My Event Ratings

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

In short: One of the better big city races
In full: Not a great day for me as I suffered a calf strain during the race so no PB and didn't enjoy it as much as I should have done - but this is no one else's fault except my own.

Best thing about the race was the crowd support which was absolutley fantastic and one of the reasons I enjoy big city events so much. I had a top with my name on which proved a good move, especial thanks to the girls who started chanting "Give me a J.." etc at 9 miles - that made me smile and gave me a big lift!!

Not really a PB race for me as there are a couple of steep hills so not as fast as say Bath. But if you get far enough forward as I did there is potential for a good time.

Loved the finish in the stadium, just a shame about that horrible loop you have to go round in the previous 2 miles. It seems interminable on the way out!

Quite expensive but not a blatant rip off like another event I may already have mentioned. And they did let a friend of mine get a full refund when she had to pull out with an injury so credit to the organisers for that. Bit disappointed with the t-shirt, logo could have been better.

Very disappointed to hear that some of the slower runners did not get medals etc, 13 miles is 13 miles whether you do it in 1:05 or 3:05 and everyone who completed it should be very proud of themselves. Again, credit where it's due for acknowledging this mistake and ensuring those concerned will get their well-earned medals in the post.

Look forward to coming back next year - hopefully sans injuries!
Date of review: March 3, 2008

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

In short: A hat-trick of PBs at this event, so I went home happy!
In full: Managed to get a PB for the third year running on this flat and scenic course. Good weather conditions this year, no wind and a bit milder than the last two years.

Excellent organisation and very friendly atmosphere, again brilliant to see such a broad range of abilities from the very elite to fun-runners of all shapes, sizes and ages.

The only cavil I would have is that some of the marshalls seemed very young and a tad disinterested, so did not get the vocal support I would have liked.

Look forward to another PB next year!
Date of review: February 24, 2008

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

In short: The condtions may have been easier this year, but the hill wasn't!!
In full: Really enjoyed this fantastically organised event for the second year running. Special thanks to all the marshalls who turned up despite freezing temperatures.

Wonderful sunday morning run with glorious views out to sea. It was a lot less muddy out in the woods but still not easy going with some tricky stretches especially downhill. The hill is still an absolute killer, my legs were like lead after the second climb!

Managed to knock 7 minutes off my time from last year so got to be happy with that. All my friends improved their times as well.

Have another coaster to add to my collection and bought one of the race t-shirts with the runners' names on the back.

Top day out, definitely one do do every year.
Date of review: February 17, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Mud, sweat and tears
In full: My second time at the rough 'n' tumble and kept thinking this event is like Christmas - great fun, but I'm glad it's only once a year!!

Still found this very, very tough, even on the flat bits I found I was so exhausted from the hills and marshes I couldn't get any speed up. How anyone runs round this course is beyond me.

Great training run, just the thing to do if you need to toughen yourself up, mentally and physically, for bigger events (eg FLM). Great views from the hills but mostly too busy concentrating on what I was doing to take in the scenery.

Made sure I got my cakes before the race as I doubted there'd be any left by the time I finished!

Thanks to all the marshalls for your support and good humour, thanks especially to Steve Goulding for providing a top-notch event! Will be back for more next year.
Date of review: January 14, 2008

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

In short: Great end to the year's racing, shame about the weather.
In full: Well done to all who turned out to take part in, support, marshall or organize a great event in terrible weather. The strong winds and wet muddy beach made this my slowest 10k of 2007, but in better conditions I reckon there is PB potential here.

Having said that, this was more like a running party for runners, so PB attempts should probably be saved for another event. Great to see so many people having fun and dressing up for the event.

Organisation was spot on, the race information told you everything you needed to know, and the t-shirt and mince pie at the end made the toil feel worthwhile!

Not sure if I'd travel all the way from Swindon for a 10k again, but that is no reflection of the quality of this event, so take it as a yes.
Date of review: December 10, 2007

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

In short: Seems to get better every year
In full: My third time at my local race and like a fine wine it seems to improve with age!

A tough course but a PB is not entirely out of the question, especially when you know the route well (I use it regularly as a training run). The real killer is the uphill stretch in the 12th mile and I warn every newcomer to save something for that part of the race.

