The H.E.A.R.T UK Dorney Lake Charity 5K & 10K @ Dorney LakeHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (15 votes). | 1 to 10 of 15 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
| The big picture (15 votes) | | Overall score | | 55% | | How many would do it again? | | 57% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 71% | | PB potential | | 75% | | Atmosphere | | 56% | | Organisation | | 41% | | Value | | 55% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 75% |
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2009 race reviewed by: sheddy
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Flat course and nice location, shame about the accuracy claims!
In full: I did the April race and, like others, found that the course was several hundred meters too long. It's a shame as this race would be perfect for a PB if it was the correct length and if the course was proper laps of the lake to get rid of all the 180 degree turns. In fact, the course they had laid out this time seemed even worse than last year's effort as there were several points where runners were going head-to-head very narrow paths. It gives you the impression that F3events are trying to use as little of the available paths as possible for some reason.
In general, the organisation was better than I found last year, and other people's experiences in the March and Feb races, but this was mainly due to a low turnout. There was probably only 150 runners in total compared to nearly 400 last year so the lack of toilets and tight course weren't as big an issue.
Overall, I do like Dorney lake as a venue for running races and I would definitely do one there again. Just not so sure if it will be one of the ones organised by F3events though.
Date of review: April 14, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Ross Dowsett 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A very average race
Date of review: March 26, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Alyson Coates
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Organisation was appalling - long queues, few toilets, no race markers, confusing course, marshalls not identifiable.,
Date of review: March 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Rach E
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Worst organised race I've ever done
In full: Dorney has the potential to offer a very quick 10k, but this race was let down by some very elementary errors:
- The 10k was, in fact, 10.5km.
- Hairpins and poor marshaling meant runners had to "pick their side" running and resulted in some near head-on collisions.
- The results were a joke! People were asked to read numbers out at the finish. Now they are online, I am listed as fifth lady when I was second (I am 100% sure I was second).
- People's times are up to 2 minutes out.
- Very expensive. Appreciate this is a charity event, but it had a very corporate feel. No vouchers or cash prizes. Only prizes for first place in 5k.
- 5 toilets(!) for thousands of people
- Huge queues at the start to collect numbers
Date of review: March 21, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: JohnG237
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Let me start by saying that I haven't entered this event, but...
In full: ...I have supported my partner twice.
The "organisation" (if you can call it that) is perhaps the poorest of any race I have ever entered or watched.
Timing is almost non-existent, with the "organisers" expecting runners/cyclists to call out their number as they cross transition/start/finish lines, and the mates who are logging numbers, times etc often seem to miss entrants (in fact at a previous race all 3 even failed to correctly record the start!).
At the last check, times were still not on the website, despite being promised on the day of the race and then the following day. How long does it take to transpose a couple of hundred runners' details from paper to a spreadsheet and onto the web?
What about chip timing? If a fantastic event like the Wedding Day 7k can do it (organised by a running club), why can't a "professional" events company do it?
All in all a pretty poor experience.
On the positive side, my kids did like the fact that they could get a cookie or danish from the refreshment tent, so at least they were happy with the day!
Date of review: March 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Dean Makar
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great venue, good atmosphere, let down by course being long, out and back around tight cones and results not being shown on web when promised
In full: Did the Dorney Dash last year and it was my favourite 10k of the year. Loved the flat two laps around the lake. Was looking forward to breaking 40min in the Heart run, but disappointed to find the course long, with km markers missing after 4k, the doubling back around cones was awful with runners in danger of running into each other and now frustrated awaiting results to be shown on website. I have already entered the April version and hope that in the meantime the course measurement can be checked and the route can be changed to two laps of the lake, if possible.
Date of review: March 19, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Justin Phillipps
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A good race-.brilliant weather conditions.Organisation was ok,not sure about having to queue for race numbers,seems very time consuming and leaves little time to warm up etc.One runner mentioned that the distance was more than 10k.
Date of review: March 16, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Mark Clews
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The website states the course is 100% accurate. It was way out.
In full: With a course that was pretty well flat, why wasnt it measured properly? Even within 10meters and everyone would have been happy (Garmin reviewers are saying 400-500m out). Why did they have the course doubling back straight into the following runners? Why didnt they just run it around the lake? 5 toilets for that many runners. Come on guys!
Date of review: March 16, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Graeme Hackland
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great venue, organisation not so great
In full: Race start moved an hour to 12:30 without prior warning (unless you visited the website in the days leading up to the event), basic errors of only 5 toilets so start delayed, why did we run up and down the same side and not around the lake? This caused unnecessary congestion (although was good for the spectators), Lots of water tables on such a hot day were very much appreciated. Sort out the few issues before your April one and I would recommend for those seeking a PB
Date of review: March 16, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Andrew J
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great day out - a little long?
In full: Weather great little breezy but nice and sunny - no issues at start apart from the usual shortage of loos. After 4Km I didn't see another km marker, and the tight turnarounds were a pain - and finish line was a bit vague. Only had small or XXL shirts at end. Ran a PB, and if it was as much as 0.5km long then even faster - so musn't grumble. Only minor gripes really - had a great day out, great for kids/dogs too - sort out the distance and top marks.
Date of review: March 15, 2009
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