My Event Ratings

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

In short: Lots of twists and turns and much hillier 2nd time around!
In full: Not a bad marathon for the money but I have to agree with other posts about the less than scenic route and the many twists and turns around housing estates, parks etc to make up the miles. The 2nd lap was pretty lonely but you have to expect that with a 2 lapper. Nice finish with good background music but the medal was terrible - very cheap and tinny and doesn't even mention the marathon!
Date of review: September 3, 2012

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

In short: A pretty, hilly route which required more mile markers and marshals
In full: This was a great race, and very enjoyable for somebody who was using it as a training run. The route was pleasant, with the 2nd (full marathon) lap being much quieter than the first in terms of runners,support and marshals. If I had been going for a time I would have found the missing mile markers frustrating, particularly between 19 and 25. There could have been more water on lap 2, and there was a marshal missing at a crucial point. Apart from that, a very enjoyable run which I would do again. Main negatives: having to pay £3 for parking (which held up traffic flow considerably, leading to a delayed start) and a below par goody bag containing just a cereal bar and water. All these things can, and hopefully will be improved for next year. A more accurate description of the hills en route would also be useful in the race description!
Date of review: April 16, 2012

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

In short: Unforgettable as always
In full: A magnificent event with something for everybody from fun runners to the elite. Great crowd support absolutely everywhere. My only complaint would be about the 'one size fits all' i.e. XL cotton (?) t-shirt. It can't be that difficult to arrange small, medium and large in quantities. I wouldn't begrudge paying a bit extra to get a wicking shirt either - something for Virgin to think about ...
Date of review: April 19, 2011

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: One pig trough too far
In full: A well organised race with a great, friendly atmosphere but far too much slippery-slidey mud and 3 waist-deep troughs of cold, muddy water. Surely one or two would have been enough? :-) An experience but not to be repeated anytime soon!
Date of review: November 15, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: perfect conditions, great marshalls, shame about the showers!
In full: A very well organised race with plenty of very helpful marshalls. Very scenic in parts, exluding the 2 laps of the industrial estate! conditions were perfect, cold and bright and the finish around the track a nice touch. Only negatives: the ladies showers were scolding hot and dangerous :-( and the medal was a bit sub-standard but other than that, a great event. Hope to be back next year!
Date of review: October 18, 2010

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