My Event Ratings

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

In short: Tough training run
In full: Did the Half Marathon. Hats off to those who completed the full marathon. A good strength building course, hilly with a few leg sapping sandy stretches, lovely forest trails and nice views.
Would be perfect if...
Mile markers were accurate and visible
A little more space at the waterstations so that the water and food was not so close together - at one the lady with jelly babies was holding the box with her back to the runners so not easy to spot that they were available.
Separate the goody bag and rehydration area to avoid queuing and make it easier for runners to get fluids at the finish.
Date of review: September 19, 2011

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

In short: Thanks and see you next year
In full: Organisation 10/10
Scenery 10/10
Marshalls 10/10
Hills 10/10
Mud 10/10
Other runners 10/10
Beer at the end 10/10 and I don't drink
For waiting for Lizzie 10/10

Date of review: September 11, 2011

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

In short: thanks to the volunteers and marshals
In full: nice race, tough in places, the hills sneak up on you, makes you realise how nice the countryside is around the M25 and Thames estuary. Second best volunteers and marshals in the country (after Bromley parkrun) every road junction well manned and traffic held back, drinks, bananas and sponges at the many feed stations along the way and enthusiastic support from all. Thanks.
Date of review: July 24, 2011

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

In short: A good family fun run
In full: Ideal for beginners, not too serious 5K aimed at families, fund raisers and beginners followed by a 2K. A lot of things you would expect from a larger event - Massage, Warm Up, Local radio PA, T-Shirt and medal. Although not intended as a timed - against the clock race it would be nice if a way could be found to add timing to future events.
A flat 2 lap course on tarmac and grass using much of the well established Norman Park, Saturday Parkrun route. ( 9 am every Saturday, register in advance - http://www.parkrun.org.uk/bromley/ ;) )
Excellent volunteer marshals from the local cadets.
The wonderful weather making it a little warm for runners but great for those staying on afterwards to picnic in the park.
Date of review: April 10, 2011

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Thanks for helping my wife finish her first marathon
In full: I pulled out after 16 miles, not wanting to aggravate leg problems by going back up those hills.
The organisers obviously had many problems getting this new Marathon 'running' and the route could have been better for first timers but thanks to the great support of other runners and the marshals and my wife's determination she finished.
There were ample water. food stations and support on the first part of the run through Battle.
Having witnessed a driver with horse box forcing runners into the hedgerow and a Subaru driver using the country lane as a drag strip with the bonus of hitting runners it is easy to see the problems that the organisers might have faced with the locals.

Hopefully they are able to deal with these issues and the locals might realise that have several hundred runners with families, many staying in hotels and B+B is a financial boost to the local community.

I hope to do the missing 10 miles next year :)
Date of review: April 3, 2011

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

In short: wouldn't like to live next door to the lady banging her kitchen pans:)
In full: Good atmosphere all around the route.
Slightly difficult to navigate around the bed, but full marks to the guys pushing it all the way around.
Too many people wearing headphones not able to hear polite requests to move aside when passing them.
Wasn't there for a goody bag so not really too concerned that they had run out but having finished in the top half of the field I am surprised that they had run out before I finished and a shame for those finishing towards the back who tend to be non club runners/first timers and appreciate these.
Finish area a bit chaotic, managed to squash a little dog being dragged around by someone - sorry, but don't always look down when trying to find out where the water station is at the end of a run. Then I was knocked around by so many non runners keen to greet others that the first cup of tea I managed to hold securely after finishing was empty by the time I found a safe space to drink any of it.
The bit between passing the bed and tea soaking was good fun though even if i did struggle badly for the final 2 miles.
Date of review: March 21, 2011

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

In short: well organised 20 miler
In full: Well done Alan and Nicky for a smooth, well organised event. All marshals deserve praise for their support especially those on the final turn who cheered my wife ( running towards the bak of the race )all the way up the road. Plenty of water and gels in just the right places. Results out by the time I had driven home.
Date of review: March 13, 2011

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

In short: It's what running shoes were made for.
In full: Brilliant morning run. Superb marshals and local support, a mini carnival in Kent. Rolling, undulating course rather than anything too aggressive. Plenty of water and gel stations. Still unpacking all the giveaways in the goody bag, a lovely medal and a T-Shirt which you could collect before the start to ensure sizing.
Well done TWH.
PS IF Liz Yelling has no use for those Newton Shoes I know someone who does:)
Date of review: February 27, 2011

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

In short: Garmin v OS Map v A man with a wheel
In full: Just downloaded the route from a Garmin onto an OS map 1:50,000 - comes out at 9.93 miles - not including the start from Leisure centre to road.

Making a new route on the OS map with Memory Map measures out at 3.24 per lap - not including start to road and road to finish - so 9.82 plus the finish straight and start to road.

So the map is almost spot on, leading me to think that the route might have been measured on a map.

Very odd though that the reading on the Garmin itself was 9.7 yet gains .2 when transferred to OS

I took things very easy this year and did exactly the same time as last year.

A big thanks though to the marshals, great support and direction.

For £10 you cannot expect too much in way of medal and to be honest i nearly didn't bother to take one - just getting round the 10 miles was good enough for me.
Date of review: February 13, 2011

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

In short: From start to finish. One of the best runs.
In full: No snow, no mud this year and although the Events to Live team hadn't been able to flatten the hills I managed to take 2 minutes off last years time.
A really well organised race, hilly and hard but suitable for beginners wanting a challenging 10k, for every uphill there is a nice exhilarating run back down. Good views along the way despite the grey skies, almost all off road, apart from a few very short sections at the start and finish. Marshals supportive, vocal and did great job with directions.
Very nice technical t-shirt and results out before getting home.

Date of review: February 6, 2011

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