My Event Ratings

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

In short: Excellent Event
In full: Right from entering this event through to the day itself I thought that this was one of the best organised races that Ive ever taken part in. Love the dog theme and jokes. The e-mails were worth a laugh! Organisation on the day, if you discount the park and ride, was exceptional and enthusiastic! Great medal and shirt. Im sure that the organisers will sort out the park and ride that was obviously foisted upon them but it would put me off going again if it wasnt sorted as hanging around in the cold wet conditions wasnt great and I would have preferred to dive straight in the car and get home. So, if my scores look a bit mean, the park and ride was the sole reason, other than that this is a special race!
Date of review: February 14, 2013

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Very tough climbs but great views at the top!
In full: The climbs were really tough and semed to go on for ever. During the very long descent after the first major climb my only thought was "my God we are going to have to run back up this!" and of course we did. Scenery at the top was stunning though in both directions and the weather was kind
Date of review: August 6, 2012

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

In short: Great crowd support
In full: Some of the ratings on here are really unduly negative. Yes, the baggage re-claim was a shambles and completely unacceptable but otherwise I thought the organisation was pretty good. Nothing the organisers could do about the awful weather (apart from perhaps anticipate the absolute worse) which made the race incredibly challenging. The course can no doubt be tweeked but I think the organisers deserve at least some credit:-

1. They had the nerve to bring a marathon back to Manchester.
2. They got most things right, baggage re-claim apart.
3. The course took in most of Traffords iconic sights, Old Trafford, Imperial War Museum, All the town centres and Dunham Park.
4. I understand that the route was all in Trafford rather than Manchester City due to M/cr Council not wanting to have the event in the City. Nothing the organisers can do about that!
5. The muddy wet section in Dunham Park was completely dry when I ran it 3 weeks before the race and I understand that it was the only way the National Trust would allow the organisers to run through the park.
6. Some of the comments about lack of marshalls are just ludicrous. The numbers were perfectly adequate and I felt as sorry for them as I did for my fellow runners, it wasnt half cold and wet out there!
Date of review: May 7, 2012

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

In short: Tough race in tough wind conditions
In full: Excellent organisation before the event. Excellent, plentiful toilet provision. This isnt an easy course, its hilly and undulates and the wind this year didnt make it any easier but its a good race to start the year with. However, the organisers really do need to sort out the start, which has been in three different places in the last three years and was chaotic this year to say the least, not helped by too many slower runners starting too near the front
Date of review: January 27, 2012

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

In short: Chaotic and dangerous start
In full: The start was badly organised. It was dangerous and chaotic. Too many people for the narrow road on which it started and too many slow runners too near the front. Great shame as the rest of the event is brilliantly organised. Also, with a field as big as this it should be chip timed! I think Cheshire AA should consider removing this race from the Grand Prix circuit unless the start is sorted out properly.
Date of review: February 2, 2009

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