My Event Ratings

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

In short: Nice course, a few organisational niggles, very busy in sections.
In full: Firsty, this is a race which helps raise money for the RNLI, however there were a few niggles in the organisation. The course was flat with some muddy offroad, nothing too taxing, however some sections were extremely busy with both runners and public, particularly the last 2miles zigzagging through families, dogs, kids on bikes and runners coming the other way on the esplanade. Marshalling and signposting was just about adequate, the finish funnel was very slow to get through though, just glad it was a nice warm day. Having said that everyone was very friendly and enthusiastic and this would be a nice first half for beginners, the medal and goody bag were good too. Perhaps the entries need to be capped at a lower number though?
Date of review: February 18, 2013

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

In short: Great fun, good value, not your average race!
In full: This was a great race, 5 miles in the dark through the woods and by the water dressed up as Halloween Spooks with a few scares thown in along the way! Great value for money and the best medal I think I have ever received! This must have taken loads of organisation, with lots of marshalls and "scarers" along the route! I screamed like a 6 year old at one point! Made a nice change from chasing PB's all year. Hope this is staged again next year, I would certainly do it again!
Date of review: November 3, 2012

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

In short: Great atmosphere but far too expensive!
In full: A good course with huge PB potential if you don't get snarled up in the masses. The support and atmosphere is great, particularly if you are an inexperienced runner. However, £40 entry is just far too much for what you get - no changing or showers, a medal and basic t shirt. For serious runners there are loads of races out there which offer much better value, but having said that this and the other Bupa races provide a platform for an awful lot of money being raised for charity, which obviously has to be a good thing. Undecided if I will do it next year or not.
Date of review: October 29, 2012

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

In short: A well-organised race with good PB potential but also a good first race.
In full: Exactly what you want from a 10k really, good organisation and marshalling on a very flat and fast route. A good mix of runners from the very fast through social runners to people obviously trying their first race. Relaxed atmosphere and considering this was in the middle of a big city there were some nice quiet and fairly pretty parts of the route. One lap, no serious bottlenecks and plenty of room for overtaking. Not many opportunities for supporters to see their runners except at start and finish but at least there was a nice cafe for them to sit in at the race HQ. Unusual memento too, which was a nice touch. My only slight gripe was the water stations which were too early in the race and then another too late, would have been better with just one about half way in my opinion, but it was only 10k so not really an issue, especially on a chilly day. Will definitely be back next year!
Date of review: June 11, 2012

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

In short: Slick organisation, great route, and raising money for charity!
In full: The weather couldn't have been worse but it did nothing to dampen the spirits of the competitors, marshalls and volunteers. Organisation was better than some huge races I have done and the marshalls stuck out miles from anywhere in the driving rain and wind were happy and encouraging to the last! Great offroad route, I enjoyed the mud, and plenty of water and jelly babies! First Aid cover was brilliant and necessary as hypothermia was a real potential, a First Aider even came into the changing rooms just to make sure everyone was ok after they had finished! Tea, coffee and cakes available before and after the race, a free t shirt in the goody bag, and all raising money for a Hospice, so it really doesn't get any better! I'll be back next year for sure!
Date of review: May 29, 2012

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

In short: Varied terrain, great views, well organised and friendly!
In full: Well organised, really friendly and a proper off-road challenge. Great base in west wight sports centre with good facilities (no queue for the ladies loo!). The terrain is very varied, grass, pavement, shingle, and the route is challenging but very well planned with a potentially fast last few miles and some awesome scenery! Not one for PB's if you normally run on roads but a nice challenge for trail runners!
Date of review: May 29, 2012

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

In short: A fun and muddy day out!
In full: I did this race last year in the sub-zero conditions and didn't enjoy it. However, with the sun out this year, more muddy sections in the first half (the tracks were frozen solid last year!), a much better lay-out to the start and finish areas and people generally in a much more convivial mood I really enjoyed this years event!
It's still a tough race and if you don't enjoy getting VERY muddy then don't consider it, but it's a good place to start if you are considering other events of this nature. On the practical side the signage of the course was good but I had concerns again this year at the lack of first aid available, although I only saw one person in difficulty so hopefully there were no problems. As others have mentioned it took ages to get out of the car park and onto the road but traffic was being well controlled. Goody bag was pretty good and included a nice medal and technical tee. I will probably be back for more next year!
Date of review: November 30, 2011

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

In short: Not as tough as it says on the tin!!
In full: I was expecting this to be a tough race but it was only the British weather that delivered on this front. Most of the distance is a moderate trail run with a few short sharp hills and two water obstacles near the end. As the course goes a long way out there are no spectators for most of it, just a few frozen cadets standing around in a few places (hats off to them by the way!). It was good fun but I saw a couple of people in difficulty near the end and there was very little medical help for them. There really needs to be just two big male and female changing marquees or something at the end for people to get out of their wet stuff, I was borderline hypothermic and so were many others. Great fun if you've never done anything like this before but doesn't come near the organisation and atmosphere of events like Tough Guy.
Date of review: December 6, 2010

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

In short: Amazing scenery, hard course, bit pricy.
In full: I did the 5km which had a lot fewer entries than the 10 but the single-track sections were still busy enough. I was doing it for fun but for a good time you needed to get to the front right from the start. 5km course was well signed with arrows but as previously mentioned there was a lot of potential for injury and no marshalls at all on most of the course. The scenery was amazing, the facilites at the National Trust Centre were great but a few signs to the event on the road for non-locals would have helped. The goody bag was good but the entry fee was steep. I'd do it again but think entries need to be more limited, or re-route the course on wider tracks.
Date of review: October 18, 2010

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

In short: great venue, nice race for a fantastic cause.
In full: I did the 5km which was organised with (literally) military precision and started bang on time! Nice race on woodland tracks with some tricky sandy sections and inclines but not too tough. Brilliant venue with cafe and abundant toilet facilities! Good for a family day out. Friendly atmosphere and raised money for an excellent cause through entry fees, while not being pushy about competitors raising extra sponsorship. This is how to organise a race - very well done!
Date of review: September 26, 2010

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