My Event Ratings

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

In short: Well worth doing
In full: Brief review, i would say all runners should give it a go sometime. Its really well organised, there are loads of Marshall's, you get people out clapping you, at various points in the race and you get a decent size bit of cheese at the end. Also plenty of free parking and a tea, bacon butty and cake stall was available at the finishing area.

If you like challenging races, with some good tough hills and great views i recommend the Black Sticks Blue 10K. Its similar in ways to the Longridge Lions 7 Mile run, so yes give a go next year you'd enjoy im sure of it and i think, time allowing, i will be there again next year.

Date of review: May 12, 2013

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

In short: Tough, Challenging and Worth the Trip
In full: This was my first attempt at this race and I don’t think I was quite prepared for how hilly it was. I had heard that the first two miles or so were hilly, but after that it eases off. However, I found this course to be full of hills for all but the final 2k. That said, I really enjoyed this race and found it to be on a par with the Longridge 7 Mile race and I would certainly do this race again.

There are plenty of Marshals along the route and even the odd spectator along the way, although the bulk of these are found at the athletics track were the race starts and finish and in my view not enough races finish on a track, this being only the second one I’ve come across, I think as a runner there is something a bit special about a track finish. The “goodie bag” at the end of the race wasn’t the best, but the challenging nature of this route, which incidentally treats you to the odd scenic view, the friendly atmosphere and decent size crowd makes this a worthwhile race for all.

Date of review: February 11, 2013

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: More work to do
In full: I believe this race has been going for sometime, however there is a lot of work for the organisers to do.

To begin with the race HQ is a ten minute walk from the start and toilets are limited. Moving the race HQ to say a tent by the start (There is plenty of room for it, in that car park) and investing in some portable toilets for the day is something I would do.

At the beginning of the race we had to run around the car part twice, which for those the front and back must have been a nightmare. Surely they could find an extra street or two to take the runners down to meet the 10 mile distance.

Two drink stations or one which you pass twice would certainly be a big help to those tackling this distance for the first time, after all ten miles is a long way to go with only one station.

Finally the goody bag, a couple of chocolate bars is not want runners are looking for after parting with £9.

The race itself is extremely well marshalled and plenty of locals come out and give there support, so you cannot fault that. The course is flat and has PB written all over it and those first timers, moving up from a 10k, this is an excellent step on the way to a Half Marathon.

Effectively this is race to the St Anne’s windmill and back and it is a welcomed sight on the horizon as you approach it, especially once you figured out that the drinks station was also positioned at the windmill as well. Thinking about it, the windmill was probably the only point of interest on the course. Although we did pass the Sport Relief mile organisers setting up for their run and with the local radio station in full swing it was reminiscent of the Great North run boost zone, perhaps this is something the organisers could look to incorporate into the race next year. One final plus point in the races favour is that the course bends and winds around enough walk ways and streets to keep you interested and there is plenty of room for overtaking.

I would do this race again, but I would like to see some changes made to organisation, but not to those marshals as they were excellent bring them back year on year.

Date of review: March 21, 2010

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

In short: A great race for your first 10k
In full: This was the third time I have done this race, but first time it was full. Organisers coped well considering everyone seemed to turn up at the same time. The toilets were very busy as others have mentioned but there are another set at the other side of the bar which not too many people seemed to know about, worth remembering.

The race itself started off extremely fast, I think I did the first mile in 6.23 which about my 5k time, slowly had to slowly ease off and as this race made use of the excellent public footpaths in that area, there was plenty of time to achieve this without getting in others way. The course challenges without scaring and is well marshalled a drinks station is also provided half way around and is very much a welcomed sight.

One other plus point was the choice of reward either a bag or a medal. I opted for the medal I know they just build but up, what they hay it was nice to have the choice.

All of our party enjoyed the race; include one runner doing his first race since high school and his first ever 10k. He loved and certainly looks to have caught the runners bug and will certainly being doing this race again be it this time next year or the summer addition.

Date of review: January 24, 2010

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

In short: You won't find a tougher December race in Lancashire
In full: A very demanding course, which is dominated by the older runner year on year. I believe this year’s top three were all over forty.

The race begins on a slight downward gradient, then you reach Longridge village Centre, at which point you being four miles of up hill struggle that will challenge even the most experienced of runners. And when you think you have conquered the worse they could through at you, you meet Jeffrey Hill. An unforgiving mound of earth which will have you contemplating walking or even giving up and for those that do making it to the top, a view that most race’s simply cannot compete, as the beautiful Longridge Fell is presented before you.

Not long after this, you reach the four mile point, where after a quick down hill drop, you meet the last of the inclines, which in most years is covered in some form of ice. You are then rewarded for your endeavours with over two miles of down hill running/racing, before crossing the line to be presented with your well deserved Christmas pudding.

Date of review: December 16, 2009

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

In short: A must for every runner
Date of review: September 21, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A must for all HM runners
In full: You will struggle to find a better organised none commercial race.
Date of review: June 25, 2009

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