TRI-ACTIVE Oulton Park Half-Marathon 2009

Hi there, been looking at this one got a full marathon to run in April and was thinking this might be a good race as a warm up to it.

Anyone done it in the past shed any light on it, like what its like on the day etc.

Yep I've just had the same idea. I'm doing a marathon in April (first one ever). Have done a half Marathon in Sept and need to do another before April. Hopefully someone will tell us both what this course is like - I don't like too many hills!!!! 

yeah i think its also 3 laps, i think that might get a little boring.

I'm gutted as the Liverpool half is a week or 2 before the actual full marathon that i'm doing i think that might be a little too close.

Hi

 Did this one last year as my first half.  It was the first time it had been held there and so organisation was a little lacking but all things that can be improved on.  I am going to do it again this year.  The course is partly on the race track and so there is a lot of camber on the corners and several uphills that sap the life out of you.  Unlike the description there was only water station on thefinish / start line, that you pass twice.

 The socks weren't much cop and no medal etc but if you are doing it for the love of it...not a big issue.

 It was my first and the weather was awful so I have to say I was a bit alone on the day near the back of the field so take this into consideration when reading my comments!!! I finished in 2:14 about 20 in from the last runner.

The course is good for spectators though. You run the track and a route inside the "circle" so your spectators can cross the inside of the track and support you at several points all the way round. 

The race track itself is amazing. I haven't looked at one the same since!!

Was disappointed at the time  but willing to try again!!

Happy new Year to you all 

I did this last year and it was not the best organised or the most generous race, BUT, it was the first running and the venue could be give such a fantastic atmosphere that i think I'll give them another go.

Three laps mainly on the track but some multiterrain in the in field, there's a risk of slower runners being lapped which can be a little demoralising and last year some entrants got lost in the infield maze when the marshals wandered off toward the end. It's not as flat as you might expect either, be prepared.

 Really good for spectators so take the family and let's hope they get their act together this year.

Hello

Just signed up for this, moment of maddness. I'm not very fast does anyone know what time the last one home got last year?

Also should I wear my road runners or my trails? I do like the sound of mud and hills. Does sound like a trail job to me.

Double O

The last runner did 2:38 last year, so hope this isok for you. On the shoes issue, I would go with road shoes. It looks like most of the race is on the track, with just a short section on the infield

Guys,

Ran my 2nd Half marathon here last year. Have run a lot more since. As others have said last year organistation was a bit poor. Also think entry fee and prizes etc were not up to scratch - its run by an events comapny so not a runners race so to speak .The biggest gripe i had was that there was no distance markers - they said something about not being allowed to do so - Hope this year is better. Undulating course and a section is run on gravel. Great for family to watch though.

Doubt its a PB course but still an experience to run on a racing track.

Dont think I would run it again .

Ps Get there early.

Paul. 

anyone know where the results & photos will be posted?

i could've done without the horizontal hail on my first half but it was fun nonetheless

I enjoyed this race, could do with finding out where the photos & official times will be. I did a PB despite hills, hail and strong winds.

The track is lovely and wide, so nobody is ever in your way really. The freebies in the end are poor, but the socks were ok and I got a nice fruit salad!

If the organisation was bad last year, then they've definately improved because it was spot on from start to finish. Mile markers were a bit bizarre, but there was a 5KM race before hand which I suppose was the reason for the KM markers.

 However, good, enjoyable race JUST NEED PHOTO & RESULTS LINK PLEASE!!

I ran this yesterday through the gales and horizontal hail.

 The course itself is full of akward cambers, sharp inclines, badly rutted grass, and pot-holed dirt tracks and to make it worse my Garmin (which measured the Helsby half marathon to within a few feet) only measured 12.99miles for this race.

The numbers were poor and the support incredibly sparse.  Make this a 10k and keep it on the race course and it could be brilliant.  As for a half marathon, very poor indeed.  Of the 6 i've run, this is definitely the worst.  (The best is either Liverpool or Helsby)