Always good to see so many local people turning up and the shorter fun runs make this a great day out for everyone.

A big improvement this year was the addition of the lucozade stations but I managed to miss the one at 3 miles. By 10 miles it was a case of too little, too late for me!

Excellent value for money, decent medal, funky t-shirt and a mars bar at the end, and more water and lucozade if you want it! (At bath you pay double the entry fee and don't even get a t-shirt - God alone knows how that works).

The post race massage was very, very good, much better than the usual gentle rub down you get at some events and much needed when you have a dodgy hamstring like me!

Parking was good and close to the event but from my house I could have walked there - guess I'm just lazy!

The Swindon half marathon and fun runs has put a lot of bigger races (Bath, Bristol to name but two)to shame this year. Well done to all concerned.
Date of review: October 15, 2007

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

In short: Nice scenic race, memento disappointing
In full: Lovely run through Cirencester park. Not really a PB course as not entirely on tarmac. Couple of hills but nothing suicidal.

Good value for money, but would have happily paid a couple of pounds extra for a decent memento - not really sure what I can do with a bum bag that goes round my wrist!

I entered this race specifically to get back into running after my holiday and was carrying a niggle so not expecting to get too much out of it, instead I just enjoyed the run.

Thanks to the marshalls and everyone who turned up to support, but I swear to God, the next time I get race no 1 I either won't run or will take it off between the start and the finish - do people know how annoying it is to hear people shout at "come on No 1!" all the way round??!!

Should be back next year.
Date of review: September 23, 2007

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

In short: Very disappointing in certain areas, but I still enjoyed it
In full: First of all the bad points:

Very congested. I was in the 1:45-2 hours pen and was still getting held up in the last mile. Also had to avoid someone walking at mile 4 - what were they doing so far forward?? I was aiming for 1:45 and when I realised the first mile had taken me 8 1/2 minutes I knew that was out of the equation. Hence the low PB potential.

An 8-10 week delay on the t-shirt is simply not good enough. I booked a holiday for the week after the race and was looking forward to wearing it while I'm away. (Yes, I really am that sad).

Cobbles. Enough said.

A plastic bag with a can of soup in it does NOT constitute a goodie bag. In a quiet moment, would someone please explain that to the organisers.

Early start. Having to get up at 5.30 on a Sunday to travel from Swindon is just not my bag, baby. Having said that, finishing before 11:30 does help avoid the mid-day heat and allow more time for post-race "refreshments".

Personally it was a terrible race for me. I have had a sore hamstring for a while and in the 11th mile it "went". How I managed to hobble the last few miles and still finish in 1:50 is beyond me. I guess that's when you found out what you are made of.

On the plus side: Very nice medal, excellent runners' village and baggage storage, drinks stations, free lucozade and the park and ride went a lot better than I expected. Crowd support was fantastic and I do enjoy these big city events so may well be back again.
Date of review: September 10, 2007

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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: Another great race by PVRC
In full: Pretty much the same as last year, except no PB this time. Probably my own fault for pacing it badly. Long, steep hill in the fourth mile but nothing too challenging besides that. Well organised and well marshalled, thanks to all concerned. Only slight criticism is that an energy drink station or two would have been good. Nice t-shirt this time as well.

Will definitely be back next year.
Date of review: August 28, 2007

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

In short: Definite PB potential, and a surprisingly pleasant run
In full: Thought I would give this race a go as it could be one I use on a regular basis to check my progress. Had also heard the goodie bag is very good!

When I arrived I was afraid this could be the most boring race ever, three laps of a racing circuit..hmm..

In the end it was a pleasantly surprising run, nice to be free of traffic and fumes for a change. Was cruising for the first 6-7k and can't understand why I didn't get a PB, I guess the extreme heat must have put paid to that.

The goodie bag was nice and value for money but not quite what I was expecting. I have to say I have never seen "official finisher" t-shirts being given out before the race has started!

Organisation was top notch, directions to the race could have been better, but I liked the way we were given clear instructions during the briefing.

Good mix of runners, I made a point of staying to clap the slower runners over the line. It would be boring if we all ran a 40-minute 10k!

Won't be back in November as it clashes with the Downton half (one of my favourites) but fully intend to do this one again.
Date of review: August 6, 2007

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