My Event Ratings

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

In short: No major problems for me
In full: Caught the shuttle bus out from the station after queuing for all of 4 mins. Started in the middle of the blue pen as per my predicted time of 1.55 and sure enough there were a few people in the wrong pens.
Spent a mile or so dodging slower runners/ people adjusting there MP3 players.
Ran the race and got a PB of 1.51.14
Got de-chipped and medal/ goodie bag and went straight to baggage and onto a shuttle bus with no queues.
Wasn't aware of any problems regarding lucozade and medals etc so cannot really comment other than to say it you have my sympathies.


A few minor comments
Police the start pens
put the numbers for the baggage tent higher up - impossible to see once a few people stood in front of them.
mile 12 marker was misleading as it was the right way around on the way back past the turning point but looking at my split times for 12 (10.12) and 13 (7.05) it should have been before the the turning point as I didn't put on that much of a sprint to finish.
Regarding the comments about the high kerb at the underpass probably means that it is off course and should be marshalled/ protected by barriers.

Big thank you to all the marshalls, helpers and Reading Swimming Club
Date of review: March 4, 2008

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

In short: Brilliant. When do entries open for 2008?
In full: Not a race for the majority but a great event for all.
I love hearing the shrieks coming from the lake as you come down the hill towards it.
Excellent marshals - big thanks to Gordon, BRR and local Round Table for all your work.

Date of review: November 12, 2007

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

In short: Big race organisation with small race feel
In full: Once again an excellently organised race that attracts top class athletes and club/ "fun runners" alike.
Love the separate runners only area at the finish together with the hot drink, pasty and fruit.
Loads of marshalls giving support and encouragement all the way around.
Superb start/finish on the Hoe but that does mean a cruel hill to get back up there.
Done it for the last 4 years and always put in next year's diary as soon as the race is finished.
Even helped to rescue some of their flying gazeebos the evening before!!
Date of review: May 29, 2007

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

In short: Lovely friendly 10k race
In full: Once again a very well organised race. Friendly, mix of the fast and the not so fast on country roads around Yate. 4th year I've done this one now and always look out for it when the diary comes out in the new year. Who needs big city races when there are ones like this around?
Date of review: May 22, 2007

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

In short: superbly organised, challenging 10k race
Date of review: April 23, 2007

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

In short: Great event, very well organised
In full: "Significant climbs at miles 1, 5, 8 and 12" - the rest is just up and down! Testing course, great organisation by Hogweed Trotters and shows that there is more to half marathons than big city centre races.
Date of review: March 12, 2007

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

In short: excellent way to spend a Sunday morning
In full: Only got a place the week before due to a collegue dropping out and the organisors enlightened way of allowing transfer of numbers. Well organised and marshalled.
Only got lapped by 2 runners. Completely trashed the uppers of my NB767s (but they gripped surprisingly well for a road shoe), so a trip to the sponsors will be necessary!

Date of review: February 12, 2007

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

In short: enjoyed it but....
In full: Concidering the race filled up so quickly why did the race packs turn up with less than a week to go? What if you are doing this race at the end of a week away from home?
Didn't put a predicted finish time for the 1st time ever so got allocated a white number with no apparent way of upgrading other than asking a marshall on the day. As it happened it didn't seem to matter as I found a gap in the back of the green runners which is where I would have been (I have done over 25 halves so do know where to line up)
Difficult to hear the annoucements at the start and the BBC OB caravan on the path where people were trying to walk to the pack of the grid was a mistake. Got running straight away on the start line (was there a clock to show how much time had ellapsed?) and had to dodge my 1st walker (with a green number) by the Cenotaph
Had memorised roughly where each mile marker should be so knew where to look out for them and saw them all but they were too small. 10, 11 12 were probably on the nearest lamp post as my times were 11.28, 12.30 and 8.21 and my overall average was 9.46.
Where there were spectators they were very uplifting and there were plenty of water and energy drinks available. didnt mind the lack of sponges - I just used the water bottles. Finish was chaotic - missed the foil blanket and goody?? bag and had to go back to get them. A bit of chocolate or a banana would have been nice.
No queue for bags in the smaller of the 2 tents but it did look long at the other one.

Overall comments

1)Prefered route to last year even if there is an extra incline.
2)Improve positioning and size of the mile markers
3) have better direction signs around the start/finish area.
4) Chocolate or banana in goody bag
5)Probably not enough room in Millenium Square for the post finish line requirements
Date of review: September 18, 2006

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

In short: large race with a small race feel
In full: fantasic organisation, setting and crowds. really like the runners only area at the finish where you can have your refreshments away from crowds of non runners. A tough course going up through Saltram Park as is the last mile or so up from the Barbican.
Where do I sign up for next year?
Date of review: June 1, 2006

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

In short: Tough but what a buzz
In full: First time I've done this one as it has clashed with the Frenchay 10k in previous years. A very testing course with a 100m climb in 1.6km but I will definetely put this one in my diary for next year. Well marshalled and organised. Thank you for giving me such a legal high and buzz.
Date of review: April 24, 2006

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