Events

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

In short: Fast course making big bucks for a worthy cause
In full: Parking on green was excellent and best of all free. There were plenty of marshalls who did an admirable job. Bit strange being on the start line but it was great to see so many locals out to gee us along. Good to see kids assisting at the water stations and cheering us on. The course itself is flat and quite scenic lending itself to being fast. The grassy stretch wasn't too bad but the narrow gap that had two-way runner traffic going through it needs to addressed urgently as it was dangerous. I was lucky because I was near the front but for those behind there will have been some argey bargey no doubt going through it. The shingle section while short did sap your energy. I didn't find the distance markers to be too far out; I think other runners were fooled by the fact that the finish banner was behind the start line and then moved forward to its correct position once all the runners had set off.
Thankfully I was not caught up in the queues at the finish. I understand that the organisers have sent an email out apologising for this and that they will sort this out for next year. Admittedly the field this year was twice the size of last year; and why should they stop people entering when this all about raising money for a very worthwhile charity.
I liked the goody bag and lovely touch and support of the local cafe giving out free cups of coffee.
All in all a great day out, a massive PB achieved for me, a finish in the top ten, a free cup of coffee to wash down the flap jack in the goody bag and free parking. Just sort out the narrow gap in the hedge on the grassy section and the finishing chute at the end, and we will have a prefect race for standards of running.
Well done Chestnut Tree House and Thesis!!
Date of review: September 18, 2009

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

In full: Too many runners, more that 400 from the previous year. This resulted in queues at the finish and times not being recorded, compounded by the fact that the medal and goody bag giving was given when you finish too. I dont think the organisers turned anyone away! which also made it a bit dangerous running as at times it was difficult to find a space, they need to think about participation limit. Good race though, take your own watch and do your own race, its a worthwhile charity. Marshalls excellent, the cost was a bet steep if you paid on the day.
Date of review: September 16, 2009

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

In short: Good fun and for a very good cause
In full: The organisation was not great - at the start you could either go in under 30 mins (no-one achieved or were ever likely to), 30-45 mins - again achievable by only a relatively small proportion of 10k runners in any race, then over 45 mins where 950+ of the runners stood. The km markers were poorly placed, especially the 9km marker and finishing in just under 49 mins, which was my best 10k ever, then having to stand in a queue for quite a few minutes was very very frustrating. However the atmosphere was one of great fun, the weather was fantastic and the goody bags were great. It was also good to have well organised and free parking.
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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

In short: Nice friendly event in a lovely town, but was relying on the km markers to judgee my pace so the last km killed me and was one of many frustrated not to get a proper time by having to queue for the finish, especially as by my watch it was a PB
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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

In short: Very fast and flat course next to the sea :)
In full: This event was great and even had a mascot Hedgehog, the Mayor of Littlehampton and Miss Littlehampton to start the race and give out medals at the end. This combined with the music and lots of marshalls and supports cheering everyone along the sea side course made a great atmosphere.

The course started on the seafront and headed to the mouth of the river Arun before snaking through residential areas and around a small pleasant recreational lake, before going back along the seafront. This was good because it meant that the course was interesting and ensured that you didnt get bored along the way.

I also thought that it was very good value for money, as there was an excellent goody bag (containing a drink and flap jack), free hot choc. and plenty of free parking and public toilet facilities (much better than smelly porta loos!!).

So I can't wait to do this one agian next year! :)
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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

In short: Good race but distance markers weren't in the right places and the shingle and grass wasn't ideal for a PB.
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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

In short: I enjoyed the race... but...
In full: It was my 3rd 10km race and am pleased to say I brought my PB down by 6 mins to a more respectable 63mins. So I was very pleased with the result.

Like others I was immensely frustrated at not being able to run across the finish line rather being told to stop. The km markers were also wrong, and the last km was very long, not very helpful when you are trying to pace yourself and finish well.

Sort both of those problems out and it will be worth coming back again..
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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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 short: Nice flat course around seaside town!
In full: This was a pretty good race. I was a late entry so paid £12, a bit steep for a 10k but its for charity so a worthwile cause.
Very flat course, some of it on grass, some on the stones on the beach which sucks the life out of your legs!
I was lucky enough to finish ahead of all the queuing trouble at the end.
Goody bag contained food and drink which makes a nice change as well.
All in all a nice day out, and an enjoyable run.
Only negative points are the very dodgy km markers - the last km went on forever and seemed far too long. Also going head on through a narrow gate with the runners coming the other way is a bit dangerous.
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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

In short: Potentially a great race
In full: I've got to admit that I really enjoyed this race although I can't quite put my finger on why.

Firstly it's for a great cause and there was a nice atmosphere at the beginning with a mixture of racers and fun runners. Music was playing and although I had a really annoying tune in my head the whole way round (can't remember what it was thank God) I found it helped.

Secondly, the course itself is fairly good. There's a stretch of about 1.5k on grass with some shingle thrown in for good measure which makes you feel like you're going up the "travelator" on gladiators but thankfully only for a few meters.

Also the support of the friendly marshalls and spectators all of the way round is great, particularly at the finish line. Loads of clapping & cheering.

Couple of moans:

Firstly, once you've done the loop on the grass stretch and are heading back there's quite a small gap in the bushes that you need to go through. The main problem being that runners are also coming through in the opposite direction. I had to do a bit of a evasive dodging to avoid a head on collision.

Secondly, At the finish people had to queue up about 20 meters or so from the finish line. This happened at about the 46 minute mark. I had luckily finished at this point but was sitting watching and could see a few angry faces which was understandable.

I'm sure this was partly due to the unexpectedly high turnout so they'll have it sorted for next year.

That said, I still think this was a great race and would recommend it to anyone.
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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

In short: Great day out but traffic jam at the finish
In full: I really enjoyed this one. I ran a PB even though some of the course was on grass (firm though) and a little on beach pebbles. Lucky I had my Garmin to tell me where the Km marks were, the few that were provided seemed a little random? Luckily I finished reasonably early so was able to actually get to the line whilst running but within 5-10 mns of me there was a long snaking line of finishers standing and slowly walking over the line - pretty annoying when you've trained so hard I'm sure. Could have easily been avoided by having the medal and goodie-bag presentation done much further away than it was from finish. Overall a great run as long as you finished around 47mins or less!
Date of review: September 14, 2009

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