My Event Ratings

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

In short: Wet, windy, cold & an online decision shambles
In full: After reading one of the marshalls put a report in I decided as a spectator ( and a fellow marathon runner to do the same ) because quite honestly I was absolutely gutted for all those who had turned up expecting to run a marathon

Having pulled up in the car to drop the bf off I made him stay in the car ( as I was more suitably dressed for wet weather ) to find out where the start was to find that the race director and race referee were discussing about cancelling the marathon. This was at 8.50am!!! I said if come back in 10mins can you tell me if you have reached your decision, with the referee biking off to check The Greenway again

at 9am they said that very likely they were now cancelling the marathon but would announce it to runners as they pulled up, I did try to explain that there would be many disappointed people ( knowing only full well how much training goes into running a marathon I would be personally gutted ) but I really dont think the organisers really got where I was coming from

I think that the decision to cancel was the right one but it should have been done THE DAY BEFORE, the weather forecast wasnt going to change over night as as they explained to me, that the ruts and bumps on The Greenway on the 2nd lap would have made it dangerous for runners and they were worried they may injure themselves, I think that they would have had a lot more respect if they had posted this on the website the day before

I had driven round the course ( well not on The Greenway of course ) and had it been a nice day it really would have been a pleasant run

I think the major fault here is the notification of the cancellation of the marathon

Well done to all the runners who took part, it was appalling conditions. I hadnt planned to but in the end I stayed alot longer shouting and cheering everyone on, I drove round various parts of the course ( so if you had a grey car drive slowly past you and then saw me get out and cheer you on, you know who I am ) as I thought that you all deserved a medal

Oh wait, not everyone did, did they, they have out all the half marathon medals so those finishing towards the end didnt even get a medal, lets hope they sort that one out ( they should have just given out the marathon medals would have made up for the disappointment )
Date of review: April 30, 2012

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