My Event Ratings

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

In short: An old-fashioned club event
In full: First time I've done this one. Course is challenging with some good climbs, including a leg-sapping one at the end. Well organized, number was sent out well in advance, and the baggage reclaim at the finish was fast. Results on the website by early evening. One minor gripe - would be nice to have the year marked on the medal ribbon. I'll be back next year.
Date of review: December 9, 2007

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

In short: Fast and flat (almost)
In full: Great course, traffic-free and varied underfoot but no boggy bits. Narrow in places, but field not big enough for that to be an issue. Pretty much flat apart from climb at the finish; the reverse run should be definite pb potential. Easy enough to reach by public transport, organisation excellent. Only real complaint is lack of loos - hopefully this will be addressed next year, this year's being the inaugural event.
Date of review: November 11, 2007

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

In short: A nice stroll through the woods
In full: A glorious setting, trails through woods in wonderful autumnal colours, soft underfoot but not muddy (but could be if the weather is wet in the preceding days). Plenty of ups and downs and twists and turns. A nice small village-feel kind of race. I estimated the field at about 60, so a top 100 finish is guaranteed!

My only gripe is the price. With no changing or baggage facilities and no loos, £15 was twice the price it should have been.
Date of review: October 27, 2007

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

In short: My favourite race
In full: I've done this one for the past eight years. Deffo my favourite, and my pb course. More organisation and marshals visible this year, and well done to all for coping with the effects of the postal strike.

Course was crowded, and so was the town. There was talk of increasing the field, but I don't think the current course has any more space.

Great weather, wonderful scenery, nice goodie bag, no parking probs for me because I cycled there, and THAT hill. A fine day out.
Date of review: October 14, 2007

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

In short: A class act (the race, not me)
In full: Flawless organization, excellent medal and goody bag, great venue. The start and finish are well located down by the river, and the course through town is as picturesque as Reading can be. It's also varied in terms of scenery and surface. Pb potential is reduced by the twists and turns in the course and also by the size of the field. This event is aimed at the mass participation market, and there's a reason why it sells out well in advance.
Date of review: September 2, 2007

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

In short: A great club-organised race
In full: A traffic-free course, mostly under shade (which is important when the sun does appear in August) through lovely forests, great start venue, secure baggage storage (which a lot of events lack), and always smoothly organised. The route is undulating but not a killer and there's a cafe at the finish line for that post-race cuppa. And it's organised by a running club, not a faceless corporation. Top event.
Date of review: August 19, 2007

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

In short: Excellent organization, a nice stroll in the woods
In full: Undulating course, as others have said lots of ups and downs without killer gradients. Nearly all under tree cover, which is important given it takes place at the height of "summer". Organization is excellent. Starts on time, great venue, pool after if you want, and the best secure baggage hall I've seen (I don't have a car, so bag storage matters). Top event!
Date of review: August 21, 2006

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

In short: A lesson in how to organize a race
In full: Organized like clockwork, great start and finish venue by the Thames. Flat course, and too early for the massed chavs of the Reading Massive to be out to spoil things. And a medal to die for. An object lesson in how to organize a race. Top marks.
Date of review: September 4, 2005

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