My Event Ratings

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

In short: A real test but very enjoyable
In full: This is certainly a hilly (but very scenic) course and not one if you are chasing a PB but every aspect of the race seemed to be very well done. The HQ area offers ample parking and the start/ finish area on the private road are both excellent facilities, the half mile or so walk between the two isn't really that far. Very well marshalled and just the right number of drinks stations. One slightly disconcerting thing this year was the number of massive tractors rumbling down the narrow roads but the drivers of these (and indeed the other cars) were patient and courteous, so I experienced no problems. I like the mug as a momento, presume that the "two mug" offer was because the organisers had bought them in for the original running of the event (numbers for the revised date were somewhat down). Definitely one that I would do again - thanks to deal Tri for the organisation.
Date of review: May 14, 2012

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

In short: Well organised and good facilities
In full: This is a well organised 10 mile race and the timing right at the start of the Easter weekend is ideal. The business park venue makes for ample parking and previous years' concerns about inadequate numbers of toilets have been addressed. All in all, a very well organised and enjoyable event
Date of review: April 12, 2012

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

In short: Well organised - makes an ideal training run
In full: A well-organised event which provides an ideal pre-marathon training session. Very much a runners' event with no gimmicks but adequate parking, a very scenic course and helpful marshalling makes the 21 miles go by surprisingly easily. The 9 + 6 + 6 mile laps format helps chunk the distance up nicely. Good and supportive atmosphere on the course from the other runners.
Date of review: March 26, 2012

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

In short: Great for a marathon training run
In full: This is a superb event, ideally timed for the various spring marathons (vienna in my case) and is as good a way to do a 20-miler in a competitive atmosphere as I can think of. The location is ideal, being relatively easy to reach with almost umlimited parking. The organisation was excellent, starting with the ample toilets and including a challenging but fair course and just the right number of water/ gel/ jelly baby stations. Well done to the marshalls, who were friendly and helpful. Absolutely nothing that I could fault this one on
Date of review: March 18, 2012

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

In short: Well organised as ever, finish much better
In full: This is perennially the best 10 miler that I do all year and this year didn't disappoint. The only significant change vs last year was the change to the start and finish places, in response to comments received I suspect, which was certainly a change for the better. other aspects of the race; parking, toilets etc all seemed to run smoothly as normal, though the cold weather probably put a bit more pressure on the school as a venue than normal. This is simply a well run and well organised club race and excellent value for the £15 entry fee and should be taken as such. If you want a lavish goodie bag, music and razzmataz I would suggest looking elsewhere, if you just want a challenging and enjoyable run then look here.
Date of review: January 29, 2012

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

In short: A real test but a great race
In full: This is a race that has got all of the details right, from the administration/ parking/ toilets etc, to the excellent and supportive marshalls, the incredibly scenic location and a course which is hard but fair. A bit tricky this year with the mud but still a superb day out and one I look forward to next year.
Date of review: August 9, 2011

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

In short: Gets better every year
In full: 5th time that I have done it and the race gets better every year, despite what seemed a further increase in numbers the whole thing ran very smoothly. The two-wave start did seem to work well. The course is very scenic and makes a very interesting run, the marshalling is just spot on and the new finish in the field rather than next to the leisure centre is a great improvement. Only suggestion would be a couple more toilets at the start to cope with the increased numbers but that is a minor point. Looking forward to 2012 already
Date of review: July 25, 2011

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

In short: Well organised and charming
In full: A very enjoyable event, well-marshalled and well organised, being part of the flower show makes for a nice atmosphere. The course is quite undulating but PB potential is high as this is about the only 7 mile race that I know. Good to have a race on a Saturday and we were very lucky with the rain, which stopped about 10 minutes before the race began.
Date of review: July 18, 2011

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

In short: Excellent event all round
In full: First time that I have actually done this one, having missed a couple of years through injury at the wrong time, and very pleased that I have done so. The race is surprisingly hard - the hills come at the end when you are already tired - but that just adds to the challenge and enjoyment.

The organisation is superb all round, from the start area to the plentiful and encouraging marshalls, well-placed drinks stations (with bottled water and lucozade) and a scenic and hard but very fair course. Best of all was the finish area, a scenic grassy field, with delicious free cake, a brass band playing and an excellent goody bag.

An excellent complement to the North Downs Run, just pleased that they are a couple of weeks apart so that I can do both as these excellent events both sum up why I am increasingly looking to do these trail runs rather than yet another road race.
Date of review: July 4, 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		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Just a great off-road race
In full: This race simply gets everything right - plenty of parking and toilets at the start, a superbly scenic course, abundant and friendly marshalls and water stations, great technical T-shirt and delicious cake at the end. It's well organised without being over-organised and clearly - as someone has said - organised "by runners, for runners" It's certainly challenging but that's what makes it so much fun. The changes this year were for the better (eg the extra toilets) and kudos to the organisers for taking the comments on board but in all honesty I would advise them not to bother with the chip timing if it adds to the cost, given the length of the race and non-standard distance a couple of seconds either way makes no real difference. As others have said, this is really the high spot of my racing year and I expect it to remain so.
Date of review: June 20, 2011

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