Blacks Single-Track Trail RunHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (19 votes). | 1 to 10 of 19 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
| The big picture (19 votes) | | Overall score | | 80% | | How many would do it again? | | 89% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 97% | | PB potential | | 39% | | Atmosphere | | 73% | | Organisation | | 65% | | Value | | 59% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 66% |
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2011 race reviewed by: Dani Casey
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great route, even including THAT hill! Bring on next year!
In full: This is my second time, and beat last year's time by 9 minutes (so happy!). It's right on my doorstep and I was happy to pay £20 and prefered this year's goody bag compared to last year's.
I was only disappointed by other runners returning home immediately after the race, and not hanging around to see the prize-giving, which was a downer and cant be blamed on the race organisers.
Loved the route, the scenery is beautiful and I enjoyed the contrast of some tracks, some farmer's fields, a little bit of forest (with a few fun obstacles thrown in) and obviously some tracks.
Some other runners need to make sure that when they feel the need to stop, they should STEP ASIDE instead of stopping dead infront of me 2ft before a jump in the forest! In places, the narrow tracks are fun, but difficult for over-takes (or rather, difficult for people to overtake me!)
Loved it, would highly recommend it! Don't expect a 10km PB because of the nature of the route, but I will certainly go for my course PB again next year!
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: neil griffiths 12
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice scenery, touhg hill to finish. excellent challenge
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: gp187
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: OMG that hill!!
In full: Beautiful scenery, tough race in places where it was single track. A good little forest section. But the hill at about 4.5K was...a.....killer!
Date of review: October 17, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Carli
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Wonderful scenery, easy first time trail run course
In full: Wonderful morning in the Dunstable Downs. Organization was superb, from the reviews I read from the previous year, it looks like they didn't organize well in the past but this year they really stepped it up. There was a 5K and a 10K race, both went off without a hitch. A couple of nice touches included the announcer cheering you on BY NAME from a loud speaker as you neared the finish line (was enough to give a boost of energy at the end of the race!) also had a machine at the end where you typed in your number and it printed your time on the spot which was great. The path was not too tough but still a good challenge. This was my first 'trail run' and I think it was great for a first timer. A more experienced trail runner might not be as impressed with the track. Great goodie bag too. Would definitely run the race again though as was great fun!
Date of review: October 16, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: Felicity Aries
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fabulous race, in a great setting. I'll be back next year.
In full: I had no problems with the organisation or the goody bag (one of the best I have ever received). The scenery was great and the course (I did the 5k) a good balance, all in all a great race.
My only complaint is the slow runners, most with MP3 players who treated this as a Sunday stroll and refused to get out the way. A group of us followed one woman up the hill just after the 5k/10k split and despite calling and tapping her from behind she simply refused to look around or move. This probably made the difference for me coming 4th rather than 3rd in my age-group - gutting!
Date of review: November 8, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Steve Field 4
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Superb location but......and there are a few
In full: I know it was the first running of this race so I do hope you take on board some of the comments via their feedback and those posted on the Runners Would web page
1 No Route map displayed before race
2 Start/Finish banner around the wrong way (surely they did not do it that way just for finish photo) Some people did run across the final part the wrong way because the saw 'Finish' and just headed for that
3 Lack of marshalls on the course.
4 Goody bag did not live up to what one was led to believe, I added up the parts and even including £4.30 for a out of date magazine I could not make it add up to £25.
5 No drinks station at finish, not everyone like the chocolate shake after a race
6 No age group prizes with that number of sponsors you must have been able to afford it
7 Race fee far to high for a 10k race I was only tempted by the course which had to be good in that location - 700 runners at £20 =£14000 nice little earner!
As a race dirctor my self I do know what's involed
WAS THIS JUST A MONEY MAKING EXERCISE ! (sorry about the pun)
Date of review: October 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Nick Crank
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Cracking scenery and some killer hills!
In full: Really enjoyed this event and would do it again. Only slight criticism was queuing for water halfway - need more staff on the water station. Also for the elite runners (of which I'm not one) there was a problem with the marking of the course which meant the fastest few went the wrong way and only completed 8km. Expect more arrows and marshals next time! Overall a really varied course that made the best of the available terrain and some great views to be enjoyed. Post race goodies were plentiful too.
Date of review: October 20, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Margarita
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The best race I've ever done. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope it becomes an annual event.
Date of review: October 20, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: 206751
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great run
In full: This is a great run and I thought it went well seeing as though this was the first time it took place.
It was quite annoying not being able to get past people on the single track so I'd advise pushing to the front at the start if you want to get a good time. Also I prefer to recce a course prior to race day which wasn't an option as the route wasn't published.
However I had a great time - even on Bison Hill. Will definitely be back again next year.
Date of review: October 20, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: n g 4
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: lovely race - well organised, really friendly, great goodies and a fantastic setting - look forward to next year
Date of review: October 18, 2010
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