Latest Ratings
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2008 Merry's Blisworth Friday 5
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Friendly, well organised 5-miler
In full: I enjoyed this last year and was a bit worried when I heard the course had changed. It did include a fairly big hill in the first couple of miles but I loved the long downhill start and the worst hill was over with in the first couple of miles of the race anyway. Ended up with a surprise PB!
The support - as with last year - was excellent and it was good to have the encouragement at the top of the hill and to hear the words "it gets easier from here". True - it did! There were a few more inclines to come but nothing too difficult after that.
Excellent marshalling and very enjoyable summer evening race. Will be back next year! Thanks Wootton Road Runners!
Date of review: August 19, 2008
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2008 Burnham Beeches Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised and enjoyable Half
In full: My only vaguely negative comment: Parking perhaps a little too far for convenience but at least the race instructions warned clearly about that.
Very professionally organised race and found all the marshalls to be very friendly, cheerful and encouraging - many thanks!
If you like trees - and lots of them - you'll love this course! I thought the route was very picturesque but then I do love lots of greenery around me (this course had it in spades!). Someone described the course as 'rolling' and it seems like a very apt description to me. Whilst none of the hills were especially mountainous, there were enough inclines to provide a bit of a challenge! And yes - like many others, I thought it seemed more undulating on the second lap too!
Liked the medal and mars bar at the finish - much better than the typical carrier bag just filled with advertising leaflets you often get.
Thanks Burnham Joggers - I'll be back to do this lovely Half again next year!
Date of review: August 17, 2008
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2005 Chicks Chase Ladies Only 5km Series
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: What a shame ....
In full: (Review for August 2008 but RW will only let me choose up to 2005 for some reason).
This has the potential to be a cracking local 5k race series but Thursday's race felt a bit like the final nail on the coffin. This year the pre-race communication has been non-existent (particularly unsettling for anyone doing this for the first time) and poorly promoted. Hard to say how many of us turned up this month (as the results STILL aren't up) but it seemed like even less than the 68 who were there for the July race. This time there were no kilometre markers and I could see only one marshal on the course.
We did at least get a medal this time which was more than the guys did (despite the fact that their race description told them there would be a memento for all finishers ... and I don't think a chocolate biscuit really counts as a memento!).
I'd be surprised if this series happens again next year given the apparent lack of interest on the organisers' part this year - but I hope I'm wrong (as I'm really keen to support local races) and I sincerely hope it's much better organised/promoted next year. So frustrating as the previous 2 years have proved that it can be a great little summer race series.
Date of review: August 16, 2008
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2008 Bearbrook 10K
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Enjoyed it last year ... enjoyed it this year too!
In full: Despite the longish hill about halfway, this course has definite PB-potential due to the long downhill stretch towards the end (where you can just let gravity do most of the work for you ... lovely!).
Scuppered my PB chances though by getting bad cramp about 3k in and having to walk it out for several minutes. Still, at least a minute off last year's time, so happy enough with that.
What happened to the first water station that was promised though? Glad I'd decided to bring water with me last minute!
Overall, still one of my favourite 10ks and I'll definitely be back again next year!
Date of review: August 10, 2008
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2008 Beds AAA Cranfield 5
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Pleasant, well organised 5-miler
In full: ... and I got a PB last night on it so I might be a little biassed!! Did this race last year and enjoyed it but had forgotten about the challenging 'inclines' about halfway around! A completely flat course might not have been as interesting though (can't believe I just said that!!). Marshalls encouraging and friendly and temperature was perfect for running, dry and not too warm. This will be a regular fixture in my race diary. See you next year!
Date of review: August 9, 2008
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2008 Wellingborough 5
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very enjoyable 5-miler
In full: Couldn't have asked for more ideal weather - the conditions made for a much more enjoyable run than last year. Really well organised race with wonderfully friendly and encouraging marshalls all the way. Took my time today and ran around with a friend which made the run more enjoyable.
Braved the wasps and went for a choc brownie from the fab cake stand this year ... was definitely worth it!
See you again next year!
Date of review: August 3, 2008
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2008 'Down Tow Up Flow' Thames Towpath Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very beautiful Half ... but HOT HOT HOT!!
In full: Absolutely loved the 'Calendar material' scenery of this route but it became a real mind over matter thing in the last 4 or 5 miles due to the soaring temperature and I struggled to appreciate the scenery as much as I was desperate to finish and grab an icy drink!!
Really appreciated the frequent water stations and was lucky enough to encounter water at every one of them - can't imagine how it must have been for those who got to the last water station only to find it was empty as that last one felt like a lifeline to me. If it's true that some people were taking more than one bottle, I'm appalled. There was no need as one bottle was enough to carry you through to the next water station. Got into a routine of drinking half my bottle and pouring the rest of it down my neck which helped me through this very hot Half!!
Not a race with PB potential due to all the gates and narrow sections but this is made clear in the race instructions anyway. I entered this as it sounded wonderfully scenic ... and it was! I'll be back next year to do this too!
My thanks to the organisers and encouraging marshalls ... as well as to the hosepipe lady who was a real saviour!! More hosepipes next year please!!
Date of review: July 28, 2008
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2008 Bedford Harriers ' Doug Anderson Memorial 5k'
| | 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: Nice 5k, blissfully flat!
In full: Flat course made for excellent PB potential but missed out on that as I don't do heat very well and it was a very warm evening last night!
Nice, friendly atmosphere and my thanks especially to the wonderful marshal who called out lots of encouragement with "come on number 19, nearly there!" - really gave me the extra boost I needed to sprint finish (or at least my attempt at a sprint finish!) - thank you! I'll be back next year.
Date of review: July 24, 2008
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2008 Bupa Great Capital 10K
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Crowded but well organised - and great fun!
In full: There hasn't been a Great Run yet that I haven't enjoyed - and this was no exception! The crowded course did mean a little bit of dodging around other runners occasionally in the narrower sections but on the whole I thought most had estimated their finish time pretty accurately. I was only seconds off my 10k PB which was a pleasant surprise too. Lovely flat course and great atmosphere - especially at the finish. I'll be back next year!
Date of review: July 21, 2008
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2006 Chicks Chase Ladies Only 5km Series
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: July 2008: Smallest number of entries yet ...
In full: Only 68 runners? Where was everyone else?! Mind you that did mean I got a higher placing on the results list than usual, so guess I shouldn't complain :) plus a PB on this race too so very happy!
Again, no pre-race administration (and I reckon that must affect turnout) apart from collecting your race number and chip once you were already there. Very unsettling for anyone who hasn't done this race before. Would it hurt the organisers to send competitors an informative e-mail at least confirming where to go and what to do?
That said, the ability to see your finish time immediately after the race is excellent and decent refreshments provided (though no medal). I'll do the 3rd race in the series next month but next year I think I'll just come along and support for a change!!
Date of review: July 19, 2008
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