Events

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

In short: lovely course but no-one said it was actually 11.8m, not 13m
In full: well marshalled, nice course, good feelign to it BUT:
1. no announcement that it WASNT a half marathon, it was 11.8m so the finish line was a shock sight
2. terrible organisation at the end with the chip times - no-one knew where to put them
3. medal was awful. cheap and ugly (it was a 'running acorn')
Date of review: July 12, 2007

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Poor organisation, but race does show potenital if better organised
In full: The water stations lacking water was a real problem for me, one water station would be fine, but three running out of water. Surely the organisers could have added an extra 1.2miles to the event to make the magic half marathon stage even if it was doing a lap of the venue.
Date of review: July 6, 2007

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

In short: Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink!
In full: As others have said, many congratulations to the organisers for carrying on despite the flooding at Upton and to 500 runners for turning up to run the revised 12 mile distance despite a poor weather forecast. Overall this was a very well organised and enjoyable event - good parking, plenty of loos, excellent marshalls, smooth baggage storage and friendly support on the course from both locals and other runners. I'd definitely encourage people to run it to support the cause but really having no water at all at 3 out of 5 water stations for us lot nearer the back was pretty unbelievable. Thank goodness it rained when it did or I think the St John's Ambulance brigade might well have been rather busier than they were. I was very envious of those carrying their own supply of fluid - something I would probably do myself if running this one again. (Mrs Racing P.)
Date of review: July 5, 2007

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

In short: Excellent half with outstanding marshalls
In full: Brilliant atmosphere at the start - there was no way we could forget the Acorns charity this run was in aid of. Loads of toilets (for a change) and I was pleased to hear that this same start venue will be used for the next 4 years. This race went ahead with a revised route due to flooding, but the info given via the web site and email regarding this was spot on.

Only gripe was the lack of water at the first water station - us slower runners need hydrating as much as the faster ones.

Will be back next year.
Date of review: July 3, 2007

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

In short: Maybe the Best Half There Is
In full: Shame about all the rain in the previous weeks and the diversion to avoid the floods.
Date of review: July 3, 2007

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Did well to put an event on but.........goody bag and medal were pathetic! Not value for money.
In full: First things first. Full credit for putting some kind of event on given the awful weather that preceeded it. However I found the course whilst "nice" , not inspiring. Marshalls aside, the level of suport was low (In fairness this might have been better if the event had gone through Upton as orginally planned). For me far too many long straight bit and having to run on uneven footpaths at stages wasn't what I would have expected.
My main gripe was the woeful goody bag and medal. I'm not expecting GNR or FLM standard but for the entry fee paid these were amongst the worst examples I have ever seen.
Won't be back in 2008.
Date of review: July 3, 2007

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

In short: Despite weather conditions people were very friendly and cheerful. The course was fast and wet ! Blister potential...but generally excellent atmosphere for an excellent cause.
Date of review: July 3, 2007

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

In short: A great effort to get the race on despite the weather conditions.
In full: Marshalling at the HQ and on route excellent (despite the heavy showers). The 3 Counties Showground is an excellent venue, plenty of toilets and space.

Given good weather (this is the second year of rain) and the interesting course this will be an excellent event.

The course is not flat but I'm sure like others I was on schedule for a PB if it wasn't for the shortened route. Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture, the half marathon is one part of a major fundraising and awareness event for Acorns and a shortened race was better than no race at all.


Date of review: July 2, 2007

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

In short: Upton has a lot to answer for....
In full: Shame about the full length not being possible, and the water shortages, but besides that, I was happy to complete this race again.
Will return next year for more of the same.
Date of review: July 2, 2007

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

In short: Excellent race in great surrounds. Shame about the floods!
In full: This was my first Malvern half marathon and second one that has been organised. I have to say that i loved it. The route was excellent - quiet roads and nice scenery. A reasonably flat course was condusive to good times.
It was well marshalled and there were enough water stations.
The plastic cups now favoured are not great as on the run you tend to spill most of it either on the road or down you! (note that this was the same on the run leg of the Nokia Royal Windsor Triathlon in June).
So my only gripe is that really!
I would recommend this race and if the weather was seasonably accurate it would have been an absolute belter!
Date of review: July 2, 2007

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