10km Great Forest RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (46 votes). | 1 to 10 of 46 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 |
| The big picture (46 votes) | | Overall score | | 67% | | How many would do it again? | | 72% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 87% | | PB potential | | 53% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 47% | | Value | | 57% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 62% |
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2010 race reviewed by: Ollie_GB
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Yes the organisation had much to be desired but a good race in a beautiful place. I'm sure that they've learnt a few lessons for next year so don't write it off!
In full: The below reviews are all fair and honest but if you weren't too worried about your time then it's a good, and pretty hilly race. Enough to challenge most people but also moderate enough for first timers (my missus' first, and probably last, race and she was actually happy with herself at the end and not wanting to stab me in the eye for having signed her up).
The start could definitely have been sharper than having a chat down the track and then realising that everyone is starting to run further up the hill.
Definitely worth clocking your own time on races like this when there are no race chips.
I hope that the poor organisation doesn't put future runners off a race with great potential and in aid of a good charity. I'm sure that it will be much improved next year!
Having a little jaunt the wrong way enabled you to experience that great feeling of overtaking people all over again and give passing greetings to your friends on the way past ........
Date of review: September 16, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Adam Slater
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Worst Organised Race Ever!
In full: Such a shame as a great location and great cause, but simply the organisation is worse than terrible, unbelievable for an off road race with no traffic closures. Trying to keep it short.
1. Race numbers / directions / car park passes not sent out.
2. Friends took over 45 minutes to register, one queue to hand in your details, one queue to pay and receive a lengthy handwritten receipt!
3. The start was only heard by the front row, most people only realised the race was underway when they suddenly noticed the person in front was disappearing off up the track, think traffic moving off on the M25 after a hold up.
4. UNFORGIVEABLE - a couple of K's in no marshalling or signage at a T junction leading to numerous runners going the wrong way, as I was in the front pack not sure how many this affected but I ran an extra half mile, compounded as it was a fairly steep hill!
4. No mileage markers.
5. The gantry time was over two 1/2 minutes out.
All in all what an expensive waste of a Saturday morning.
Date of review: September 14, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Rich e
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice scenery, but race experience spoilt by poor organisation - extremely frustrating
In full: It’s all been said. No distance markers, first water station not set up in time, no marshals at a junction in the course that resulted in the front half of the runners going half a km plus in the wrong direction and a clock at the finish line that was wrong by two minutes!
A shame because the scenery and the hilly course make for a good venue for the race, but poor organisation means that ultimately the charity loses out because many frustrated runners will not come back.
Date of review: September 13, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Paul S Alderson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Overall organisation very poor. As for the actual race, all off road in a lovely setting which made up for the other shortcomings..
In full: Joined one queue to register and receive my race number. Had to join another queue to then pay!!! Anyone heard of multi-skilling?
No distance markers and poorly marshalled resulting in the wrong turn for a lot of runners. The race clock must have started before the off as I finished over 2 minutes quicker than their time. If lessons are learned from this and improvements made, then this has the potential to be one of Kent's best 10km runs.
Date of review: September 13, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Linda Hayes
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: What a shame, what a great shame, it could have been soooooo much better
In full: No marshalls at the first major t-junction lead to a wrong turn by the front runners. Being in the leading pack and second lady at the time this proved to be a major problem as I had travelled a fair distance before the front of the pack realised and turned around. Then having to pick our way through a bunched up group of slow runners whilst trying to regain position was almost impossible but in doing so used up any residual energy I had. Added to this was the fact that there were no mile/kilometer markers - this is essential not only for seasoned runners but for newbies who have no real idea of distances and need accurate information to help them get round a fairly challenging course. My worry is that if the organisation is not sorted the regular runners will not attend again and the charity will suffer for it. This used to be one of my favourite 10k's but has unfortunately become one of my most disappoointing
Date of review: September 11, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: jacaranda
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A complete and utter shambles!
In full: What could have been a great run was ruined within the first mile - there were no marshalls and no obvious signposts at the first major junction so a large number of us went in the wrong direction, had to turn round and rejoin the race, thereby losing the advantage we'd had from getting off to a good start...SO frustrating! I ended up running 10.5K and the clock time for this was over 2mins more than my Garmin said.
Also: I didn't see any kilometre markings at all; the first water station was still being set up when I reached it (despite delay) and the medal was puny. For the £17 entry fee I'd rather have had a decent goody bag than the hideous yellow vest which I will never wear!
Sadly I think a lot of people will have been put off by today's event which is a shame as it is a lovely course.
Date of review: September 11, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Daryl Lucas
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Oh dear! what a total waste of a Saturday morning. Some considerable improvements needed for this event.
In full: Where does one start. Look I know Marie Curie is a charity and at the end of the day it is all about raising money for a very worthy cause. But if you are going to organise an event it needs to be done properly. What wasn't right: (1) The start. 3-2-1-Go! I'm sure hardly anyone heard the starter. Please get a horn or something (2) Distance markers - where were they? There were signs up for everything else, apart from the key Kilometre markers telling you how far round the course you were. These should be a mandatory requirement (3) Route confusion - Where was the marshall at the key fork on the course? All of the lead runners and probably 200 in total (including me) went down the wrong track for probably 0.5 kilometre. We all had to turn around and come back again (4) Timing at the end - the main clock was wrong by 2 minutes! At least there was someone there to call out the times as you crossed the line. My 55.01 was fairly respectable for 10.6K! (5) A rather cheap and tacky medal at the end. I'm sorry for being so negative, but praise for events that are well organised and criticism for those who not. Please try and improve. Thank you.
Date of review: September 11, 2010
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2009 race reviewed by: Long Bones
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Beautiful place to run. It would have been good to have known in advance that there was a place to safely store belongings.
Date of review: October 12, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Adam Slater
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: October 6, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Mike Lewry
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good race through hilly forest
In full: Very enjoyable race, despite being tough going for much of the last third. A seven-minute delay at the start and a very minor delay at both water stations were the only issues to sort out for next year, but friendly marshals and organisers made the overall race experience very enjoyable.
Date of review: September 14, 2009
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