My Event Ratings

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

In short: A Flat and maybe fast, but not easy course -
In full: I hate to be critical as I can only imagine the huge amount of effort that must go into organising any road race; let alone a marathon that has adequate toilets at the start, showers (although they were too scaldingly hot to use) which doesn’t involve running 6 laps of a trading estate. But I found the Abingdon course to be a bit too narrow in too many places (and this was near the front end of the field), with footpaths that you couldn’t overtake on and pavements that were both narrow and interrupted with driveways every few meters. The section through the town was also quite twisty and on the way out (at 5 miles) with the number of runners around there were a few too many bollards to negotiate. Support was good through the town and at a couple of patches on the course, but the run into the finish was quite lonely – I guess everyone was waiting in the stadium.
On the plus side: the marshals were copious, friendly and helpful – advising on rough patches of pavement and aforementioned bollards, as well as offering general cheer and encouragement. Water stations every 3 miles were great – meant you didn’t have to worry about missing your mouth with the contents of the cup. Toilet queues some of the shorter I’ve encountered – although
One final point, that I’m sure many will think if not greedy, just churlish – but a small prize (vouchers from a sponsor would suffice) would be much appreciated for what was literally a marathon effort. – Oh and maybe be a bit more realistic in the race day timetable about when the prize presentation will happen. I missed having a much needed massage as I thought the presentation was imminent.

Date of review: October 21, 2012

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

In short: Very well organised, great course in a lovely city - maybe a little more undulating than I'd hoped,
In full: The start and finish at the race course were great, made for a really good finish atmosphere. In general the support on the course was great, although we only ran through small villages it seemed like most of the population had turned out at many of them. Again the support in the last mile along the river was a great lifter - helped by having names on numbers. I can't fault the organisation, with some nice touches: Names on Numbers, baggage tag on number, good "elite" facilities. Water and drinks stations aplenty on the course. I did say "never again", but if I were to do another marathon Chester would definitely be near the top of the list
Date of review: October 10, 2011

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

In short: A good effort for the first running of this event, a few minor teething problems that I sure can be rectified for next year.
In full: I thoroughly enjoyed the race - but had a good run which always helps overlook any hiccups. The only couple of problems I was aware of was the delay at the start - which wasn't purely due to late arrivals, I had to queue for 20 minutes when arriving at 8:15 - the marshalls in the car park could've been more pro-active.

I think it's a bit unfair to moan about the queues when leaving - this is normal at any event (not just running) were thousands of people all try and leave at once.
At the front end of the race the course was ok, but I could see that as it got busier, the single coned off strip through the city centre wouldn't be wide enough.

Plenty of water stationsen-route and great showers at finish.

I managed to find plenty of toilets, so not sure how some people managed to miss these. But if the number of entrants grows much portaloos will also be needed.

I didn't use the baggage store - one of the advantages of having queued for the car park was that I could leave kit in the car.
Date of review: September 26, 2011

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

In short: A well organised, falt run along th the river. Everyone I met, marhsalls, organisers and other runners all really friendly.
Date of review: April 10, 2011

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

In short: A super race, quick scenic (for Slough) course and well organised with lots of friendly marshalls
In full: A lovely race in a nice setting - wouldn't guess it was only a couple of miles from Slough. The 2 lap course was fast, on country lanes with very little traffic, but lots of friendly and encouraging marshalls.
The only (very slightly) negative comments are to do with the prizes: Prizes for the winnners, other than trophies would have been nice - but then it was a cheap race to enter, so can't have it both ways I guess. Also, I think that the organisers already know that the spot prize draw didn't work very well - although it did mean that I got something.
Overall though, a great race - and the icing on the cake? I didn't even have to queue for the loo.
Date of review: October 3, 2010

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

In short: A will organised race which despite being "towny" was actually quite a pleasant course.
In full: Pleasantly surprised by this race, although the course was very much around the houses they were mainly wide, clear roads and not too twisty. Although undulating, nothing too severe - and what goes up must also come down... so quicker than I thought it would be. A fair level of support from the locals too even at the far flug points of the course.
Finally, thanks to the organisers, I think they put on a good race today.
Date of review: April 11, 2010

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

In short: Flat but I'd say the rutted and busy tow path slows it down. Well organised.
In full: The tow path was very busy today, due to this race clashing with a Clapham Chasers event. Although flat, I reckon the terrain (the already mentioned rough tow path) and narrow, uneven pavements for the first couple of KM make it not a particularly speedy event. I also needed to cross a stream of runners coming in the opposite direction in order to cross back into the park for the finish.
Date of review: March 7, 2010

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

In short: Flat, potentially fast and well organised
In full: The airfield was incredibly dull and did sean to go on for ever - but on the plus side it does offer a flat traffic free circuit. The only slightly negative feedback is that I found the extrance / exit to the airfield extremely slippy, I think from moss rather than ice. Some grit had been put down, but I think more was needed.
Date of review: December 14, 2009

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

In short: Great organistation with really friendly, motivating marshalls
In full: Well done Eynsham, you put on a super race, I couldn't fault the organistation or support from marshalls out on the course. I noted a previous comment about lack of loos - but with the new sports centre behind the school, there were more than in previous years.
Date of review: November 29, 2009

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

In short: Not my definition of a fast course - good organisation but lacking in atmosphere
In full: Lots of marsalls out on the course, but not one word of encouragement or anyone telling me I was 1st Lady, until one guy at 8.5km - not even any announcements at finish. On the plus side, a scenic run through the countryside, with stress free parking and toilets.
Date of review: July 5, 2009

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