Watford 10KHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (252 votes). | The big picture (252 votes) | | Overall score | | 71% | | How many would do it again? | | 91% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 81% | | PB potential | | 56% | | Atmosphere | | 66% | | Organisation | | 58% | | Value | | 66% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 68% |
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2013 race reviewed by: Adam Sheridan 4
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I enjoyed this race, shame it was a bit short!! Prefer running through the woods
Date of review: May 13, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Egdug
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Route not as good as last year, but still nice
In full: Changing the route because of the mud last year was bound to bring out dry weather!
It wasn't quite as scenic as going through the bluebell woods, though is still very nice. The weather brought out crowds of people into Cassiobury park, so some areas were a little busy with walkers and cyclists (and runners going the other way), but on the whole it was pretty good. Wouldn't have minded being diverted through the paddling pool in the heat!
It's a shame that the course seems to have been short, as I got under an hour for the first time ever. I'd probably do it again, but would prefer the old route.
Incidentally, parking (particularly on a hot day, when lots of people didn't even realise the race was on) can be problematic. I'd consider parking at Croxley, one stop down from Watford on the met line and getting the tube. Watford met is just by Cassiobury Park and has toilets without queues.
Date of review: May 8, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: allun burgess
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: Read a few reviews about course being short, acco my Garmin it was spot on, was whthey changed the coarse to the chance of bad westher, but was quite surprised with new route, taking in the grand union canal which mentfor a flat course, greatsupport from the marshals and spectors towards the end hope they keep it for next year
Date of review: May 7, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: WendyJ
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Too short, caught short
In full: It was Sod's law that after changing the course to avoid mud, that the weather would be glorious and people would complain about missing out the woods!
Even with a diversion to the toilets, my GPS says it was less than 10k. Speaking of toilets, there is a severe shortage of ladies. The hired toilets are split gents/ladies and the cafe toilets are unisex, but then the men get another block too. It's the same every year - massive queues of women waiting to go!
Date of review: May 6, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: englandlynda
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I hate 10ks but...
In full: I will make an exception for this lovely race. first time I've run it so can't comment upon change of course, other than to acknowledge that it was a touch short (but in today's heat that wasn't a problem). Could easily have overcome that by moving the start back a bit. Well organised, with efficient bag drop, plenty of marshals and water at half way. It was the perfect post-marathon race. I will certainly add this to next year's calendar.
Date of review: May 6, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Martin Roach
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: New course flatter but shorter!
In full: As has already been pointed out by several reviewers, it was disappointing that the route has been altered from previous years, so it no longer a 'bluebell run'! The new route is certainly less hilly; but the fact that the course was approx 500m short needs to be considered by the organisers in planning next year's event.
Date of review: May 6, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Slowkoala
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The route was too short so my joy at smashing my PB was short lived :(
In full: I can understand why they needed to change the route this year but surely in these days of GPS devices it shouldn't be that hard to measure the course more accurately? OK, it's a charity 'fun run' but if you charge 18 quid for entry, you could at least measure the course. Would have been easy to make it a bit longer by making the last bit in the park longer. Otherwise advertise it next year as a 6 mile race not 10k (I made it 5.84 miles on Garmin).
Date of review: May 6, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Xanthe Mainwaring
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Missed the bluebells
In full: Did prefer the old course but this was flatter. Was wondering about the distance as particularly short, it felt, between 4 and 5. Great family occassion and park looked great - just would have preferred not to re-lap at beginning and go up through the woods.
Date of review: May 6, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Michael FELSTEAD
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: changed, not for the better
In full: 2013 Course changed....no longer the run through the woods and the bluebell fields (that was a unique part part of the 2012 race).
Course short (at least on my Garmin) - 9.48km..a staggering 520m light !
New 2013 course in some parts involves running along side a busy road in Watford...not very nice
Date of review: May 6, 2013
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2012 race reviewed by: allun burgess
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: 3rd year of running and despite the weather it was enjoyable, the crowd were fantastic esp at the finish
Date of review: May 17, 2012
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