My Event Ratings

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

In short: So much potential - I really wish the organisers could sort the shortcomings because Edinburgh could be a real highlight of the marathon calendar
In full: I thought the course was good, interesting and had definite PB potential. The runners were well serviced and you could run your own race throughout. Thanks to all the marshalls and water providers who stayed out on the course for so long. But there were big problems with the day. I really want Edinburgh to succeed as a marathon. Please, please listen to the comments made by the runners - involve runners and spectators more in the planning of the race and basically do more for the exhorbitant price you charge for the race and sell your great city more effectively.

The start was a nightmare - congestion caused by inadequate space and allowing spectators into the area around the starting pens. The last thing you want before a marathon is to fight your way down and then up a narrow street with the starter continuing to insist you must be in your pens 15 minutes before the start. I would if I could!

The finish was wholly inadequate - alright for those who had booked their grandstand seat, but pretty hopeless for anyone else. Access was nearly impossible without a car parking ticket and all the spectators from our group missed the finish by a considerable margin. The supporters had a really frustrating day as movement around the course was really difficult. Not what you want when you've travelled 400 miles to support a runner. It seemed to me that there were places to watch which would have been fairly easy to access but there was no help to visitors in the information - only warnings about congestion around the finish. Why not include some suggestions to people who don't know the area?

Don't get me going on the Expo. I thought it was pointless two years ago - it seemed even worse this year. If you have travelled a long way the last thing you want to do is spend another couple of hours going to pick up an envelope with your name and address on. OK it's a way of keeping the cost down through sponsorship but why then is it one of Eurpoe's most expensive marathons?


Date of review: May 31, 2008

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

In short: A great experience.
In full: Green start - I was surprised how well you could get away and get into your running, so no excuses for a slow time because of crowds.

The organisation was excellent apart from the pointless registration and expo. What is that all about? The location is inconvenient and the last thing I want to have to do after work / the day before a marathon.

The course itself is pretty dull and not a patch on Amsterdam or Paris - but the support on route and atmosphere is outstanding.
Date of review: April 13, 2008

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

In short: Well organised and a pleasure to run despite the weather.
In full: Thnaks to the club for the good organisation and the marshalls for their endurance and encouragement.

This is a good warm up with London - basically flat with gentle undulations and one or two short hills. The route, although not traffic free, was rural and pleasant enough. One good feature was that there were no long straight sections.

I'd definitely recommend it to FLM runners.
Date of review: March 16, 2008

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

In short: Well organised event and well worth a look in future years.
In full: Pretty atrocious conditions put a a bit of a dampener on the race in terms of support. But thanks to the police, marshalls and drink stationeers who did a sterling job.
I think this a well organised race - my second year. There are advantages and disadvantages with three laps, but it's good to know what's coming if you are looking for a PB - which is achievable. The relay adds a bit of interest as well.
Date of review: December 2, 2007

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

In short: Well organised race.
In full: Good day out at a well organised friendly local race, which was well supported by local clubs.

It was well organised and well marshalled. Thanks to all who gave up time.

My second time running this race. Very pleasant route with one or two long straight sections and one short steep hill. As a result I found it difficult to keep an even pace.

Nice touch to give a prize to the first club with ten finishers - excellent idea which should be picked up by other race organisers.
Date of review: September 24, 2007

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

In short: Great experience. Wonderful scenery. Best ever race.
In full: Fantastic race, run through some beautiful countryside. Well organised and required a bit of "working out" along the way, but enough clues and markers to reassure runners they were on the right track.

Thanks to all the organisers and marshalls. A nice touch with the Mars bars and jelly babies at the checkpoints.

Good idea not to have a T-shirt/medal and keep the cost down instead.

Best race I've ever done - and I've done a few!
Date of review: September 16, 2007

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: My first ultra. Unfortunate conditions. Left me feeling a bit flat.
In full: I am still not sure what to make of this experience. I felt it was pure endurance and not a lot about running. The old railway line section was the only time we ran for more than two miles and certainly the only section we could run with any confidence.

The bogs and marshes were treacherous and seemed to go on for ever and having to climb for a mile and a half through two foot high gorse was no fun.

The check points were outstanding as was the support from fellow competitors.

The organisation was rather pompous and there wasn't even a well done at the end after ten and a half hours of torture.

I know I caught it in atrocious conditions but I think I'll accept the life time ban which was threatened in the literature!
Date of review: July 8, 2007

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

In short: Excellent well organised race.
In full: Great way to end a week. Well organised, friendly event with BBQ and children's playground in a lovely setting. Great race for a family outing.
Date of review: June 23, 2007

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Tough marathon. Beautiful Scenery. Glad I was following other people!
In full: I was just doing this as a training run for the Lyke Wake ultra so was taking it very easy and enjoying the views.

It was a great experience running through a beautiful part of the country with varied scenery.

The organisation was pretty spartan at the start and the end but didn't detract from the experience.

I enjoyed the lack of mile markers, having complained about the mile markers at White Peak 4 weeks ago!

The water stations were well spaced and everyone was very friendly.

An excellent event without the nice touches provided by a friendly running club.

I'd certainly recommend it.
Date of review: June 17, 2007

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

In short: Beautiful scenery. Well organised. A definite must for a marathoner.
In full: Well organised, friendly race. A beautiful run through the Dales.

The gentle climb for the first 20 odd miles was hardly noticable. The two steep downhill sections in the last six miles caused far greater discomfort.

My only slight complaint was the mile markers. I didn't want them. I would have preferred to lose myself in the run rather than counting the miles.

But a big thank you to Matlock AC for organising the best marathon I have run so far.
Date of review: May 20, 2007

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