My Event Ratings

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

In short: Well organised and enjoyable
In full: An enjoyable local race, as with all urban races the scenery was a bit dull and there were too many cars around (although the roads on the course itself were closed and the course was very efficiently marshalled) but this was a very well organised event and excellent value for money. The town centre location meant that there was plenty of parking and the community centre was a good venue to wait for the start on a cold-ish day. Thanks to Fleet AC for excellent organisation and an enjoyable event.
Date of review: October 29, 2012

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

In short: Small but perfectly formed
In full: A really excellent race - smooth and very friendly organisation. The course made really good use of the woods and was challenging but not unreasonably hilly or muddy. The two lap format was actually a bonus as you could anticipate what was coming up. Parking and course limitations mean that this will always be a small low-key event but it's all the better for that. Also, excellent value - the race itself would be good value for the entry fee, let alone the T-short, mars bar, hot drink and medal.
Date of review: October 22, 2012

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

In short: A great race even on a very hot day
In full: As others have noted this was a vfery hot day for a race so times were never going to be great. That said, the race was as good as you are going to get for the conditions - a shaded rural course with plenty of water stations (including an extra one yesterday - which was a sign of the organisers doing what they could in the conditions.

All of the normal good features of this race were also present, the superb start/ finish location provided by the school, adequate toilets and plentifual parking. Although the walk to the car park is long this is clearly described on the accompanying instructions, you just have to believe them when they say it is a 20 minute walk to the start, it is.

Certainly an excellent race as always and well done to the organisers for doing what they could to mitigate the heat.
Date of review: August 20, 2012

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

In short: Very well organised, certainly a tough course
In full: This was an excellent example of a well-organised trail race. The venue was ideal, offering plenty of parking and toilets and a clear finish. Very well organised, with no glitches despite the numerous permutations of distances and walkers vs runners. Plenty of checkpoints with water and squash and some with food etc helped us all get round. The course was very scenic but surprisingly hilly, but was very clearly signed, you simply don't need the route description at all. The only annoying bit was going through the centre of Salisbury, dodging wandering tourists and unexpected traffic right at the end but I don't think that that was avoidable given the route and it was literally only the last half mile. Thanks very much to the organisers, yet another post-olympic reminder of how well-run volunteer events can be
Date of review: August 13, 2012

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

In short: Weell done to the organisers
In full: The main thjing to say here is well done tpo the organisers for making this happen at all following the demise of the flower show and the poor weather in the days before the race. A miracle of flexible planning and organisation, so many thanks for keeping this running
Date of review: July 22, 2012

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

In short: Very well organised as usual, look forward to getting back to the old route next year
In full: This was, as always, a very well organised event. Purple Patch seem to lift the level of organisation each year to cope with the increased numbers and everything worked very smoothly again. The use of the business park in Marlow was an ideal way of dealing with parking problems and the new finish venue was excellent. This is always a great race and this year was no exception - typical that it came on the first really hot day for ages!! PP dealt well with the enforced change of route but the route certainly wasn't as scenic as in previous years along the Thames and the road crossings in the first half - while very well marshalled, did break up the run a bit. However, the organisers did well to adapt to the forced change of route so no complaints there.
Date of review: July 22, 2012

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

In short: Excellent organisation and a scenic and challenging course
In full: As someone has remarked below, this really is a superbly organised event - from the frequent updates sent out beforehand, to the abundant knowledgeable and helpful marshalls, frequent efficiently-run water stations and the finish "village" with the cake, beer and brass band. This really is a pleasure to race. the course itself is very scenic but has a real sting in the tail, as it is pretty flat for the first 10 miles then suddenly turns manically hilly for most of the last third. Certainly a high spot on my annual race calendar and one that I will definitely do again.
Date of review: July 1, 2012

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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: Very scenic, hard course but most enjoyable
In full: This is an excellent race, very friendly but well organised. The course is certainly a hard one, with two (or arguably three) big climbs and some steep descents, so any PBs here will only be for this course. Very good marshalling, excellent facilities (the seafront makes a great start and finish location) and great scenery make this a favourite for me every year. As others have said, the entry fee is really excellent value when compared with many other events.
Date of review: June 4, 2012

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

In short: Excellent off road race
In full: This is always a well organised event and the school makes an ideal venue for the start and finish. There is plenty of on-road parking nearby and all of the other necessities were in place, including clear course marking, very good and supportive marshalls and two water stops (which were certainly needed in the heat). The course is certainly a hard one but that makes it interesting and the scenery is superb. While the day was very hot the fact that a lot of the course was shaded meant that that was quite bearable.
Date of review: May 28, 2012

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

In short: Very well organised
In full: This was a very enjoyable and well organiosed race and one that I would definitely do again. The facilities were good, with ample parking available and the school site (with fete) providing an ideal start/ finish area. It was good to run the 6M and the 2.5M fun run as part of the same event, really giving something for everyone. The 10M course was a good one, fairly flat but hilly and varied enough to be interesting, reasonably scenic and extremely well marshalled and traffic-controlled where necessary. Particular credit goes to the young helpers at the ample water stations, very helpful, well organised and professional. All in all a very enjoyable community-type run. No gimmicks or lavish goody bags but just a very good value event.
Date of review: May 21, 2012

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