My Event Ratings

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

In short: Pleasant enough run - but not the wonderful scenery I'd been expecting
In full: The organisation at the start was poor - bus drivers blaming the organisers and the organisers blaming the bus companies. It is crucial to get this right as The Highlands do not offer many transport options for those in work on Monday and a 50 minute delay must have put a lot of people under pressure (me included). Apart from this hiccup the organisation was excellent.

It would help if the numbers could be posted out with the details. Or at least an option offered (at a cost if necessary).

The run itself was gently undulating with three noticable climbs, but I wouldn't say this should put people off. It depends what you are used to I suppose.

For me the scenery was disappointing and the course rather dull in places. We seemed to run for miles along a tree lined road with nothing to look at, apart from the occasional glimpse of the Loch. For such a beautiful part of the world I hoped for better.

What was impressive was the friendly welcome from everyone in Inverness. It was a shame we couldn't enjoy the hospitality afterwards as we had to rush to catch a flight. Hope our taxi driver enjoyed the Baxter's soups as we couldn't take them on the plane!


Date of review: October 5, 2009

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

In short: Great day out
In full: If you're looking for a different long run from your usual marathon preparation, this is it!

Lovely run through varied countryside and good instructions to help you navigate the route.

Thanks to all involved
Date of review: September 23, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Excellent race - but don't attempt unless you are reasonably confident of completing within the 13 hour deadline
In full: This is one of my favourite races. A real challenge to navigate your way from London to Brighton. It is not for the faint hearted and some of the navigation was incredibly difficult (as woodland often is!).

The support at the checkpoints and from fellow runners was great.

My only criticism (sadly a very sriuous one) was the lack of concern /care for late runners.

We only just got inside the 13 hour time limit, but several runners who we'd run with during the day were left out on the course and the organisers gave the impression that it was not their problem. Any organisers have a duty of care to all of the people running their race and this was sadly lacking at the finish. Perhaps they should be stricter on enforcing the cut-off points. It wasn't helped by the fact that the last leg was longer than advertised.

I know it was a very long day for everyone involved in organising the event and I greatly appreciate the effort and thank you all for that.

You have a great race but please think again about your management of late finishers.
Date of review: September 23, 2009

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

In short: Fast, flat course. Definite PB opportunity
In full: Well organised event. A great end to the week - a fast 5k course in a pleasant setting, with a BarBQ afterwards. Perfect unwind for runner (and family).
Date of review: June 21, 2009

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

In short: An experience rather than an enjoyable race
In full: My second time at London. Ran 3:10 last year and paced my wife around aiming for 4:15 this year, so I have had two very different experiences.

The crowd support further down the field felt a bit flat. A lot of tired looking faces searching for their friends in the mass of runners (quite understandable - I was there myself two years ago). There was certainly nowhere on the route that took your breath away like last year (Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Embankment).

I found the inability to run at an even pace very annoying. We spent far too long avoiding walkers and coping with the very narrow sections in places.

The race is a great British institution and the organisation is amazing - pretty faultless in my view.

The volunteers all did a great job - thanks to all of them. The police had obviously been press ganged. I stopped to thank the first officer offering any encouragement - and that was at 25 miles!

I've now done 11 different marathons and would rank London as the eighth best.

Each to their own!
Date of review: April 27, 2009

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

In short: Well organised local run with a good atmosphere.
In full: This is a marathon well worth considering for those who like road marathons and want to get away from the crowds. The two lap course is varied and miles 6 - 13 are particularly attractive. The hills in the first six miles are undulating at worst and nothing compared to many other races.
Date of review: April 19, 2009

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

In short: Have your excuses ready early!
In full: Really enjoyable event. Just what is required for Boxing Day. Great family event with different options available for walkers / runners / children / adults.

Thanks to all the organisers. A tremendous event.
Date of review: December 28, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Tough but tremendously rewarding experience
In full: Even without the terrible weather this would have been a tough race. A combination of having to navigate 56 miles with a lot of climbing made it a challenge both mentally and physically.

It was very well organised with good support along the route and a warm welcome at the end from people who had been out all day. Thanks to all who helped in any way.

This was my longest run and I'd have to say it was a tremendous experience and this race has potential iconic status in the running calendar.

If you're thinking about doing it next year... I'd advise doing it with a running mate with a support team at least at checkpoints 2,3,4 and 5. Also you don't need to overdo the training. We did 4 weeks of 60 - 65 miles including a marathon and our longest run (30 miles) in one week. Although we were tired at the end, we still had the energy to up our pace in the last six miles - so although we were exhausted we must have had something left!

If you fancy an ultra you'd have to go a long way to beat this one.




Date of review: October 7, 2008

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

In short: A well organised marathon with great support from the marshalls.
In full: This was a well organised event with exceptional support (both vocal and cullinary) from the marshalls and others on the course.

I found the first eight/nine miles quite attractive running along the coast (once we got out of Margate itself). After that I thought the course was incredibly dull and monotonous. Mile after mile along the concrete above the sea wall was not my idea of an enjoyable run.

If you can cut out the boredom and are lucky with the weather (as we were apart from the strong headwind from 10 - 19 miles), this course has definite PB potential as it is virtually flat - a few gentle slopes of 100/200m.

Thanet Runners can be really proud of the effort they put in to make this a really welcoming event. Thank you very much to all who contributed.
Date of review: September 7, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Well organised, friendly race.
In full: Well organised, small (but growing) friendly race in a beautiful part of the country.

The drinks stations were great with nice touches and friendly volunteers. The route was extremely well marked until the last mile (through the city centre)when some local hoodlum had obviously removed some of the signs.

Although it was a very attractive route through a couple of grand estates and attractive villages there was a great deal of running on tarmac considering it was a "trail race". That's the only reason I wouldn't do it again.

But thanks very much to the organisers for putting together a really good event (the marathon) which was a pleasure to take part in.
Date of review: August 11, 2008

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