My Event Ratings

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: Simply The Best!!
In full: Comfortably the most amazing experience I have had in my running career!

The organisation was awesome, the crowds were fantastic, only downside was that I could never get off at my ideal pace as there were so many people, so not a PB race.

Had a golden bond place so did not have to pay the entry fee but if I did it would have been the best money I'd spent in a long while!

Heat not ideal but nothing the organisers could do about that - the amount of water laid on was incredible!

My first London Marathon - I really hope its not my last.
Date of review: April 25, 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: Very pleasant event, short and sweet!
In full: My 2nd year at this event, managed a PB despite a lingering cold!

Very pleasant run, mostly downhill for 4 miles then a sharp hill - definite PB potential if you can save something for that ascent!

Good turn-out for this event, nice to see some first-timers taking part. Decent t-shirt at the end is preferable to a medal and good thinking holding it the week before London this year - allows those of us preparing for the big day to use it as our last hard run of training!

Look forward to next year.
Date of review: April 16, 2007

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

In short: Definitely a PB race, enjoyable run too!!
In full: Did not get a PB, but only because I had not recovered from the Bath half the weekend before! Otherwise it would have been a certainty as this was a VERY flat course!

More importantly I enjoyed the run, lovely course through the Oxfordshire countryside. Well organised and supported, with plenty of locals coming out to cheer us on - thanks to all of you.

Nice mug at the finish, plus I bought one of the commemorative t-shirts with the names of all the runners on the back - what a wonderful idea!!

Will definitely do this one again.
Date of review: April 2, 2007

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

In short: Great event, just a bit on the expensive side
In full: Second time at the Bath half and managed to knock 5 mins off my PB so a good day for me!

Very well organised event and the supporters were fantastic. Scenery is disappointing for such a wonderful city but on the upside it is a PB course.

Also quite expensive for a half marathon - I feel the t-shirt should have been included for that price. Goody bag was excellent this year, some useful stuff in there and a lovely medal.

Intend to do this event every year if I can - please don't let it clash with the Reading half again though!!
Date of review: March 27, 2007

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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: Fabulous scenery more than makes up for lack of PB potential
In full: Really enjoyed this event, apart from the hill between the 8 and 9 mile marker!

Seriously, definitely not a PB course (I was using it as a hard training run) not just because of the uphill parts, but the downhill stretches make it hard as well.

Having said that, this was some of the most glorious scenery I have seen on a race, through the Gloucestershire villages and countryside. Fortunately we were blessed with good weather as well.

The marshalls and supporters were fantastic, good to see water stations at regular intervals and jelly babies are always good!

Superb organisation, especially liked the free post-race massage and the memento (a kit bag) is original and useful. A tip-top reminder of a tip-top race.

Well done to the hogweed trotters for a fantastic event - see you next year.
Date of review: March 11, 2007

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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 race to prepare for London, organisation could be a lot better
In full: Really enjoyed this event, despite horrendous weather conditions (rain not so bad, but wind really didn't help).

Lovely scenery out in the countryside, and a really friendly bunch of runners.

Unfortunately the organisation left a lot to be desired and if this is improved this could be an excellent race. Having to walk a mile after the finish to get back to the race HQ was really not funny, especially when it is raining and you are cramping up like I was. Also the race HQ was chaotic, not enough space for so many runners, but to be fair this was due to everyone cramming inside to keep dry and warm.

Well worth turning up for though, a real confidence-booster 7 weeks before London and a good t-shirt to show for my efforts. Will do it next year irrespective of whether I am preparing for London or not.
Date of review: March 5, 2007

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

In short: A race tailor-made for PB hunters
In full: My second time at the Bourton 10k and my second PB at this distance.

Very nice event, fast and flat course, starting and finishing in this beautiful Cotswold village. Good to see a range of abilities, and a good atmosphere with lots of smiling faces.

Could not understand those people who chose to cheat by not doing the full loop at the half-way point - you're only cheating yourself if you do that!!

Nice medal at the end made it a tip-top day out.
Date of review: February 26, 2007

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

In short: Tougher than I expected, but a wonderful race
In full: Excellent event, challenging course with a hill which is a killer second time round! Very muddy, but this was to be expected after the weather the week before. Absolutely glorious scenery with superb views out to sea. Well organised with mile markers, 2 drinks stations and friendly and helpful marshalls, my only cavil is that the seeding "pens" need to be larger, there were far too many of us in the 65 minutes plus area - and even I managed to get round in less time than that! Definitely one for the race diary every year.
Date of review: February 12, 2007

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

In short: Mud, sweat, and some very, very steep hills
In full: Not a great cross country runner but really enjoyed this event. Very hard to battle through so much mud and was on all fours going up one of those hills but the atmosphere was so good and the marshalls were so friendly I will definitely be back for more next year - but with some decent off-road shoes!!
Date of review: January 14, 2007

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

In short: Wonderful event, some of the best scenery I've ever seen.
In full: My second time at the Downton half marathon and this is definitely one of my favourites, despite the horrendous conditions this time round. Worth doing it just for the scenery, but not a course to get a PB on. Glad there were more t-shirts this year, and a nicer design too! Tea and buns provided by the friendly ladies was a nice touch, and I'd like to say thank you to the girls at the last water station who cheered me up just as I was starting to flag!
Date of review: November 27, 2006

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