My Event Ratings

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

In short: well organised, friendly race.
Date of review: September 21, 2009

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

In short: The only reason I wouldn't do it again is cos I am Never Doing Another Marathon
In full: Excellent race... particularly liked the way it is sort of divided into quarters so you can target each chunk... Didn't do well, but that's down to my lack of long run training, if I'd done more I think it would've had pb potential. It's a bit hilly, but really nothing major. Organisation couldn't be faulted. Perfect weather also helped. Seaweed very stinky in the third quarter but that adds a bit of local colour!
Date of review: September 6, 2009

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

In short: I ran this in 2005 - its just not the same race now
In full: I've been telling people since I ran this in 2005 what a good marathon Edinburgh is. I shall now shut up. If I wanted to run along a dusty road by the sea and back I can do that at home. Clearing us all out of the queue for the toilets 30 minutes before the start at the same time as the announcer was inducing panic about it being nearly time to go to the pens was unforgiveable. How many toilets did the elite runners actually need? It seemed they were given exclusive use of half of them for a crucial half hour.
The water situation was ridiculous. Knowing it was in short supply, faster runners should have been asked to be more careful with the supplies and not sip and discard. I felt bad taking a bottle of lucozade and a bottle of water from one of the stations where supplies appeared to be running low, but I assumed supplies would be replenished. It was surely not possible given the weather forecasts that more had not been arranged. I had a splitting headache for 24 hours after the race finished probably from dehydration. I am sure at least some of the slower runners who faced long stretches with no water must have had similar after effects. It was purely luck that there were no fatalities. However, it is the change of course that means I won't be back - I came to run an Edinburgh marathon and as far as I am concerned, this race just wasn't what I expected. The spectators were fantastic and very supportive and obviously concerned for the welfare of the runners... The caravan site hosepipe and the people with water pistols were great!
Date of review: June 5, 2009

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

In short: small welcoming race, v friendly atmosphere and lovely countryside. The changeable weather made for lovely light in the classic Kent countryside.
Date of review: May 18, 2009

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

In short: An well organised, no-hassle race wtih excellent atmosphere
In full: Very friendly, welcoming, well marshalled. Given weather conditions more water wouldn't've gone amiss, but who could predict that April would turn out to be hotter than August? Plenty of toilets available, but maybe the various locations could've been better signposted.
Date of review: April 11, 2009

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

In short: traffic and navigating round the start facilities spoiled an otherwise excellent day
In full: I am with the reviewer above who arrived at 9.55. that was when I arrived too - plenty of time to pick up my number I thought. But after half an hour not going anywhere I was well stressed. Arrived at the start with 20 minutes to go. I did make the start, but only because I had phoned a friend to pick up my number. There did not seem to be adequate signage to important areas. With such large crowds, signs need to be big and high enough they can be seen from a distance over the crowd. To cap it all my chip didn't work so I know I ran a pb but don't know what it was accurately! Not partic bothered about that as it is inevitable that some chips won't work, but people need to be warned to get there a lot earlier. Just 'be early' is not a sufficient instruction in the circs! Otherwise, a great race, fantastic water stations, especially the uplifting one by the pub, great sponges and loved throwing it at the marshall (although it meant I threw it away sooner than I meant to!). By mile four the stress of the start had vanished and I do hope to be back next year.
Date of review: April 6, 2009

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

In short: not sure that describing this as flat/undulating really does it justice - although there was a very nice flat bit at the very end ..
In full: It must be a nightmare getting enough marshalls for this course - but they did a great job and were v supportive. I like the useful shoe bag - and appreciated it just having a v welcome drink in it and no unnecessary stuff that just goes in the bin. V posh medal!
Date of review: March 1, 2009

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

In short: Managed a pb, so good start to my first grand prix!
In full: Lovely medal. Well chosen and thanks for putting info on so I know which race and year it is for. Medals of that quality inspire me to try to organise them somewhere other than in a bunch on the wardrobe doorhandle! V good HQ and facilities, we were lucky with the weather but can imagine the HQ would've been a life saver if the weather had actually been as foul as was forecast.
Date of review: January 22, 2009

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