink stations but they seemed a bit too far apart for my liking (5 miles between them) but absolutely nothing given to you at the finish. No goody bag, medal, t shirt or even a bottle of water. 20 miles is a long way to run and it would be nice to have a memento, there were mugs apparently but I didn't see them.
In terms of the field, it was mostly club runners, pretty much everyone was in some kind of club or charity vest.
Over all, perfect as a warm up to a Marathon as the distance is right and its challenging, especially on a hot day which it was this year!
All I would ask is to improve the handouts - perhaps have a carrier bag at the end with the mug in and a bottle of water and a banana. It wouldn't cost much more.
Date of review: March 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: fluffyface
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: No Frills, bargain race
In full: Great for a pre-marathon tester. Top organisation, free parking right next to the start, plenty of good marshalls, water in the right places. Yes it was partly run on busy undulating A roads, but no worries just concentrate on your race and not the lack of scenery! Like the 3 loops design, you know whats coming next time. Great entry price with a mug for reward, preferable to paying more for the usual tat of T Shirts and medals!.....sorry to those of you who like these sort of things! Well done to the organizers.
Date of review: March 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Owen Cooper 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: If you are looking for an excellent tune up for a marathon this one fits the bill
In full: If you what a challenge then the Stafford 20 is a tough one. The race is well organised and the marshals are friendly and encouraging. Good location easy to get to and plenty of free parking. On this occasion there was the opportunity to have a free before or after massage.The entry fee must be the cheapest for a race of this length a real bargain. This is a very challenging race on a good 3 lap course. Only down side was that ran out of large tee shirts very quickly so tee shirt on this occasion but I'll be back so hopefully I'll get one next year.
Date of review: March 11, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: michael Morley 5
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well worth doing. Excellent value and a grea twarm up for a marathon.
Date of review: March 11, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Big Andy
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Hot , hilly, windy 20.1 miles ??????????????
Date of review: March 11, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: craig walton
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race for Spring marathon preparation.
In full: A well organised race with a relaxed atmosphere. The undulating course and unseasonably warm weather made this an ideal and pretty tough warm up race for a spring marathon. With little support on the course the marshalls were great all the way round. Well done to everyone involved.
Date of review: March 11, 2012
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