My Event Ratings

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

In short: The 'Real' Great South Run
In full: This is THE race to do in England's greatest city (sorry I'm biased as I was born there) and this year I stopped off to run en-route back to Germany (where I currently live and work) via Gibraltar!

This race suits ckub runners and first timers and no one will be disappointed. Great organisation, cheerful volunteers and marshalls and a quality LOUD T-Shirt as the prize.

The route is a little challenging but is beautiful through the Woodford Valley before turning to run back with the gorgeous Salisbury Cathedral as the backdrop for your return leg!

Sadly there ramain a few moronic drivers - shame they can't be banned on a Sunday!

Thanks Salisbury - can't wait to be home in a few years when the British Forces depart Germany so I can train through on my favourite route.

Just do this folks and enjoy! Forget the Great South Run in Pompey - do the REAL Great South Run in Salisbury!
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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

In short: Great New Marathon
In full: This was my 34th full marathon and the organisers have done very well so soon. I was slightly concerned to hear that some folk were cheating by jumping over the tape on the out and back sections of the course - what's the point of that? Otherwise, an excellent event so well done Brighton.
Date of review: April 14, 2011

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

In short: Superb but tough Multi-Terrain in Salisbury
In full: 2nd year of new Multi-Terrain race in Salisbury and going partly off road around Old Sarum where there were magnificent views over the Cathedral City! Tough hills and muddy in places but well worth a run out on a cold Sunday Morning.
Date of review: February 15, 2009

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

In short: Worth waiting 100 years for!
In full: I have just emailed Eric thanking him for this superb event - it was my 29th full marathon and a joy. Not sure I'll be back in 100 years time but would if I could. Well done everyone in Hastings - a classic!
Date of review: December 15, 2008

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

In short: Great run on Salisbury Plain including a nice 1:3 hill at 4K
In full: Wow, this was a toughie thanks to being organised brillianly by 1 Mech Bde (that's the Army to those that don't know!). Thoroughly enjojable multi-terrain 10K with the highlight/lowlight (depending on how you felt) being the killer 1:3 hill at 4K - that was fun! Hopefully, this event will grow and grow and thanks for a great challenge.
Date of review: November 2, 2008

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

In short: Perfect in every way, despite the hill!
In full: This is a tough but really good event. Forget 50,000 runners, this attracts 350-450 runners and is small and beautiful. Ludo and his team at the Fire Station and all his other helpers do a great job. It's in my home city so I'm biased but it really is worth doing depite the hill in the middle!
Date of review: October 19, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		20%
Organisation		60%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Brutal
In full: My 28th and final marathon. I support everything Terry Earney has said about this race. A more scenic route would be a good start.
Date of review: May 30, 2007

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

In short: A Great Day Out
In full: This was my 5th GNR and I had trained specially for it whilst undertaking a 6 month tour with the MOD in Iraq. My training had gone great and on returning home I developed a stress fracture in my left foot. Being a stubborn old git I still decided to run. Prior to the injury I would have smashed 90 minutes. Sadly the pain from 8 miles was tough so I had to grit my teeth and finished in 1 hour, 37 minutes.

I had a good start because I was in the Leukaemia Research Pacing Team thanks to Running Fitness Magazine. I was able to cross the start line under 10 seconds but I still came across walkers in my start pen! I don't know why the big races in UK can't adopt the same policy in the US where an official checks all the numbers before allowing you access to the correct pen.

Yes, a lot of the criticism from other reviewers is fair but they get the same comments every year. With 50 thousand runners it is always going to be an organisers nightmare.

Just enjoy the day being part of one amazing race.

The best bit for me was finding my wife at the finish and waching the Red Arrows at the seaside at South Shields. The massage back in the hotel was dam good too but I had better not mention that here!

Finally, I also was very sorry to hear about the deaths and from what I've read the 4 guys seemed fit and good runners. My thoughts are with their families.

Bring on the Great South Run in a fortnight.
Date of review: September 24, 2005

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

In short: After London, this has to be the next best marathon in the UK
Date of review: August 24, 2004

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