My Event Ratings

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

In short: Flat, quick course with a few organisational issues...
In full: First the negatives...

1) No toilets anywhere near the start, the public ones were closed (long term) and the portaloo there was locked, local Bell Inn hotel was accomodating, but limit to their patience with runners walking through breakfast!

2) Called to the start too early, organised into a "wave" start by number rather than speed. Would have been much better to let people sort themselves into "fast", "moderate" and "slow" runners. As it was within the first 5 minutes lots of quick runners trying to get past the slow ones on the narrow/uneven part of the course. Set the 6k runners off with the others or behind but I think in front was the worst option.
3) Starter was hard to understand, the chap in the grey t-shirt was much clearer!
4) No medals, will be posted later...
5) Two of the drinks stations near the end had run out of supplies by the time I went past (58 minutes for the 10k)
6) The course seemed short - Garmin had it at 9.42k and Google Maps at 9.5k or so...
7) Very warm day, suggest a race at this time of the year could start a little earlier? 9am or 9.30am rather than 10am perhaps? The crop irrigation system and breeze was very welcome at about the 8km point!!
8) The "sticky" numbers weren't too sticky! Mine came off and saw several others blowing around the course. Old fashioned safety pins to the rescue!

And the positives!

1) Very flat fast course with lots of PB potential.
2) Very well marshalled with encouraging smiles and waves, no danger of getting lost!
3) Nice friendly atmosphere with a range of runners for a good cause.
4) Plenty of water stations for the distance, just a couple had run out later on!

Overall just needs a couple of tweaks, but very enjoyable and will be back next year!


Date of review: August 23, 2009

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

In short: Flat, fast and friendly
In full: Easy free parking, course very flat with a water station at the turnaround. Nice medal and very well marshalled and organised. Children's race at the start made it family friendly and 99% traffic free. Made a PB time! Excellent all around!
Date of review: August 15, 2009

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

In short: Hills not quite as bad as we were expecting!
In full: Rolling hills through miles 2 to 4 or so, but the last part relatively flat. Part of a summer fete so plenty to do for everyone before and after and plenty of "recovery" treats available! Marshalls excellent, very smoothly organised and encouraging. Throw in a Spitfire flypast too and a very pleasant afternoon indeed!
Date of review: July 19, 2009

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

In short: First 10k - loved every metre of it
In full: Even the hill's! The buzz and enjoyment I got from taking part is what my running is all about. Tad frustrated with the queue to get over the footbridge at the end - might have done it in sub 1hr rather than 1hr 53 secs!
Date of review: October 16, 2008

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