My Event Ratings

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

In short: A beautiful race with added 'killer hill'!
In full: Loved the route, gorgeous views across Wiltshire with a 'hard as nails' hill to make sure we didn't have it too easy. Very well marshalled, thanks marshalls for all the encouragement. I found it very hard and was one of the stragglers at the back but still had a great time with lots of cheers. The only downside was no prize at the end, just a bottle of water and a kit kat. Can I suggest a nice memento or medal next year? Definitely a regular on my race calendar.
Date of review: July 26, 2009

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

In short: A good route, well planned, turnout could have been better.
In full: An undulating route, but nicely planned through parkland mostly, tracks and trails. Not as good a turnout as there could have been mainly due to the weather. The rain held off though the wind was a pain. I was part of the RAF team and we won first unaffiliated team. Nice prize (shot glass) and beer for being the first team. Very much enjoyed the race and would run it again.
Date of review: July 19, 2009

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

In short: Lots of fun - even for the first-timer.
In full: This was my first triathlon and in hindsight I should have gone for the shorter distance. However I very much enjoyed it and Dorney lake was made for triathlon. Very welcoming for the first-timer, there was a great mix of people. I felt let down by the fact that there was no medal at the finish. Yes, there was the t-shirt but I thought it strange that the kids got both t-shirts and medals but the adults just got the t-shirt. For the money I paid to compete, there should have been enough for a medal. Great organisation by human race, as always.
Date of review: July 8, 2009

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

In short: Tough but special
In full: Incredibly well organised, all the marshalls were very helpful. I was one of the stragglers at the back and was offered water by two marshalls, the very kind lady at the crossover point for the laps and at around 8km. The weather made it hard but there were enough shady spots to offer enough relief. This was my second year and though my time was considerably slower than last year (I blame illness)I still really enjoyed the course and will be back next year. Quality medal at the end was really good, may I suggest a goody bag? To sum up, nice one Bromsgrove keep up the good work and see you again next year.
Date of review: June 28, 2009

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

In short: A poor show for the city of Edinburgh
In full: This was my fifth Edinburgh marathon and my husbands first and I felt it was a shame that its gone downhill so badly. The organisers seem to be concentrating on making it the 'flattest and fastest' marathon and attracting 'elite runners'. What about us 'fair to middling' runners who pay the entrance fees and provide the organisers 'bread and butter'. The start area was good, liked the toilet areas which were well organised and we were over the start line within 7 minutes. However.....
WATER.. yes mr organiser, remember that wet stuff we all need to live? Was there some kind of shortage in Edinburgh that we were unaware of? Had the Strathmore water factory had a national strike? We had none from mile 13 until mile 18, when it turned up in a van (picture bees around a honeypot and you'll get the idea). In full sun and with very little breeze on the return leg this was nothing short of torture. GET IT SORTED FOR NEXT YEAR OR NO-ONE WILL BE COMING BACK.
The 21 mile marker was missing which, at that late stage really messed with our heads.
We were with the 5 hour plus runners and the morale was so bad that most were walking. A lot of the marshalls were going home when we were coming back and all we had for company was a few folk clearing up. It felt like the slower runners who were really struggling had been forgotten. I'm not surprised that runners had to be taken to hospital but think yourselves lucky that no-one died, all for the sake of a drink of water.
A big thanks to the members of the public with the hoses and bottles of water and to the poor marshalls who had to tell us runners that there was none.
We were very glad to get to the finish but hated the god awful bouncy stuff we had to run on for the last 100m or so. Nice medal and technical t-shirt but a disappointing goody bag with nothing special or different in it. Got on a bus no problem aswell.
Overall we won't be running the Edinburgh marathon again.
A word of advice to mr Race Director, admit the complete hash you made of it and apologise to everyone, I think its the least we deserve (and you can forget the knighthood this time round).
FINALLY, WELL DONE TO ALL FINISHERS!

Date of review: June 1, 2009

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

In short: Picture postcard scenery and well organised
In full: A lovely race, very pretty course though challenging with the large hill at 3 miles. Not too crowded but a nice amount of runners. Good facilities at the recreation ground, excellent refreshments, loved the home made cakes. One for the running calendar.
Date of review: May 17, 2009

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

In short: A great route, well organised, shame about no medal
In full: This was a very well organised race with a great atmosphere. Lots of stalls at the finish with lots of refreshments and lots to do for the kids. Enjoyed the catch a cow game with a free cuddly cow for winners. There appeared to be no start line so knowing when to start the watch was hit or miss. Course was congested for the first mile or so and the few hills were challenging. Would have preferred km markers as apposed to mile markers. Water stops were well stocked and staffed. This was a nice course though, flat after the first 2 miles. Disappointed not to have a medal at the finish, liked the rucksack as a goody bag but not much inside other than nuts, crisps and leaflets. Tray of muller yoghurt always good though. Please sort out more parking for next year, we were in a minibus and were blocked in and had to mount the kerb, drive over grass and out through a footpath. Would do this race again though, very nice atmosphere and everyone seemed to have a nice time. PS the fire marshall at the finish was a bit too 'health and safety mad' though and needs to chill out a bit next year. Wouldn't let people cross the finish to get to the car park. Thanks muller for all the freebies
Date of review: May 10, 2009

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

In short: Great atmosphere, undulating but fun.
In full: Having done this last year, this is definitely a regular in my racing calendar. Very well organised. I was very early in arriving but everything was in place and I was very impressed. Great facilities, particularly liked the music at the start/finish and the band en-route. Very well supported by local people and lots of support en-route. Lots of marshalls on the course, very scenic and just challenging enough without being too hard. Only downside was having to change from pavement to road whilst running. One of my favourite races. Also liked the goody bag and mug.
Date of review: April 19, 2009

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

In short: Fast, Flat and Friendly.
In full: I ran the 5km fun run (would have run 5km aswell if could have entered on the day). Extremely well organised though bigger signs for race hq would have been great, lots of people seemed to go the wrong way. A total bargain, only £3 for the fun run and a medal and creme egg at the finish was great. Course was one lap of the 10km course and though the scenery was dull industrial estate, it was so flat and fast that I didn't really notice. There was a good mix of children and adults and though the start was a bit congested, it soon spread out. The perfect weather was the cherry on top and I got a new pb!! Will definitely run again next year but will do the ten km aswell.
Date of review: April 12, 2009

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

In short: A well organised, scenic race, shame about no medal
In full: glorious scenery and well organised. A more challenging course than expected and very enjoyable. Good value for money, only £6. Would have liked a medal or memento at the finish. Good facilities but expensive in the cafe. Would do it again
Date of review: April 5, 2009

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