My Event Ratings

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

In short: A tough event, ran on a hot day, and a somewhat hilly portion of the route ran twice.
In full: Right to start with, organisation ok, would have preferred chips and numbers sent in post, to save getting there early and also having my race number for own race drinks prepared before race day. The two lap format on some courses works well, at Bungay it did not, knowing the hills and the last two miles on gravel track was to come again was not a welcome thought. Support and marshalling was good as was venue and facilities. This is not a quick course, so if you want a nice long distance training run or are a sadist then come and race this one, out of 12 marathons this i am afraid is one I won`t be coming back to, too hardcore for me! Sorry to organisors for these comments and no doubt others had a fantastic time, especially on the half, but as a marathon, not for me I am afraid.
Date of review: April 11, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Another excellant year for the famous Oakley twenty.
In full: Year after year this event is a must do in your marathon build up calendar, it has everything you need and is superbly organised, lovely scenic course with a few undulations thrown in to keep it interesting, see you next year.
Date of review: March 27, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: This event has moved on over the last few years and is turning into a top local half marathon.
In full: Well done to organisors, marshalls and anybody else involved.I had a good day at Grantham today and you are all doing better and better each year on what is already a fine race. So much better than mass city half marathons, a real runners race. well done.
Date of review: March 20, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: This race has improved, to be one of the best local 10k races in this area.
In full: A very enjoyable race to do, well organised with some nice touches that put the big name events to shame. The course although pancake flat is somewhat dull and could be hard to run,in windy conditions, but on a day like today it was perfect for setting a new 10k pb on.
All things that you need are here, close parking, toilets, baggage storage, refreshments, good marshalling, little but enthusiastic support, very slow results was the only downside for me as i ended up leaving after waiting around for far to long, but i am sure that this will be improved upon for next year,.
But the big positives was a top notch finishing reward of a heavy glass paperwieght with a 3d diarama inside of 4 rumnners, this is very nice indeed and also the finishing goody table of free treats of bananas, flapjack, biscuits, jellybabies, drinks, etc etc,well thought out and presented.
Overall a very enjoyable event to take part in and i must say the best value for money event around, a big well done to all involved with organising and the running of this event, well done.
Date of review: October 1, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Top notch race, well worth 4 hour round trip by car.
In full: This race was the perfect post London pick-me-up race, run by runners for runners, with picturesque scenery at every corner, that was interspersed with enthusiastic supporters and marshalls, fantastic drink stops(could pre-place own drinks) and well practised organisation at the start and finish i thouroughly enjoyed this race, setting a new pb by 26 minutes. The goody bag was the best ever recieved, with a super medal, t-shirt in any size and just the right food enclosed to re-fuel after 26.2 miles of hard work.
The only down side was the undulations seemed to get longer and steeper on the second lap of the two lap circuit, and the grass paddock at mile 25/26 was not my most enjoyable part, especially going around the hedge and seeing it was a climb as well!
But i would recommend this race to anybody who can run under 5 hours and who wants to get away from mad big city marathons and run as most runners do most weekends, (albe-it a bit further) and enjoy there racing, and running, chatting and encouraging each other as they battle the marathon distance.
Would i do it again? yes for sure.
Date of review: May 14, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: spot on! excellent route, well marshalled, friendly runners, tea and cake to finish.
In full: This run was well worth the 4 hour round trip drive from Lincolnshire, would definately do it again, as it is, just perfect as a training run in the build up to a marathon.

The route chosen puts a lot of other races to shame as it has every thing included, views, challenging hills both up and down, scenic towpaths, flat sections, pretty villages and chocolate box cottages on route, all the marshalls are really friendly and very encouraging in the later stages of the run, mile markers, four water stops, jelly baby lady at mile seventeen, and the runners all seemed very friendly, as nobody was competing against each other, and had time for a quick chat on route, (cheers Martin i enjoyed your company today) and at the finish giant cups of tea and giant muffins, pastries,scones,and hot cross buns all free!

All credit must go to the organisers and helpers of this run, as it is a hidden gem which must only grow in popularity as more people find out about it.
many thanks to all involved as i had a really nice day and i think this run sums up every thing that is enjoyable about running. so a big pat on the back to all involved. Well Done.
Date of review: March 26, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: improving year on year, well organised, with nices touches.
In full: Did this last year and made a few comments and it was nice to see the improvements acted on.
This race has a fast and flat course mixing, long rural straights with some villages as well, although a nice following wind in the first half, it taxed a few on the return leg as the course is quite exposed to the elements? Finishers t-shirt was a big improvement on last year and the free tea and bacon sandwich was most appreciated, The organisation was spot on and i felt the runners were well looked after wel, before during and after the race, very good value for money entry and i would certanly come back to run again. well done to all involved.

Date of review: March 12, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: will go against a large proportion of reviewers and say well done to the organisers.
In full: Had an ejoyable run today, no pb but that was down to me and not the course which has definate pb potential, i kept well to the front at the start and had no issues with the pens and the overcrowding, car parking was fine and free to boot, marshalling was all ok, no problems there, mile markers were all visible except at mile 3?, water staion spacing and operation was excellent, scenery was dull and needs the route revising and i think the start would be better placed in the embankment area as well as the finish , goody bag, was i thought good, compared to other races that i have done, items included were, school-type gym bag, commemerative medal, asiscs key ring rucksack, isotonic drink then water from the finish, the finish oranisation was excellent, more problems with runners over eager friends and families crowding runners as they tried to leave and get some air than anything else. so over all i think it is a damn good race well laid on and enjoyed by a lot of people, yes, tweaks can and will be made to improve things but for a first attempt, i think the organisers did a fine job, and we as runners should encourage and thank them for spending their time organising something that is for our benefit, instead of looking only at the negative aspects of the race, There i have said it so let us now prepare for the replies.
Date of review: October 15, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: The organisers have set the bar high with this one, will they match it next year, i hope so.
In full: Well done to all involved for putting this 10k firmly on the map as a large city 10k, its 1st outing and over 1500 entrants, this race will only get bigger as it was run like clockwork. Well packaged entry with chip timing and clear instructions,good parking, nice route and setting, even the portaloos were clean and flushed. Nice to see the elite guest runners as was the towns people giving local support as the whole of the route was closed off just for us runners,even through the towns shopping centre, coupled with a nice finish area in the park all laid out well, finally ending with a good medal and nice t-shirt and the results up on the website the same evening, oh and to boot a new pb by nearly 5 minutes it can`t be bad, so all in all i am pleased i entered and hope to be back next year, well done again to all invloved for putting this event on,and i am not involved with the local club i live 40 miles away.
Date of review: May 29, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A must do race if your running London in the near future.
In full: A fantastic race for me as knocked 8 minutes off my pb running in at 1:42:53! Very cold day and a big blustery wind that stalked you around the course, and suddenly appeared in your face on all the uphill sections?? which made you have to dig in hard.
The scenery was very dull and even though the spectators and marshalls did their best it lacked the big race atmosphere you would expect with 5000 plus runners held in a city, Did the goody bags vary as mine had tshirt,medal,water,lucozade drink and recovery bar,and a fruit bar, which i thought was well good, so dissapointed for those who had less in their bags, Overall a well organised race with good facilites and fantastic as a pre-London build up run.
Date of review: March 20, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator