My Event Ratings

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

In short: Great organisation, sceney and atmosphere. It's a challenging run from Pilsley to Hardwick Hall and back. Excellent support, particularly in the last mile.
Date of review: July 15, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Just completing the course on such a hot day was an achievement.
In full: Organisation before the race was excellent.
The course itself is based primarily on or next to main roads, many of them dual carriageways. The course is quite undulating but on Sunday there was next to no shade from the sun. I preferred the course several years ago that took you out into the countryside more.
I would say that the course needed at least one more drinks station due to the heat - 3 miles between drinks station was, in my view, too far.
Thanks to the householder with the hose pipe at about 12 miles.
The race was good value for money (£10 for a half marathon).

Date of review: June 28, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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: Well organised race. Friendly marshalls and spectators. The course has a few undulations but is fine. Overall a very good 10k race.
Date of review: June 20, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A challenging course, the wind and rain today made a change from the usual scorching heat. Organisation was excellent, as was the support from the marshals and spectators. The medal, plate, t shirt and goody bag was a very generous for finishing.
Date of review: June 12, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A reasonable race let down by the finish area organisation.
In full: The good points:
The start was well organised.
Baggage lorries were well marked, as were the start zones. There seemed to be enough toilets.
The course was pretty much flat. The weather was reasonable for most of the course was OK. I found the last 8 miles or so hard work, due to the headwind running back to the finish. The drinks stations were excellent as was the support in the towns in the coastal towns. The finish was a bit easier than in previous years due to it being moved to the road.
The problems with the race began after the finish line was crossed.
On crossing the finish line there was no one to direct you where to go, I followed the crowd and ended up in a side street where I found the people handing out the medals, t shirts, goody bags and drinks. The people trying to reunite runners with their bags seemed to be totally overwhelmed (people with similar running numbers finishing around the same time). Trying to escape from the runners finish area was interesting, one exit, about 5 ft wide, to allow the runners to leave but then faced with hundreds of friends and family waiting to see loved ones directly in front of the exit. The walk to the buses was the same as last year, I knew what to expect, but it was still a challenge, after running 26 miles.
I know the organisers have tried different ways of improving the finish area. I'd suggest that they should look at reversing the course. Finish the race in one of the parks in Edinburgh, start it at the race course. This system works for London (start at Blackheath, finish on the Mall) and Loch Ness (bus to the banks of Loch Ness, finish in a park in Inverness) why not Edinburgh ?

Date of review: May 24, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Excellent organisation. Friendly marshals and spectators. Very much a flat course, just a bit of a breeze this year. Excellent finish in the market square. I'll be back next year.
Date of review: May 12, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A very well organised race, friendly and supportive marshalls / spectators. The 2nd lap was a challenge but OK. The medal was excellent. Only improvement would be some energy drinks / gels on the 2nd lap..
Date of review: May 12, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: An event that you'll remember for years. Great organisation, marshalls, people manning the drinks stations, the crowds and the other runners. The scenery wasn't bad either, especially the finish line. I'll be back next year, hopefully.
Date of review: April 18, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A very well organised race. A reasonably flat course. Friendly marshalls. A nice medal and goodies at the finish. A great way to spend a Sunday morning.
Date of review: April 14, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A very scenic 3 lap course with one big hill per lap. The marshalls were very supportive throughout. The course is definately challenging. I plan to be back next year, after I've done more hill training !!!
Date of review: March 29, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator