My Event Ratings

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

In short: Well organised and great scenery
In full: V well organised race. Well marshalled and signposted. Was nice running through the woods.
Only downside was the start as it got quite crammed and jammed up.
I'll be back next year.
Date of review: November 5, 2011

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

In short: Hot, hot, hot, but still a great race and will be back next year
In full: It has to be the hottest race I've done. Great scenery, but too hot for the hills!

I hadn't done enough training this year due to injury, but still haven't missed one yet and will continue to travel back from London for it!

The swipe card checkpoints are better than last years "dibber" system. Getting split times at the end is still a good idea.

The additional checkpoint kept people honest across the field near Bordley Farm. The unmanned checkpoints were marked more clearly with signs than last year.

My only gripe is that the t-shirts were none descript this year. The t-shirts from the 1st 2 or 3 races were great as they had the year on them, the event, and a map of the route. The ones this year simply had marathon events written on them. Please, please revert to t-shirts that explain the race that we have run.

Apart from that the organisation was fantastic as have all these races that I have run.

I will be back again next year, but I will have done more training!

I recommend you come and run this before it gets too popular. There were 225+ in the 1/2 and 90+ in the full marathon.

This is a must-do race as it is a spectacular one-off.....
Date of review: June 7, 2010

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

In short: Well organised race
In full: This was my 3rd year on the trot doing this race. It was well organised as have the other races. The only reason I am not running again is because I am looking for new race challenges, which are slightly less crammed on the route.

The pen/wave system at the start is a good idea, but I just wish people would be honest about their estimated times when entering! It just means that those behind end up passing lots of people that are walking!

The support is good all around the course and it is nice running with a reasonable number of other people, but I think the sheer numbers of people can inhibit getting a PB.

I would recommend this race more for beginners and intermediate runners looking for good support and excellent organisation.
Date of review: June 3, 2010

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

In short: Well organised enjoyable flat race
In full: Bit warm for me, but the race was well organised and the marshalls were very encouraging.

Some of the towpath was a bit uneven and narrow due to repairs, but it was great running along the river on a sunny day.

This is a flat race which is welcoming to all abilities. Really enjoyable running along the river.

The pint glass was a nice touch and the water stations were very welcome!

I would defintely recommend this race and I will be back next year.
Date of review: April 19, 2010

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

In short: 2nd year on the trot and will be back
In full: Well organised race with good marshalls.
Challenging hill, which you do twice, but keeps things interesting!
Good value for a London 10km and probably one of the best.
Good that there are not too many runners because some of the route would get clogged up.
Highly recommended if you live in London as easy to get to by public transport etc.
Will be back next year.
Date of review: March 16, 2010

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Newcastle and the North East did themselves proud....
In full: The best part is the atmosphere as the whole of the north east came out to support or so it seemed! Only better atmosphere is the London marathon. Locals were using hosepipes to cool runners down, giving out water, playing music and v supportive.

Urinals were a good idea.

Also plenty of water at starting pens and even at Metro stations!

Downside was far too many runners - no hope of a PB if you have been truthful about your finishing time! The roads at various points are packed particularly at the start and finish.

They need to ban ipods etc as saw too many ambulances trying to get to people, but couldn't get through runners listening to music! This is a critical issue and they need to ban them now. Also if you are trying to pass people they are unable to hear you.

Take your own toilet roll! Simply not enough toilet roll. Felt sorry for the ladies.

The entry fee of £45 is v expensive for a 1/2 marathon. They know they will get enough entries so the price can be as high as they want it to be!

Technical t-shirt should be included in the goody bag.

The entry fee should include either a day pass on the Metro or free travel on the buses!

Left feeling that I got robbed by the organisers at every opportunity!

Also if you defer you don't get any of the £45 entry fee and have to pay all over again next year - is this the spirit of running?

Great atmosphere, but just too many runners. I expected more from it all!
Date of review: September 21, 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		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: good well organised race
In full: Good, well organised race. Great support from the marshalls and at the water station.

2 slight gripes.

Chip timing does not start when you cross the start line, but when the gun goes off, so if you are near the back then your own watch will be more accurate and faster!

The goody bag was a bit of a disappointment after last year. I'm sure alot of people would prefer a medal/t-shirt rather than a bagel! The bottle of water at the finish was nice though.

Overall a good race and will run it again. Fast course and traffic free.
Date of review: August 18, 2009

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

In short: Well organised race
In full: I feel that some of the other comments are unfair. Please remember that this is a charity race.

I think this race offers value for money and was well organised. It is flat and offers a good route for beginners as well as club runners.

There were plenty of toilets including urinals for men and they were 800m from the start, which is not too far!

As improvements I would suggest an earlier start and not giving water out 800m after the start. This is probably the reason along with some people taking more than 1 bottle that there was no water at the finish.

The medals and chip timing were a good idea. And the BBQ, tea/coffee and ice cream van was a nice touch.

We will be back next year.
Date of review: June 16, 2009

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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: Excellent race. Make sure you do this race...
In full: This was my 4th consecutive year. Gets better every year. Will be back next year.

Travel up from London every year to run this race.

The sportident was a great idea, so no more stamping of paper at checkpoints. Get a print out of splits when you finish, which was great.

Weather was better than the previous couple when it has been boiling hot!

This race is v well organised. It has great scenery with some pretty punishing hills.

The size has increased each year, so make sure come and run it before everyone else!

If you have 1 race left to run do this one.

Awesome race.....
Date of review: June 8, 2009

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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: Great race. Signed up for next year....
In full: Brilliant organisation. Plenty of marshalls to keep roads free from members of public and give support. Pretty good support for a Bank Holiday Mon in London.
They organise this as well as the London Marathon. Bag drops, toilets, removal of tags, starting waves all top notch.
Best 10km in London by a long way. Much better than the Asics British 10km.
Good value goody bag - as other people have said would have been better to have different sizes.

Make sure you run this race if you choose one 10km to do.
Date of review: May 27, 2009

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