Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (265 votes). | The big picture (265 votes) | | Overall score | | 71% | | How many would do it again? | | 81% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 50% | | PB potential | | 64% | | Atmosphere | | 64% | | Organisation | | 69% | | Value | | 76% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 73% |
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2012 race reviewed by: Stuart Whitehouse
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised half with plenty of room to run your own race
Date of review: September 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: peterh87
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Not the best scenery, but good welcoming fun!
Date of review: September 7, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: clairef78
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A bargain half marathon!
In full: I've completed this race before but only the half marathon. I have got to say that for the price it is a good morning out. Not the greatest of scenery I admit, I would not fancy two laps of it. However, many of the city events do not have panoramic views!
The organisation of this event is good and the atmosphere at the start and finish was good. Close parking facilities made the start smooth and hassle free. However I agree with many of the reviewers who commented that the local support was a bit 'thin'. It was sparce to say the least in certain places, which was a shame. There were plenty of water stations on the route - in bottles which i was very grateful with the clammy atmosphere.
The goody bag was all I wanted, bottle of water and a sports drink, t shirt, medal, banana and a caramel shortbread!
This will never be a 'classic' event but if you enjoy competing in half marathons and like a bargain this is as good as any. I will definitely be back next year.
Date of review: September 7, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: james matheson 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Organisation was pretty good - but marathon runners seemed to get forgotten - marshalls disappeared or werent paying attention on 2nd lap
In full: Generally good, but as my first marathon only had half marathons to compare it to. i quite like going through the residential bits as there were a few members of public out supporting and handing jelly babies out. Marshalls switched off a bit and let me go the wrong way on lonely second lap but that indiscretion aside generally well organised. Could there be a seperate section on these reviews for "goody bag" ranking? As it was very poor - 2 bits of shortbread and a drink. At least got a cheapo tshirt and what looked like a kids toy medal - but guess this was reflected in relatively low cost of marathon
Date of review: September 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: hellen
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good value for money
In full: As others have said lots of twists and turns. Was not that flat either, some quite long drags which were hard going on the second lap. I wouldnt write it off as a
Pb course if your current PB is soft but it is not the fastest of courses.
Parking was close to the start which was easy to find and there was bag storage too which was well organised.
The start was a shambles with slow runners starting at the front. I started near the front but was still obstructed by a lot of selfish people in the wrong place, that is the main area which needs working on.
Plenty of water stations ( water in bottles) and a little support on the course. The second lap was quieter. I was leading lady so had a motorbike escort who rode behind me most the time but occationally went ahead to stop traffic. There were a few places where marshals were stood but I had to ask where to go as they were not always directing. On a lot of turns there were arrows which were easy enough to see but I did see someone ahead of me miss one then double back so you had to be concentrating!
The medal and t shirt where not the best but considering the entry fee you can't really complain. At the end there was more water, banana and some millionaires shortbread so I think it was good value for money.
Overall I would say that apart from the start it was a well organised race which I would definatly do again
Date of review: September 4, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Scott Wilson 12
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: You get what you pay for
In full: This was my 7th Marathon of the year. It was what i expected. It was never gonna be london but with a few small tweaks could be really good. The second lap was very quiet and runners were well spread out. Which was not a bad thing it felt like a training run. If this was your one marathon of the year you may be disappointed but as this is my 7th of 12 this year it fell into my schedule it was good. The medal was abit naff after 26 miles of running. Improve that and it would be fine.
Date of review: September 4, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Sam Folger
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: OK as a half, not enjoyable for a full marathon
In full: I ran this as a full marathon for the first time this year and I have to say it was the least enjoyable marathon I have done (previous events include London, Brighton, Milton Keynes, Chester, Lancaster). As a two lapped affair I was always expecting the 2nd lap to be more of a mental challenge but putting that aside this marathon experience was spoilt for me by:
1. No sooner had the 2nd lap started and I was running against traffic where a previously closed busy road had reopened. I even had to cross this road weaving between traffic to go down a different street.
2. There seemed to be far fewer marshalls on the 2nd lap, relied more on the signs.
3. As I ran past the finish line at half marathon stage I could hear the finishers names being called out as they approached the line - none of this for marathon finishers, just a bit of background music playing.
Overall this is a fairly decent half marathon but it just does not seem to work as a full. Next up is Chester in a few weeks - not that's a marathon!
Date of review: September 4, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: buttscratcher
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: whats with all the moaning
In full: the scenery is no worse than brum half, the course is positively flat with pb written all over it, the race was well organised with a good start/finish area,ok its a little quiet out there but thats it and as for the goody bag you get a medal, a tee shirt and some food and drink for half the price of the bupa runs. not really sure where all the negativity has come from but i would suggest its a little unfair to the people who organised everything also bare in mind the main sponsor lost everything in a recent fire and still turned out for us all. cheer up folks it weren't that bad now was it
Date of review: September 3, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: olde english
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: twisty- needs the council to really get behind it
In full: if they dropped the overly twisty detour through the estate all the negatives would disappear. this could be a cracking mid size race if the council committed to a few road closures to ditch the housing estate detour. if you ignore those couple miles the course is undulating, varied and about as good as you re going to get for a city course. I am biased as its my childhood town and I can remember the heady days of thousands of people with jimmy saville trundling past the family house. I'll definitely be back and hopefully with a few more speedsters to chase.(i ran the 1/2)
Date of review: September 3, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Mark Woodfield
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great value, but a very quiet 2nd lap for the full marathoners.
In full: Good price in comparison to some marathons, and although this is partially reflected in the goody bag it doesn't detract from what was a well organised event. 2nd lap was a bit like a solo training run, but the marshalls all offered encouragement as you passed.
Date of review: September 3, 2012
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