My Event Ratings

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

In short: Really enjoyed it; fast course in nice surroundings
In full: My first time at a relatively new race on the calendar.

I thought it was very good and really enjoyed it. It's advertised as a "PB" course and it definitely is. Although my PB days are alas, gone for ever, it was my fastest 5 mile time for several years and I'm more than happy with that.

Great value. The bacon rolls and hot drinks afterwards were excellent and the cricket club bar was ideal for those who needed something stronger !

Just 2 points for the organisers to consider: the finish could be moved to a less busy country lane, rather than the main road (although I realise that would involve changing the course) and more importantly, it definitely needs some portaloos at the start as toilet facilities at the clubhouse were very limited.

Taken overall though, I thought it was excellent and I'll definitely be coming back.
Date of review: August 7, 2011

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		80%

In short: Exceptional all round.
In full: My first time over the full 15 miles and boy, it was tough !

However, it's an absolutely brilliant race and scores top marks for scenery, organisation (loads of bottled water at frequent intervals, lots of encouraging friendly marshalls, plenty of car parking, good race venue ), atmosphere (very friendly, the brass band at the finish is a nice touch) and value ( home made cakes !quality medal and very decent "goody bag").

The organisers really "go the extra mile" with this race and it's the perfect Summer off-road race, but definitely not one to take lightly.
Date of review: July 3, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Best event of the year
In full: I've been a big fan of this race for years and it's simply the best all-round race event I know.

Organisation, course, facilities etc are all faultless, but what really sets it apart is the fantastic "sense of occasion" that makes it a really great day out, both on the village green and in the village pub after the race.

It's superbly organised, with lots of special touches and is all done with great good humour.

It's unmissable and thanks again to HHHH for another great H5 and I hope you get a big turnout for the "open hash" next saturday.
Date of review: June 5, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Very good first effort
In full: Very good all round, especially considering it was being held for the first time.

Top marks for the venue- easy access and plenty of parking, good bag storage, plenty of space to change and warm up etc.

Good course. The first 5K was undulating but the return was pretty quick and I enjoyed the variety of the route even the off-road bit at around 5K.

Only suggestions for next year have already been identified by others: a confirmatory e-mail with race details etc is good and the fun run should be held before the race.

Otherwise, I think the organisers deserve top marks ( marshalling, water stations etc were also very good) for a first effort and I'd definitely do it again.
Date of review: May 24, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A great, all round half marathon
In full: I first ran this in 1996 and it's grown a lot since then.

It's now one of the biggest races in Kent and is a very fast, very well organised half that's ideally timed for a final tune-up before a Spring marathon.

It's usually blessed with good weather too and this year was no exception.

The crowd support around the route seems to get better each year and there was great support from all the marshalls, water station helpers etc.

The only issues are a result of the way the race keeps growing: traffic and parking means this is defintely one to try to get to early and as the organisers are already aware, more runners and spectators means a need for more portaloos, although I can remember when there weren't any and we had to make do with the facilities in the auction centre.
Date of review: March 31, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Nothing to complain about
In full: This race seems to have taken a fair bit of "stick" during previous years but in fairness, there was nothing to complain about today.

Unless it's windy, the course is very fast and definitely one for PB hunters.Flat as a pancake, if a little monotonous.

The venue was cramped, but the portaloos were a big improvement and there was plenty of free parking in the town even after the car park was full.Numbers and chips were also processed very efficiently, unlike some other races I could mention.

Good to have the children's race first as it meant they got a big audience and plenty of appreciation when they finished, which wouldn't have been the case if the main race had gone off first.

Another big plus- the presentations were very soon after the race finished and the 10 minute delay to the start was no big deal.

Definitely worth the trip.
Date of review: March 13, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Hugely enjoyable race experience
In full: If you're a fan of off-road or cross-country, this is a must.

I was looking forward to it, as I'm a big fan of the Pilgrims Way race and it certainly didn't disappoint.

The race offers incredible value. Works out at about £1 per mile and was very well-marshalled, with a great clubhouse venue and a very decent "goody bag" and medal.

It was as tough as I'd expected and the final hill must be as near to "unrunnable" as you can get. Did anyone, even the race winner, manage to run up it ?

The course was muddy, varied, continuously undulating and with some exhilerating downhills to balance the ferocious uphill sections (the last hill really was "something else").

The scenery was great too, especially coming down towards the little medieval church.

"PB potential" is meaningless for a race like this- it's not what it's about, and all the better for it.

I loved it !


Date of review: February 13, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Quite a tough Autumn half that may be outgrowing itself.
In full: The undulating course is a challenge,but the long downhills almost balance out overall.
Great crowd support at key points of the course-this seems to get better every year.Some very enthusiastic marshalls in places.
However,parking was a problem this year (for the first time in my experience).I ended up parking a long way from the race HQ,which seemed to fill up early.
The route along the A20 does need a rethink.It's a shame,as the course from the Pilgrims Way onwards is excellent.
The "goody bag" was poor and is a strong contender for the most unusual content in 2010- a newsletter from a local solicitor rather than a drink or fruit!
It's still a good race however;it may just be that the numbers have outgrown the venue,1st half of the course etc.
Date of review: October 18, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Low key 10K that's really rather good
In full: This is actually a very good 10K,that's pretty much the "full package".

Great value for money:medal,good quality tee-shirt,chip timing.

Excellent organisation:well marshalled,especially considering some of the roads are very busy.Efficient pre-race arrangements with no long queue for timing chips etc.Early results available within minutes of the finish.

Good fun-run half an hour before the main race and a nice atmosphere before and after.

It's also in aid of a very good cause,so all-in-all it's a lot better than some other 10K's that have a higher profile.

Interesting course,which is quick overall despite a couple of challenging uphills.
Date of review: September 19, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Tough cross-country run that's a great challenge
In full: One of my favourite races.It is tough and there can be very few runners who don't walk at least part of the steep hill at halfway.

It's probably the best value race around-a real bargain and organisation is excellent.Race numbers and info sent out well in advance,plenty of nearby car parking,friendly marshalls at all the key points on the course.

Not sure if it's a race for beginners-maybe too tough? Conditions underfoot aren't easy and you need to keep your wits about you on the sharp downhills.

However,if you like cross-country or trail,you'll love this.
Date of review: August 30, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator