My Event Ratings

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

In short: As usual, a brilliant race but the heat was a killer!
In full: This is always a cracker of a race, well-organised, cheap, beautifully scenic, with a real "family" atmosphere. Today's heat made it harder than usual though, reducing PB potential, and that hill at 8.5 miles seemed longer than before! Increasing the water stops to 4 plus another at finish was demonstrated the superb organisation and was really welcome. This race puts many of the expensive big-city races to shame(esp. so-called Great Wales Run). Well done again Brecon.
Date of review: August 5, 2007

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

In short: Again - well worth the trip
In full: Again I was glad to come home to Glasgow for this really special race. Weather was kind to us, running conditions were excellent. Only difficulty is that there are so many runners (12,000+) there are parts in Pollok Park where you can't avoid bunching up so hard to achieve a PB. A special touch this year was the number of runners wearing yellow ribbons and/or T shirts for Madeleine McCann, whose dad is from Glasgow, and whose auntie was doing the run for her. Be back next year but perhaps they should try extending the pulse start even more, to avoid any bunching up in narrower parts.
Date of review: May 15, 2007

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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		80%

In short: Excellent - I'll be back
In full: I've done a few half marathons, but this is the first time for me doing this one, and it definitely compares well to all the others. Very well organised, which is an achievement in itself as it's still quite a new race, superb scenic route which would have been really fast had it not been for that cruel north-easterly. Great atmosphere, great race, look forward to next year!
Date of review: April 3, 2007

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

In short: As always, great race - best of the year for me
In full: Merthyr Mawr never fails to please. For me it's without a doubt the best race of the whole year, for atmosphere alone, and that's before we start on the sand dunes, which seemed bigger and more daunting than ever this year! The weather was brilliant - a beautiful day, lovely scenery (if you exclude the unforto#unate sewage works - but I guess they hav to go somewhere!) and the organisation seemed to benefit this year by the sponsorship of Run and Become. The parking was a bit messed up, meaning that those of us who made the effort to turn up early to get into the main (nearer) car park were in fact sent to the alternative one, with many latecomers being given better parking, which was really unfair. Don't do that again please. We were really pleased with the T shirt - purchased at £9, and with the names of all those who pre-entered printed on the back. A very nice T shirt, and many other race organisers should take note that many of us prefer a really good T shirt that we have to buy to a poor quality one that you get whether you want it or not.
Date of review: December 18, 2006

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

In short: Great but organisation could be improved
In full: Brilliant race - perfect conditions, really enjoyed the atmosphere, and even got a PB! Some people are complaining about the lack of mile markers, but that is I believe not terribly important if you're pacing yourself (personally I don't find them all that vital - I don't like to find I've done only 4 miles when I feel like I've done 14!) As to the cobbles and grasscrete, yes they are a nightmare to run on but why not do what lots of us did and run on the grass in those areas? There was nothing and no-one stopping us, and the soft grass was lovely on the feet, esp. by that stage! They could do with a "pulse" start to make sure fast runners and slow runners/walkers are starting well apart. I wasn't too happy about the Lucozade stations outnumbering the water stations. Lucozade isn't to everyone's taste and if they are going to have them they should make sure there's water available at the same time. Millennium Stadium finish was as everyone agrees fantastic, but they're going to have to sort out those queues at the end for water, medals etc. After running over 13 miles the last thing anyone needs is to have to stop dead for quite a while. Another thing is that I couldn't find the bins to put my chip in so ended up going home with it still on - I probably won't even feature in the results then! Sort all that out and you have the perfect half marathon.
Date of review: October 15, 2006

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

In short: Great fun, but did hurt!
In full: Again, Glasgow can be proud of itself - organisation was superb, and a great day out for all of us despite the soggy start. This is the third time I've done the Half, and while it is a good fast race, I started to hurt around 9 miles so I was slower than before. That's more likely to do with my lack of fitness rather than the route though - this is borne out by the fact that the winner and 2nd place broke their own records! Well done Glasgow - well worth the journey. Hope to be back next year.
Date of review: September 5, 2006

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

In short: Cheap and Cheerful
In full: First time I've done this one. A fast start, very much a "club" run, but nobody felt left out. A low-budget production well worth turning up for.
Date of review: August 25, 2006

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

In short: Again, an excellent race and a beautiful morning too!
In full: This was the second time I've done the Brecon 10, and while I had hoped it would be a bit cooler, the course was quite well shaded most of the time so that helped. Water stops at 3, 7 and 8.5 miles were, I thought, about tight for the course. As for those who had expected more people cheering - well come on, it is a rural course and you can't expect crowds! There was of course, a good crowd at the start and finish. Superb run, beautiful scenery with Pen y Fan on show most of the time. Also great value for money - congrats to the organisers. I enjoyed it as much as the more expensive city races (and I got a PB!)
Date of review: August 6, 2006

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

In short: Brilliant - as ever. Well worth the 400 mile journey
In full: Great - as always - to come back to my home city to do this fantastic race. My fifth year doing this fab women's 10k and it just gets better. Again, the weather smiled on us for the entire morning. Great PB potential as well as an excellent way to show off Glasgow at its best. And fancy installing a shower to run through at halfway stage! Superb. Can't wait till next year.
Date of review: May 22, 2006

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

In short: Mystery of the missing start line!
In full: This is getting better each year as the organisation improves as (it seems) sponsorship increases, however this year there was one obvious problem. This is a fast, flat course with great PB potential, but at the beginning many of us were at a loss to locate the start line, which meant we all started our watches at different times! I know there was chip timing, but that doesn't help you know how you've done at the end. Next year make the start a bit more conspicuous and this one will be on its way to being a great, fast race.
Date of review: May 2, 2006

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