My Event Ratings

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

In short: Enjoyable, well-supported race
Date of review: May 2, 2011

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

In short: USP = hill-free
In full: If you want a flat race, this is the one to go for. Lots of local support as the route is through housing estates. Generally well organised. Just a shame it's a bit dull as far as the scenery goes.
Date of review: October 12, 2008

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

In short: A course of two halves
In full: On the upside: generally well organised. On the downside - one of the water stations had run out of water when I went past. The 'official' motorbikes around Holme Pierrepont were a pain - I had to keep moving onto the grass to let them pass. The second half is nice and flat, but the first, hilly half takes it out of you a bit. The marshals were great - really good at cheering us on, even though I was one of the plodders and they must have been there for hours and hours. Church in Lenton cheering us on with 'inspirational' music - couldn't you have picked something that didn't have the lyrics "I fall on my knees, I fall on my knees"??
Date of review: September 14, 2008

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

In short: Nice atmosphere, friendly people, but challenges with the traffic
In full: Found the start by heading for the appropriate street and standing round where everybody else was. The traffic was challenging at times: perhaps an earlier start would get round this. The most baffling aspect of this race is why, when Newark is actually quite an attractive town, they route you through sprawling housing estates and past industrial units. However, it was a nice, friendly race. The marshals were really encouraging and people were generally chatty. T-shirt (instead of medal) quite nice too. A lot of the route is flat, hence PB potential, but you've got to still have a bit of oomph in your legs at 10/11 miles to keep your pace going uphill - not a steep slope, but prolonged.
Date of review: August 10, 2008

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

In short: Nice morning out, but a few small organisation glitches
In full: I've done 5ks to marathons, but never a 10k so this was automatically a PB, although I was quite happy with my time (3 seconds under my target! - wonder what I'd have got if it had been less blustery?) Would have been great to have km markers as I had no idea of my pace. Quite a small field, so spread out, and I wasn't entirely sure where I was going at the end - trying desperately to keep the runner ahead within my sights. A few arrows pointing to the finish would have been good: I did wonder if I was going the right way.
Date of review: June 22, 2008

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

In short: A warm, muggy day made it tough, but lovely scenery and good organisationn
In full: My first full marathon, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots and lots of encouraging marshalls and plenty of water stops. The start area is quite short, but I think might benefit from arranging people by predicted speed, as I went off too fast and struggled to slow down. The hill on the second lap was made awkward because of it slowing people down but traffic alongside (the roads are opened up more to traffic after the first lap) making overtaking a bit iffy. But these points are minor in what was overall a very enjoyable event.

Date of review: April 27, 2008

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

In short: My first 1/2 - will probably do the full next year
In full: Returned to my home city for my very first half, so slightly biased re the location. The field was a bit crowded at times making it difficult to overtake - think I could have knocked a few minutes off my time otherwise. But really enjoyed it: well-organised and lots of clear instructions minimised my first-timer nerves.
Date of review: September 16, 2007

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