Ashford & District 10K  Here's how RW members rated this race (340 votes). | The big picture (340 votes) | | Overall score | | 87% | | How many would do it again? | | 96% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 79% | | PB potential | | 78% | | Atmosphere | | 73% | | Organisation | | 81% | | Value | | 78% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 78% |
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2013 race reviewed by: Rob Johnson 11
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Always one of my favourite local races
In full: On arrival at race HQ I was directed to the car parks by an extremely friendly marshal. She told me that although it was a slightly awkward drive, there was a cut through route to walk back to race HQ. The instructions were basically turn right, right and right again into the car parks. Marshals were in position at each junction/roundabout between race HQ and the car park. Loads of parking space and a 10 minute walk back to race HQ. I really don't understand why people have been complaining about the parking and organisation!
Yes there were a lot of people trying to register quite late. However with three long queues and potential for confusion amongst runners, the Race Director was present to make sure everyone was in the right queue.
An announcement was then made that the start had been delayed by 10 mintues. On realising this I quickly put on both my chip and race number and made my way to the start. This was a fair distance away but made for an excellent warm up. I had entered on the day and was one of the last through at registration. I'm afarid those that miss even a delayed start can only have themselves to blame!
In hindsight I probabaly was slightly nearer the back of the field at the start than I would have liked but that's life. With about 700 runners it was difficult to get going at the start but after about 2K runners had spread out considerably. I settled into the race and appreciated the countryside around me. Apart from a slight blip at around 7K (due to a sharp hill) I really got into my stride and pushed myself as much as I could. The last 1K was completely downhill and we finished back at race HQ. Despite the slow start I managed my fastest 10K for at least 4 or 5 years. Not sure how many other races could offer that with so many runners given where I started.
Organisation was perfect. Can't wait to run it again!
Date of review: February 13, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Mark Sluman
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: One of my favourite races. Very scenic and mostly flat with a short sharp hill at 7 k.ms Very well organised by Nice Works with a lot of encouragement by the marshalls
In full: Well done to Nice Works for managing to arrange parking for 722 competitors at short notice. A friendly well organised and scenic race that I would recommend to all. Appreciate the lane at the start makes it difficult to overtake but apart from that small consideration no faults at all.
Date of review: February 7, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Jim Smalley
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great Start to 2013!
In full: My first time at the A&D yielded a warming PB over 10k, in spite of truly chilly conditions.
I have attended Nice Work races before and, as ever with NW, for me this was a friendly and well-organised event. Credit is obviously also due to the kind people of A&D themselves as well for playing hosts.
Sadly, some early reviewers have suggested that aspects of the day were not up to standard, which I feel to be unfair - event responsibility, of course, has to cut both ways. No runner should have been unaware of the time to get from HQ to the start (published in the race notes sent with their number); those with email addresses would have received the (sensible) guidance regarding parking in advance. The alternative arrangements were well administered on the day and directions to HQ from the parking were well indicated (in fact one of the 'to the start' signs is still present today, I noticed!).
Race chip queues were long, but they turned over quickly and, with many runners joining the queue pretty 'late in the day', it seemed clear that the delay was announced specifically in order to accommodate those individuals.
Not surprisingly, a cold day and the presence of a clubhouse meant a lot of people (both runners and entourage) headed indoors before and after the race, but navigation to the bag-drop was far from difficult.
No rain (or snow, as was the case last year in Feb), nice scenery, great marshals, nice medal, free food, PB = top marks for me and I'm glad that the initial negative posts no longer seem to reflect the majority of opinion.
Back in 2014.
Date of review: February 6, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Tim Warren 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fast 10k in the lovely countryside and completely traffic free
In full: I was well informed of the changed parking arrangements and that all seemed great to me. It was definitely a better option to move the parking than being stuck on the field and it also meant no obstacle for runners at the end.
Course itself is great, marshals brilliant and any congestion is a direct result of this race's popularity - perhaps a victim of its own success. If you allow plenty of time though, there are no issues.
I am a huge Niceworks fan. There may have been a slight confusion over the provisonal result, but again they are trying to give people what they want - the results out quicker. If they hadn't people would moan that the results were delayed! I fear they can't win on that one!
Would definitely recommend this race for all abilities.
Date of review: February 6, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: EagleAndy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Lovely scenic race, good pb potential but start poorly organised
In full: My first running of this event and enjoyed that overall experience.
There was plenty of parking and the event was easy to find. I got there with plenty in plenty of time so didn’t have to stand in the huge queue for timing chips.
Disappointed to hear that the race was delayed by 10 minutes although not at all surprised given the huge queues as I left for the start.
The race route was lovely and traffic free with great PB potential! I found the marshals all very friendly and encouraging around the course.
Overall, an enjoyable race over a fast course with a friendly atmosphere; disappointment that race organisers weren’t a little more proficient at the start!
Date of review: February 5, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Daryl Lucas
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Well organised, well supported, friendly, scenic ... and it didn't rain! What more could you ask for?
In full: I thought this was another triumph of organisation from Nice Work. A huge amount of work and preparation goes into staging events such as this and it is important to recognise this. It is very easy to criticise if something doesn't go quite according to plan, although I didn't notice it on Sunday.
Runners are asked to get to the venue early so they can collect their chips. There was a queue which meant a short delay to the start of the race. This may be annoying for those runners who did arrive early and collect their chips, but cannot be helped.
The weather has played a massive role in the organisation of races across the UK over the past few months with very wet and muddy conditions. Race organisers work incredibly hard to put on a good show and should really be applauded for their efforts. Without them we wouldn't have anywhere to go.
Thank you Martin for enabling everyone to have another enjoyable Sunday morning out in the Kent countryside. I look forward to the next one.
Date of review: February 5, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Philip Fisher 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: February 5, 2013
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2012 race reviewed by: Morgansmum1
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fantastic race!
In full: Plenty of information sent out in advance about parking and the walk to the start, so no surprises on race day - just turned up early as advised. The walk to the start served as a great warm up. Getting to the start early meant I could get into the right starting pen, so no complaints there. The much talked about hill at 7km was much smaller than I'd imagined plus knocked 7mins off my PB so will definitely be back! As some have commented previously, it would be good to indicate that the provisional results were gun times not chip times as I did wonder why I was slower that my Garmin suggested. Final results had chip times. Well done to the the organisers and cheerful marshals!
Date of review: February 5, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Morgansmum1
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fa n
Date of review: February 5, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Anjuna Bowhay
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Beautiful loation, lovely route, smooth organisation & delicious cakes!
In full: Have done this race 3 times now & this was my favourite year. Great turnout but not too congested at the start, easy to register & great marshalls. The alternative car parking was well sign posted & plentiful, a short walk to the race but nice to get the legs warmed up, would only be a problem if you didn't leave yourself a sensible amount of time pre race! Will be there next year for sure. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it great.
Date of review: February 5, 2013
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