Events

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

In short: Tough race but well worth it
Date of review: August 19, 2008

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

In short: more water required
In full: For a half marathon at the end of July, I was surprised that there were only 3 water stations - under UK Athletics rules, race organisers must provide water every 5km as a minimum. That means 4 water stations for a half marathon.

Aside from that, a good course, but made tougher by the weather. Pretty well organised given difficulties with open roads etc. Good goody back with lots of Lucozade products. Toothbrush was a bit random though
Date of review: July 30, 2008

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

In short: Great race, shame about the heat and the start!
In full: This really is a great scenic race, had it not been for the ludicrous heat, I may have been able to enjoy the views!!

The Marshalls were fantastic, as were the water stations (especially given the conditions) there was even a chap soaking people with his garden hose - brilliant!

The goody bag was incredibly generous, all useful stuff, the two bottles of lucozade were gone like a shot!

For me the only thing that let this race down(apart from the heat, which cannot be helped) was the start, they held us back from the start, then didn't give us enough time to get there, I would've been gutted if I missed my PB by a few seconds, when it took me 10 seconds to realise the race had started, then a further 30 seconds to cross the start line!

I think they should've had the start line in the leisure centre car park, and just held the traffic back for the start.

Overall a great race, i'd definitely do it again, as for the start, i'd know what to expect next time.
Date of review: July 30, 2008

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

In short: Fair play to Gloucester!
In full: Chose to fit this event in alongside a visit to my in-laws in Gloucester and I'm very glad I did. I looked beetroot red by the end - and probably a lot earlier - but the effort was worth it. Yes, the start was a bit uncertain but nobody really eager to set the world alight would have been at the rear would they? There weren't hordes of onlookers but then again it is pretty rural and people possibly had more sensible or fun things to do than watch a few hundred masochists gasping for breath. Those who were there were as supportive as you might wish and I thought the marshalls and drink station teams were great. Well done also to those who were driving along the route and showed enormous patience and courtesy. I hope everyone acknowledged them as they plodded along?!
As for the goodie bag, I can only say that it shamed the one that we recently received in my local, B'ham and Black Country half marathon which contained no more than promotional material for the major health club chain which had helped sponsor it. I don't run to get goodie bags but if you are offering one its nice to have one as generous as Sunday's.

Can I suggest to the organisers of this or any other event that as someone who would never drop litter I feel rather guilty about having to drop the plastic cups for want of a bin beyond the drinks stations. I have no doubt that the teams clear up very well after us but I'd much rather be able to do it myself. Perhaps I'm stranger than I thought.
Date of review: July 29, 2008

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

In short: I'm Melting !!!
In full: Way too hot for a fatty like me.

Decided to jog a bit, walk a bit, chat a bit and then jog a bit more.

In the end I kept a newbie runner company and came in joint last, but I wouldn't have been far off this anyway with the heat.

Hopefully she will keep going and won't give up despite the injury, whilst I shall be hoping for a much better performance in Newark.

And the race itself was very good, highly recommended.
Date of review: July 29, 2008

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

In short: Hot on a tough course with excellent marshalls and plenty of water
In full: Walk to the start was different but all worked well for me. The course was more undulating than I expected which made it a tough day out. Loved the sunshine and the goodbag was probably the best one I have ever had.
Date of review: July 29, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Phew! What a scorcher!
In full: Far too hot, really, to be racing, especially on such a tough course. I stopped running at all the water stations and a couple of other places as well, figuring that I would finish some way off my PB (in the end 18 minutes off!). The race was pretty well organised apart from the start, which was a shambles, and the goody bag was perfectly respectable.
Date of review: July 29, 2008

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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		80%

In short: Hot but worth it
In full: I promised myself in 2006 that I would never to this race again due to the heat however due to it being a local run I came back for more! Nice, scenic course. The dodgy start did not really affect me as I was nearer the front so heard the whistle.Undulating but nothing really challenging. Good race by Gloucester AC - Well done. Managed a pretty good pb as well so overall had good day.
Date of review: July 29, 2008

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

In short: hilly
Date of review: July 29, 2008

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

In short: Very Hot! but all in all very well organised
In full: The start was awful! Marshalls were friendly and helpful. The marshalls on the water stations were GR8 and so was the man with the hose pipe. Use of the leisure centre was a bonus with good parking and changing facilities. A few hills that got the better of me but the heat didn't help. Would consider entering on the day. See what the weathers like next time!
Date of review: July 28, 2008

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