My Event Ratings

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In full: The weather was hideous, but that's just bad luck! I thought as far as the organisers could, they made this an enjoyable day out.

The only thing I wasn't that keen on was the hairpin bend at about 10/11 miles in.
Date of review: June 4, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Scenic and enjoyable, the only downer was the traffic and the lack of marshalls in some key points
Date of review: June 4, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Nice course, but some pretty poor organisation
In full: This is potentially a very good run, but was spoiled this year by some organisational mistakes. The first and last couple of miles were well supported.

However, the biggest issue was the lack of water. Until the wheels came off about a third of the way in, I was going at a fairly decent pace, but even towards the front end of the field, one of the water stations was dry before I got to it. I really felt for the slower guys who were still out there as the weather was getting hotter and had no water. Organising a marathon at the end of May, there is always a chance that it will be hot, so this is something the organisers must get right as it is a real health and safety issue.

The mile markers in the first few miles weren't always very easy to see when running in the crowds and I heard a lot of runners saying they hadn't seen the first few, and had no idea what pace they were going.

The temporary surface on the last stretch into the race course was pretty cruel with tired legs.

From a spectators point of view, it's not easy to get around the course unless you use the shuttles which have to be booked a long way in advance (a date which had already passed before we were informed about them in race information).
Date of review: June 1, 2009

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Worth giving a go once, but probably wouldn't do it again.
In full: The couple of token obstacles weren't quite what I expected from the write up on the website. The course started and finished a little dull and repetitive but was more interesting between 6 and 8km. Although the km markers seemed to have been put up at randomly selected distances from one another (plus whole course was about half a mile short according to my watch) and the warmup was a little odd!
Date of review: March 21, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Pretty gruelling and uninspiring scenery wise except for the first few miles. And not a sports drink in sight!
Date of review: April 30, 2006

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Very flat - maybe too much so. Only 2 watered down energy drink stops made for hard going in the last few miles, but otherwise a good day out. Just make sure you take your own supplies of energy gels/drinks.
Date of review: October 5, 2004

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A pleasant, if somewhat hilly course and a bargain at the price
Date of review: October 5, 2004

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