Rushden 5 (In support of Help for Heroes)Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (4 votes). | 1 to 4 of 4 ratings | Page: 1 |
| The big picture (4 votes) | | Overall score | | 80% | | How many would do it again? | | 88% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 75% | | PB potential | | 70% | | Atmosphere | | 75% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 70% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 85% |
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2009 race reviewed by: scott etherington
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent inaugural event in 2010, thoroughly recommend
In full: I took part in this event last year and cannot speak more highly...
Course Profile
Quite tough going; first half mile or so slight up hill, then around 1 mile of flat and downhill as you come into Wymington. Then it's a pretty hard slog for 2 miles or so as you run up through Wymington and up towards the A6. Once you hit the A6 it's flat or downhill all the way back into Rushden, then you hit a section of uphill back up towards the park, quite steep, but only for a few hundred yards and then it's a few hundred yards of flat/downhill to the finish. A reasonably tough profile, but if you hit the flat and downhill hard you can achieve a decent time.
It's a pleasant enough run, countryside coming out of Wymington is pleasing to the eye (though at this point you're running uphill so it's difficult to take in!).
Water station at about halfway point is ideally located once you've made it up from Wymington to A6.
Course Safety & Marshalling
Good, it's not traffic-free, but in 2010 encountered very few vehicles. The course is very well marshalled(particularly for a new event), and I only encountered one blip in terms of knowing where I should be going and that was near the finish where I nearly went through the wrong entrance to the park leading to the finish line - event organiser picked up on this very quickly and made sure all gates to the park were marshalled thereafter (turns out this entrance did have a marshal but they'd snuck off for a cup of coffee!).
Finish / Venue
Hall Park is the perfect place to start and finish. Ideal area for supporters to wait for runners, family-friendly and I think they organised a fun run for kids in 2010 so plenty to keep the younger ones entertained. Because this is organised by Higham Rotary they put on a few stalls as well so lots for non-runners to do.
Summary
A great inaugural event last year, credit to Higham Rotary Club for organising, and all for a great cause too. I'd give a solid 8 out of 10 rating; well organised, good/challenging course, well marked out, great setting. I'll hopefully be taking part this year too, see you all there!
Date of review: August 21, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: scott etherington
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great organisation and atmosphere, recommened this event
In full: The event was run for the first time this year, and overall I was very impressed...
Route - challenging in places; the run from Wymington up to the A6 (1-3 miles) is tough, but there's a good opportunity to pick up the pace in the run down towards Rushden. A couple of hills in the final mile, but able to finish strongly in the mostly flat or downhill final 600 metres. The route isn't traffic-less, but there were hardly any vehicles along the road sections. The start and finish (in Hall Park) is ideal. I managed 33.29, not far off my PB.
Organisation - excellent, the route was very well marshalled, and I never felt at risk of getting lost. The water stop was suitably located at around the 3 mile mark. A chap did crash out at around the 3-mile point (he was in 2nd), and by the point I passed him (a few minutes later) he was already being seen to by St. John's ambulance.
Atmosphere - very good, even with just over 50 runners and their supporters. Quite a few runners (club and recreational) were chatting and laughing amongst one another before and after the race - you don't often see such a relaxed and friendly atmospehere at running events and I've found other races too serious and anti-social.
Prizes - I think the first three men and women were given medals, and then all remaining particpants a 'Help for Heroes' charity band - not the usual medal, but I think I actually prefer the band as it's something I can wear to show I'm supporting a great cause.
Overall a great event, very impressive organisation, particularly for a run in its inaugural year. I hope the organisers will continue to run the event in future years, thoroughly recommended to all runners.
Date of review: September 30, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Nio
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Friendly and enjoyable but a few probs with marshalling
In full: A charity fun run on an undulating course. Nice atmosphere and a decent amount of local support. Had a problem with registration however- I did so online, didn't get my number in the post but made contact with the organisers who said no probs, the number would be available for collection on the day. Turned up with my email confirmation but the lady at the desk said she had no record of me having paid... luckily another girl on the desk ensured I got my number!! Other issue was a couple of the marshals on the course failed to send me left in time, costing me several seconds- I can just about excuse this as I was one of the leaders but the main problem came in the final mile. The course took in the entrance to the park, where the race began. This was marked with cones and looked like it might be part of the route- but there was absolutely no-one in the vicinity to tell me either way. I carried on straight ahead simply because my GPS only read 4.25 miles- luckily it was the right decision but had I gone into the park it would have ruined my finish!! Apologies to the next marshal who got my unhappy comments about that but it's definitely something for next year. On the plus side, I was first lady and was delighted to get a medal for that, wasn't expecting much in the way of goodies as it was for a great charity. And finally best wishes to the guy who was leading the race with one other but then took ill at about 3.5 miles, I hope he's ok.
Date of review: September 26, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: James Y
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Super friendly 5 miles
Date of review: September 26, 2010
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