My Event Ratings

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

In short: A great but testing introduction to trail running
In full: The challenge is a real local race with volunteers, home-made rolls and cheery water stations. The route is picturesque and turned out to be fairly easy to follow once used to looking for little arrows and bits of green ribbon! A real fun morning out.
Date of review: September 29, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Excellent and unusual race that does what it says: you run round the island!
In full: If you're looking for a fun cross-country run that's pretty local to London then the Mersea 13 is worth doing. It's flat but that doesn't make it easy when a stiff wind is blowing off the sea and you're slogging away through knee-high grass. A few more arrows wouldn't have gone amiss but the concept is great!
Date of review: June 22, 2008

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		60%

In short: Amazing and great fun. Justly deserves its reputation as a tough but rewarding day out.
In full: A really enjoyable day out over an excellent distance; long enough to challenge but not so long that you've nothing left at the end. Above all the organisation and friendliness were top-notch with many many volunteers at all points of the extended course. That said the course is a great mix of fields and forests with barely a road in sight and yet still approachable in road shoes. Also there's plenty to do for all the family so the run is very much a family day out. Most excellent.
Date of review: June 15, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Hot, hilly and hard. However the support was great and the course rewarding so that made it all alright.
In full: As a local race I thought that it'd be nice to make the trip up and I wasn't disappointed. The course was scenic, with little traffic, and rolling enough to make you know it. Luckily there were stacks of water stations and an ice lolly at the end so I didn't come a cropper. Well worth turning up for even if a PB was unlikely!
Date of review: June 8, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: The crowds are loud and welcoming but for a city marathon the organisation, support and course are poor
In full: I decided to run the Belfast race as my first-time marathon to get some family support and to be honest this was the best bit (although the local crowds were great where they could get to). Sadly most of the course is either dull or awful (along a dual carriageway or through an industrial estate) and the huge lack of energy drinks isn't offset by lots of water. That said it's not a bad race but I don't feel a pressing need to come back again either.
Date of review: May 7, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A fast urban course and well organised
In full: This was my first visit to Kingston and probably won't be my last as the organisation is very good with nice feed stops and marshalling. However while the course is flat I found it pretty congested once away from the river and had to work hard to overtake people. Still it was a fun race and the distance is great marathon preparation.
Date of review: March 30, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A great, local training run that's very friendly and a bit challenging
In full: Gade Valley Harriers put on an excellent series for London Marathon build up runs. The organisation is great and the courses challenging without being silly.
Date of review: January 28, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator