My Event Ratings

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

In short: Hilly but enjoyable - perhaps a bit dull?
In full: Back for the second year and managed to PB by over 6 minutes so was happy with my performance. The race was well organised, well signed and mostly well marshalled apart from at the Honley Water Station, where two marshals were standing on the pavement nattering and refused to respond to my shout of "runner" so I was forced to run out into the road to pass them. I was so tempted to "accidently" spill my water on him, except that I needed it!

Overall its quite an old-fashioned sort of race with a small field, but the distance makes it unusual and its great for a long run.

The i-pod police said they would disqualify anyone with both ears in - I've never heard that one before, but to be fair I wouldn't want to run on the main road with traffic, in yesterdays fog with music, it would have been too dangerous, so probably fair dos!
Date of review: November 1, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Bad organisation marred what was otherwise a great race in a great city.
In full: No point in banging on about what others have already said about the poor management of the race but it was disappointing that both the start and finish were so badly organised and planned.

The course itself was fine except on the Pershore Road where many runners were running on the left hand side even after the elite and the wheelchairs started to come the other way. The road closures were properly supervised by police, but there were very few other marshalls visible on either the course or at water stations. Also no signage for water stations.

The crowds were great though and I still enjoyed myself but have very little incentive to come back!
Date of review: October 26, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: An excellent race - tough course but great atmosphere
In full: The course is two laps of the woods around Storthes Hall and runs on (slippery) tarmac, woodland tracks, grassy paths, and of course mud! Its quite tough but beautifully organised with friendly supportive marshalls, time chips, and fantastic goody bags and a long-sleeved technical t-shirt! Maximum of 300 runners makes for a friendly day and it doesn't have an elite feel to it. There is also a great kids run before hand. A great day out - thanks and well done to the organisers!
Date of review: October 10, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Well organised, flat courses, lots of fun despite the rain.
In full: The race was well organised, signd and marshalled, not a grumpy marshall in sight. There were 4 water stations on the half and it was as flat as a pancake if you want a PB. The course took in some quiet roads as well as the centre of Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea, then back along the sea front with a tail wind.

Medals were presented by a GB team member (60M indoor runner) and there were nice burgers on sale afterwards, also a little craft market. There was stuff to colour and make for the kids as well. The finish for the marathon and half was well marshalled. We will be coming back again next year as it was such a good weekend. Lets hope the weather is a bit kinder.
Date of review: October 5, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A pleasant friendly race with a hilly first half and fast second half.
In full: I enjoyed the race although the weather couldn't make its mind up as we had freezing wind and rain followed by sunshine.

The first 3 miles are tough, the next 3 fairly tough, then it goes down hill for a while, then a bit of an uphill final mile.

Marshalling friendly and well organised. Technical t-shirt, 3 water stations.
Date of review: August 31, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A great weekend with some really good running
In full: This race is extremely good value- for your £30 (or thereabouts depending on team size) you get:

camping for you and however many people you bring with you for 2 nights with proper toilets and free showers with hot water,
a 24 hour relay challenge run on a 10K course (how much or little you run is down to you)

chips
technical t-shirt
great goodie bag with loads of SIS stuff and a mug
24 hour catering

It represents really good value.

The 10K course itself is run through woodland and grass tracks and does a fair bit of twisting & turning. It isn't exactly hilly but it is a bit rolling and draggy in place. The hill in the 1st KM is the steepest and there is a nasty little hill right at the end.

There is a water station half way around.

Garmin data seems to suggest that the course was only 9.6Km and that some of the mile markers were in the wrong place, but everybody was having to much fun to moan about it.

Great atmosphere and spirit amongst runners, there is something here for everyone with a minimum of one lap requirement.

Am hoping to be back next year; the race organisers are hoping to increase the numbers to 2000, which will be fine as long as the camping facilities increase in size to go with it.
Date of review: August 2, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Thanks for a great well organised race.
In full: Wasn't sure what this would be like - not so much hilly as really draggy, lots of long slow hauls, followed by another one, and another one. How can a circular route be uphill all the way? Nice scenery, nice marshalls, good atmosphere, nice tech t-shirt, shame about the bananas but hey nothing is perfect! Will be back to do this one again next year.
Date of review: July 11, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Hilly but fun
In full: A fairly tough race, which goes along quiet lanes, footpaths and lanes and is very hilly. The toughest bit is probably the climb up the steps past the side of the church. There were quite a few walkers at this point. The races is well marshaled and very friendly. It supports a different charity every year and this year was testicular cancer. There were more charity runners attracted this year so although I was quite slow due to illness there were more runners behind me than last year which added to the relaxed feel. The scenery is spectacular and the last mile or so makes me glad that I gave up the rat race of Birmingham to come and live here as this is my favourite terrain. It was a very hot day for a race but there was plenty of water on offer, although sadly it was cups and not bottles like last year.
Date of review: June 27, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Run/jog/walk so ideal for first time trail runners and fab food after!
In full: Its a shame it was raining, but that wasn't the fault of the Marsden Lions with this first running of this race. About 90 people turned out and there were quite a few walkers, some with kids and dogs. The route was well marshalled with 3 checkpoints and water, and took runners accross beautiful countryside above Meltham, up onto Meltham Moor (with about a mile of road)and then up to Wessenden Head and on to the Pennine Way for the last 4 miles through to Marsden. Awaiting runners was a fantastic spead of sandwiches, hot cornish pasties and buns, also lots of tea and coffee.

The winner came in about 1:06 but if you are slow like me it doesn't matter because all teh walkers are still behind you. Great if you are new to trail and fell running (as I am), great for kids and family who can do this as a walk, and great for dogs (they get their own medals and there is water for them at the end. If you are reading this in 2011 and wondering whether to give it a go, I would say a definite yes!
Date of review: June 6, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Challenging course but worth it for the scenery
In full: Back after last year, enjoyed the route and the scenery. The race goes through woodland, lanes, paths, grass fields and fells, plus a little bit of road. One water station about 3/4 of the way around. Supportive marshalls well organised, water bottle at the end - I'll be back next year too.
Date of review: June 3, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator