My Event Ratings

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

In short: A bit hot for me this year, but slick organisation as usual. Flat route.
In full:
Date of review: May 1, 2009

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

In short: Nice route, marred by a late start and queuesat the finish
In full: Meadowbank should have been a good place to start but too many runners still had to collect their numbers on the day. Why were they not sent out? Nice route, beautiful day and very good organisation on the road but why were the organisers overwhelmed when several hunders runners all finished in a 20-minute period? 4 down, maybe 5's the charm
Date of review: April 6, 2009

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

In short: Fabulous race - beautiful scenery - now if they could just flatten a couple of the hills...
In full: Very friendly race in a beautiful setting, perfect weather and the best goody bag I've had this year. I had a smile on my face almost all the way, even going up the hills.
Is this one of my all-time favourites? It is now.
Date of review: October 7, 2008

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

In short: Very friendly race, nice route,
In full: A very small field meant it was a bit lonely a the back, but the route was well-marshalled (by a small number of stewards who must have bee manning about 4 positions each) so there was no danger of getting lost.
The off-road bits were kind to the feet and it was even scenic in bits.
Hopefully word will spread by next year and it will be back with higher numbers.

Date of review: September 21, 2008

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

In short: Well-organised as usual, this year with chip timing, really friendly and helpful volunteers
In full: This is always a good race with a really friendly smiling bunch of volunteers at the start, on the course and at the finish.
The medals were replaced with fluffy towels this year, which was great for those of us with a drawer full of medals (old gits that is) but I imagine might have disappointed the novices.
This is the only race I've run which has given out potatoes and carrots at the end, and very tasty they were too.
Date of review: May 18, 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		60%

In short: Hilly, two-lap course, slick organisation
In full: The hills weren't quite as bad as I remembered but the many little ups and downs in the last couple of miles are heartbreaking and harsh on the knees.

The weather was kind this year and an East coast haar kept it cool for the whole race.

Special pewter funky surf-dude medallions for those who had also run Edinburgh was a nice touch.
Date of review: May 11, 2008

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

In short: one of the friendliest races on the calendar, excellent organisation, T-shirt to be worn with pride
In full: The unseasonal sunshine showed off the fabulous scenery but it did get a bit warm out there in the hottest part of the day. As always the race was well organised and very friendly. The supporters on the route are maybe few in number but they more than make up for it in enthusiasm (and the Fetch Everyone group must be hoarse today).
Almost everyone waited around for the prize-giving.
Date of review: April 28, 2008

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

In short: Fast course, a bit windy, scenic bits along the shore, great goody bag
In full: The new point to point course is really flat with definite PB potential but the NE cross-wind probably slowed it down a little bit. The start and finish points were fairly easy to get to and from and it was really nice to finish in front of the grandstand at Musselburgh racecourse. The best goody bag I've had in a while and a good T-shirt are the icing on the cake.
Date of review: March 16, 2008

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

In short: Hills, hills and more hills but fab food
In full: Much more fun than a flat urban course and cheap compared to other races round Edinburgh. Every hill was another step closer to the fab food at the end. Friendly race, slick organisation and middday start allows us city bods to get there by public transport.
Date of review: March 2, 2008

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

In short: Friendly, well-organised, beautiful race. I've run this one twice, it's my favourite marathon. Suits those seeking the loneliness of the long-distance runner rather than pack animals.
In full: Lochaber is beautiful even in the rain. Fort William is a really friendly place and there was a great atmosphere in the women's changing rooms both before and after the race. Although I went on my own, there were plenty of people happy to chat and try and dispel some of the pre-race nerves.

There's a larger than average proportion of vets, so I didn't feel embarrassed exposing my cellulite and while it got a bit lonely at the back of the pack sometimes, there were a surprising number of enthusiastic supporters out on the course.

The medal is a bit tacky but Lochaber T-shirts are respected and valued items and there are loads of photos both on the Lochaber A site and on marathon-photos (far nicer mementos than your average medal).

Lots of people stayed for the prize-giving (though with 70 prizes, probably half of them were prize-winners) which helped to make the race feel very inclusive.

Leave the crush in London to the masses, this is the marathon for those of us who prefer solitary running in beautiful surroundings.
Date of review: April 27, 2007

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