My Event Ratings

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

In short: Welcome back!
In full: Good to see this little run back in its proper form, after the event having been hijacked by big business last year. Despite being a rather dreich morning, and with the event not having had much publicity, a pleasantly surprising number did turn up and it made for a really nice run. The somewhat ugly bits round the Docks were more than made up for once we got on to the Cardiff Bay Barrage. One criticism that the organisers should be aware of is that there was no water stops. OK it's only 5 miles, and it was a wet morning - but it might not have been! Look forward to next year, though I note it'll be back at its old date of May Day Bank Holiday.
Date of review: July 26, 2009

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

In short: Lovely race - shame about the organisation
In full: Lovely race, but the beginning was shambolic, couldn't hear any of the announcements, so no idea why it started so late, then we had to walk for about 250 metres before they let us start! Ending was also bad, we had to queue up completely stationary, for a good 15 minutes before we could get out of the racecourse. I do not like the point-to-point, better off doing what they did a couple of years ago, beginning and ending in Leith. Oh and as no-one was keeping within the cones on the road, and you couldn't see them coming, I fell over one just about a minute in, and needed treatment from the ambulance! Marshalls should have ensured runners stayed within the cones.
Date of review: April 8, 2009

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

In short: Welcome back!
In full: Welcome back indeed to this brilliant race that sadly didn't happen in 2008. Weather was lovely, though the stiff breeze made us work quite hard at times. So also did the few inclines, which while not steep, are quite lengthy. It looks gorgeous, esp. with the sun shining on the sea, and thanks for all the encouragement from the marshalls. Well done to all the organisers, and to the college for bringing back this cracker of a 10k.
Date of review: March 22, 2009

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

In short: Enjoyed it, but the price to enter on the day a bit steep
In full: This is the second time I've done this one, and while it is a good 10-miler, it was made a bit harder by the wind being against us. Not much to look at - mainly industrial, and through a few villages. Not having the use of the road for a lot of the way was a bit of a drag, as the pavements were very narrow and potholed. £10.50 to enter online was OK, but for those who entered on the day, £15 a bit much. Also, to say on the pre-race info that entries on the day closed a full hour before the race start (not true in the event!) served only to put off some who would otherwise have come along. It is a good training run though, and I will be back next year, but I do hope the points I made will be noted by the organisers.
Date of review: February 22, 2009

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

In short: Great fun - even in the rain
In full: First time I've done this and it was well worth it. I was sceptical about the organisation, as point-to-point can be problematic. In the event, a bus was provided at both start and finish to ferry those who had to get back to their cars. My only criticism (and it's not really!) is that the info concerning those buses should have been on the pre-race info sheet. Also the venue was a bit hard to find - we could have done with a map. All that said, it was a really good race, with lots of PB potential, and even despite the heavy showers I really enjoyed it and lok forward to coming back.
Date of review: July 6, 2008

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

In short: Never done this one before - truly a wee gem!
In full: A lovely little race. Of all the races I've done over the years in S Wales I'd never got round to this one and now I realise what I'd missed. Superbly organised, a lovely trophy and lovely weather too - albeit a bit too hot at times. That hill at around 4k is a real trial, putting paid to the PB potential but what the heck it was greta fun. Hope to be back next year,
Date of review: May 11, 2008

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

In short: Will be back next year!
In full: First time I've done this one, excellent value for money. Well organised, though we could have done with a second water stop. Given that it starts and ends in an industrial estate, I was surprised at how pleasant the rest of the route was! Sports bag made a great souvenir - much better than a poxy T-shirt. Look forward to next year.
Date of review: February 4, 2008

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

In short: Brilliant - as always!
In full: Brackla Harriers can again award themselves a huge collective pat on the back. I've been doing this race for years now and it never fails to really hit the spot. The sand dunes are a real torture, but you don't concern yourself about timing on this race, just get on and enjoy the fantastic route and spectacular scenery (sewage works excluded!). I especially like how they don't get bogged down trivia such as "Free T shirt". If you really want a souvenir T shirt, you can buy a really nice one with the names of all pre-entries on the back. The souvenir slate coaster was a nice touch -very Welsh! Looking forward to next year.
Date of review: December 20, 2007

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

In short: OK but they''ve really got to get in some professionals to organise
In full: This the fourth time I've done the Cardiff half, and while the route is still pretty good, it is far better to finish in the Millennium Stadium. It's also a good route to get a PB. So far so positive. The organisation is still a shambles. We need a proper "pulse" start in order that you're running with those doing the same speed. Bottlenecks are too frequent, and you need proper signage, highlighting such obstacles as the all-too frequent speed bumps. And as for the end - well for pity's sake what a mess at the castle! It's been said before and I'll say it again - can BUPA please forget about the summer 10k and instead get their weight of resources behind the Cardiff Half. Otherwise many people are going to stay away from what could and should be a fantastic race.
Date of review: October 14, 2007

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

In short: The strong wind made it harder than usual, but otherwise an excellent eveng.
In full: Good route, not too challenging but the strong wind (sure it was August and not November?) prevented it being the fast race it could have been. That wind must have added a few minutes to our times. Excellent organisation and a welcoming atmosphere. The best 7 quid's worth this year - take note, the BUPA "Great Runs" folks - you can organise an excellent 10k for less than £25. Well done S Wales coppers. I'll certainly be back next year but maybe you can arrange for the wind to pipe down a bit!
Date of review: August 20, 2007

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