My Event Ratings

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

In short: A perfect example of how to host an event
In full: Pay attention Birmingham - this is how to organise and host a half marathon! A seamless event from start to finish - the runners village was a hub of activity from start to finish, signage was clear and direct, the route was - as always - made for a half marathon PB (although not as scenic as could be expected), and a nice goody bag at the conclusion. Keep up the good work Bath, I'll be back in 20112!
Date of review: March 8, 2011

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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		80%

In short: Another great NTR IX
In full: Ran this for the first time last year, and was suitably impressed. This year did not dissapoint! Seemless organisation from start to finish, a great course with some challenging sections, and once agagin,a nice t-shirt for all finishers. The adition of chip timing meant that results were instantaneously available in the club house after the race too! Top marks to stratford AC and Threshold events, looking forward to the big 10k and the wobbler!
Date of review: January 17, 2011

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

In short: The beast was tamed!
In full: A brilliant race - full marks to Runaround Sports for another top event!
I was slightly worried on the drive in at the prospect of the water crossings - especially with the thermometer reading -7 degrees celsius. Therefore it was (in my opinion) a wise decision to shorten the route to cut out this section. This was not to the detriment of the race however - the obstacles were a jolly giggle, the mud/bog came as a smelly surprise; overall, an absolute joy! Great goody bag, including a very nice (and particularly useful on this cold day) hat, and a £5 gift voucher too. A very welcome £10 voucher for fininshing 3rd too - it'll come in handy to replace my poor destroyed x-country trainers! I await the next stirring of the beast
Date of review: November 28, 2010

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

In short: Great location
In full: Brilliant race - superb organisation, fantastic marshalling, a great course, timed and a great geeky set of results generated from each race - and all this for FREE?! A great egaliatarian experience
Date of review: November 24, 2010

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

In short: Needs drastic action
In full: I really hoped Birmingham would stage a great race today - I really did. Having comleted the Great North Run last month, and marvelled at the seemless organisation of 55,000, I had high hopes that my local half marathon would be able to follow suit, developing into an internationally recognised and respected race. After all, if the could host the Tory conference, then what challenge would 15,000 runners pose?!
However, the same problems that were obvious 3 years ago are still being allowed to continue. 1. The start was too early - 9AM is not ideal for people getting into the city, especially when there is no sync-ing of the public transport. Runners were still arriving on the bus, along with some of my family, 20 minutes before the start. The warm-up didn't finish until 10 minutes before the start, which added to the throng of people on Broad Street, leading to... Problem 2. The pen system was shambolic - people running late had to climb over the barriers to get into pens, which were then full of runners in the wrong section. This had the effect of congesting the first 2 or so miles of the run. And 3. the route has changed for the 3rd year in succession! No continuity = disgruntled fans.
The middle WAS good, and the support from the locals was truly uplifting, but these problems MUST be addressed if this is to ever become one of the top rated events in the country. The city has the potential, but needs to prove it.
Year 4 has got a lot to prove!
Date of review: October 24, 2010

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

In short: Proper Cross Country!
In full: In hindsight, a thoroughly enjoyable event. Whilst scaling up the final hill however, I may have thought differently!
This was a great race, with some excellent hills and great support throughout. Marshalling was superb - and needed to be, as the course took many twists and turns over the open fields. Definately one to look forward to for next year - shame it can't be incorporated into the league races - that would sort the men from the boys!
Date of review: October 18, 2010

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

In short: Very good
In full: Sorry to hear about the competitor who needed CPR. I didn't hear of the incident until the finish - I hope everyone involved is ok.

The race itself was thoroughly pleasant - I had read about the hills, yet they were no worse than say the Ashby 20. There were good water stops around the course, and support was very good throughout - especially at mile 11-12 - coinciding with the worst hill along the course. Good PB potential, and a very good goody bag/technical t-shirt for the cost of the race. Fingers crossed on my behalf for no tendonitis next year!
Date of review: September 26, 2010

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

In short: Left a decent impression on me
In full: Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I'm a fan of the Bupa/Great Run events - they are expensive, true, but the sheer logistics of shutting off a major city, and providing for the thousands of runners hitting the streets surely leaves a hefty bill. The atmosphere was great throughout, the route was decent enough and the organisation was pretty seemless (I agree about the buses however - despite arriving in plenty of time, my bag made the 13.1 journey on the late luggage bus - despite some busses leaving seemingly empty). I'd like to think I'd make a habit of running this race however - smashing fun!
Date of review: September 22, 2010

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

In short: Good fun for all
In full: A very pleasant run around Stratford, taking in some pleasant scenery, and THAT greenway (for veterans of the marathon, its the bit between 23-25 miles. The memory hit me like a 'Nam flashback...)Great finish, along the river and next to the RSC theatre. A good course and definite PB promise. Interesting goody bag too - meaty!
Date of review: August 29, 2010

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

In short: A great race, but I'm always glad to see the finish line!
In full: Full marks to Stourbridge RC yet again for an excellent race! This is a tough course which thoroughly deserves the title 'multi-terrain', as I think every type of surface was covered. The hills are steep (the sandy bank felt like it would never end) and the woodland is dense, but a great way to spend a Saturday evening!
Date of review: August 15, 2010

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