My Event Ratings

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

In short: flat and fast route
In full: A very good value, well organised event with everything you need: warm school facilities for before and after, clear and friendly marshalling, generally open roadways for running, flat, perfect weather (today) and a welcome hunk of cake after the run. I can see why it is such a popular event and I welcome the ban on headphones as you need good awareness of other runners around.
Date of review: November 21, 2010

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

In short: Good location for a fast run at this time of year
Date of review: March 29, 2010

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

In short: Lovely route on a glorious day
In full: I echo the comments already made about the marshalls who were excellent - to hear the encouragement from several hundred yards was uplifting. I have never run 20 miles before, but the countryside was beautiful in the sunshine and it was a nice route. The one downside was some of the cars and the bike race that clashed.
Date of review: March 14, 2010

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

In short: One of the nicest events around
In full: I have come back to this event for the third year simply because it is one of the best organised, but friendly, events out there. The course is fast, but with a couple of little climbs and variation. There is a warm HQ with plenty of facilities. There is easy parking. And, on the course, the volunteers from the club keep the traffic at bay, but give huge encouragement.
Date of review: February 15, 2010

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

In short: Challenging route with lovely views
Date of review: December 13, 2009

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

In short: Nice flat course and well organised
In full: This event has a really good setup, from the warm classrooms of the school to prepare in, to a fast, flat course, with a good run along the sea-front and well organised by friendly marshalls. I particularly appreciated the cake in the goody bag. I struggle to fault the event!
Date of review: November 15, 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		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: My first half and it was well organised and friendly
In full: I have run several 10k events, but decided to step-up to a longer distance. This race was clearly and smoothly organised and the marshalls were numerous on the course and very encouraging. The course was straightforward and flat which makes for an easy intro to this distance - I just had to keep on going! And, the other runners talked to me to keep the encouragement up.

My only slight gripe was the number of people wearing headphones. On the busy road towards Hampton Court, I gave a 'coming past' warning to the runner in front, who clearly did not hear me and actually stepped out from the edge of the road just as I was passing.
Date of review: May 11, 2009

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

In short: Good course, well organised
Date of review: April 19, 2009

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

In short: Great location for a fast 10k but over-priced for the organisation
In full: Positives:
- fast, flat, off-road, tarmac route.
- great for spectators; I think my family saw me 5 times.
- good that the start/finish was right by a comfortable, warm building with cafe and toilets.
- lots of signs, marshalls and encouragement en-route.

negatives:
My criticisms partly reflect the fact that the event was organised by a professional company who charge accordingly.
- my biggest issue was the lack of warning about the imminent race start. I warmed up near the start-area for 15 minutes prior to the race, and was just milling at the back of the crowd with my laces undone and fleece on when the start gun went off. I saw no evidence of pens for runners as had been promised. So, I started late and had to plough through the field for the first KM.
- I have rated the scenary as dull, but to be fair, how many former airfields are scenic? It is not often you find stunning scenary and a flat, fast, tarmac route in the same place...
- I was confused by the route and preferred the 2-laps of the previous year. The 'map' sent through the post was an oblique aerial photo with biro loops shown; I was still no clearer after 5 minutes looking at it.
- my first published time was 45 seconds too slow, but to give 209 events credit, this has been sorted now. I guess it was 45 seconds before I crossed the start line!
Date of review: April 1, 2009

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

In short: Nice loop, well organised
Date of review: February 15, 2009

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