Longleat 10KHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (17 votes). | 1 to 10 of 17 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
| The big picture (17 votes) | | Overall score | | 67% | | How many would do it again? | | 71% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 85% | | PB potential | | 47% | | Atmosphere | | 66% | | Organisation | | 48% | | Value | | 45% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 65% |
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2011 race reviewed by: Celloal
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: If you like hills, you'll love this!
In full: This was my first 10k, having done a few half marathons before, but I soon realised that this was no pb-setting course! The hills are pretty punishing, particularly on the second time round when you reach 8k. Having said that, what goes up must come down, and there are some rewarding fast sections of the circuit, including the long downhill straight to the finish.
Organisation was good, free food at the end welcome, and having the times instantly available on a computer at the finish was a nice touch (although there was a slight discrepancy with my Garmin time).
All in all, a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning in Wiltshire.
Date of review: February 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Cdr Tomalak
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: No free monkey at the end. Hilly, but worth a go.
In full: Ok, granted, I turned up with only 10 minutes before the start of the race, so my heart rate was already in the fat burning zone through sheer panic. Espeically when I saw the queue for the toilets. I was in starting position 60 seconds before the start of the race.
Anyway... I came away from this, my first 10k of the year (and since June last year), surprised at how hilly and undulating it was. The hill after the start was ok, whereas the one before end was a real killer. The type of gradient where you can walk up faster than you can run. I ran. Had to.
The last 800m is, as they claim, fast and flat, and has you running towards a vision of the fine mansion no doubt constructed by peasants long ago for the middle classes. Everyone got a nice medal, half a banana (not sure why they were cutting them in half. Very odd. Price of bananas I guess?), a small fruit and nut bar, one of those mineral juice drinks, and, er, that's it. But the medal is a good one, engraved with Longleat 10k 2011 on the back.
If you've not trained for a while, take it easy on this one. But it's a good race and I'd do it again next year to try and better my time. It is not a fast course and I was a huge 9 minutes off my PB which I set in the Derby 10k and equalled in the Bristol 10k last year.
Date of review: February 8, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Michael Nutt
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Organisers need to take note of RW comments
In full: Previous reviews are pretty well unanimous on the shortcomings of this year's event, which fell some way short of previous years' standards. This is a pity, as Longleat 10k has often featured in lists of favourite events nationally among Runners World readers. The chip timing was, I thought, excellent but I did have misgivings when the race pack arrived and contained very little information (e.g. no course map) for beginners. I didn't realise the start had been moved, and went off looking for it in the usual place ...! It didn't help that the high winds meant that the inflatable structure identifying the start couldn't be erected, so it wasn't clear where the start line was. No complaints about the course, which always finds out my lack of fitness at this time of the year (one year I will arrive fit and ready to run!), or the helpful marshalls and supportive spectators. The refreshments and goodies at the end were very welcome (no bags - protecting the environment?) and I'm not really interested in the medal (but for those who are, it was rather cheap and nasty). The lack of toilets suggest the organisers were really economising this year (I had to queue 45 mins before the start, but not for long - I gather it got worse nearer the start time).
Come on, orgainsers - recognise the criticisms on this forum and tackle these problems, so this event can keep its status as a special race at the start of the running calendar!
Date of review: February 8, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: GemsieGremlin
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Disappointing compared to previous years
In full: The start was chaotic due to no finish time zones and a change in location from previous years. As a result there was more traffic to work through. The finish wasn't clearly marked and was a lot further down the drive than last year which I can only assume was due to the start changing as opposed to inaccurate measuring. The medal was disappointing compared to last year's which was veru unique. However, the selection and quality of refreshments at the end was good and well received after a windy hilly race. i usually look forward to this race but feel a bit let down this year.
Date of review: February 8, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: malindi bailey
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: brilliant! I loved it...even those nasty hills. Where do I sign for next year?
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Running Bench
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Poor compared to last year
In full: As everyone else said, not as good as last year and expensive for what you get. I have entered cheaper 10kms with T-Shirts given etc etc.
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Steve Crick 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very poorlly organised
In full: This is the 4th time I've run this race, and this one was poorly managed compared to previous experiences.
Not enough toilets, start and finish not clear, clock at finish was not accurate, rubbish medal and expensive for what you get...won't be back at that price.
Having said that, it is a good race for spectators.
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Kewstoker
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Dropped from my top 3 favourite races after today
In full: We have run 6/7 of the races to date and have always been really impressed with the personal service given by Mike Gratton, considering the size of the race. Not sure if Mike has now handed over the race direction to somebody handling it more as a commercial business venture.
Highs:
The refreshments at the finish line esp tea was very good
Lows:
Expensive
Start line not clear
Finish line not clear when running down the drive, esp with spectators on the drive.
Medal not as original as last year
Not sure why we had to submit a t-shirt size on the online entry
Not enough toilets (18 min wait at 9.30am)
Can people with cani-cross harnesses really be considered in the same race results? I was shocked to see a lady so well assisted up the hills, obviously impacting on finish positions.
Clock on finish line way out? I finished in 52:08, was advised by clubmates that the clock was out by 40 secs, which made 52:48, but the my chip time was 53:56??
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: pops
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: good route testing in places
In full: I think its all been said already !
I do agree also that for the price that there should have been a slicker operation organisationally all round.The main issue I would suggest is the standard of hygine for issuing water at 4K.This cannot be acceptable under any circumstances, hope no one gets a tummy upset from it.The start & finish arches were as I understand it were not erected due to the windy conditions.
Shame realy as this should be a much better race :(
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Michelle Winn 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: As hilly as promised but suprised by the poor organisation!
In full: I knew the race was hilly so was well prepared for that and it really is a lovely route through the grounds of longleat. As someone who had not ran the race before there was a lot that wasn't clear. The registration point was not sign posted and not visable from car park etc. There seemed to be an archway that should have been blown up for the start but it never went up so I had no idea where it was starting until minutes before when people began to gather. The Water station was as mentioned by others an absolute shambles, I don't take a drink during this kind of distance but when i passed everyone was having to stop, there were no drinks laid out to be taken just a couple of people scooping one cup at a time from the bucket full of water!! The clock was confusing at the end as it did not match the chip time but I did like that everything was set up to check your chip time straight away so this didnt really matter. There were a lot of refreshments offered at the end which was really great. I do agree that the medal was dissapointing after the price paid, I've heard it was much nicer last year, they had an engraver there but the medal seemed so tacky it didnt seem worth getting it done, had it been the symbolic lion shape I may of had this done. It was a great course for spectators, really easy for them to get round to different points of the route and all were very supportive. I think someone mentioned there were not many Km markers, the only ones I didn't see were 3km and 7km but I think that was me not paying attention, the others were all there.
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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