My Event Ratings

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

In short: If you want to get into the Christmas spirit and do something unusual then this is a box to tick
In full: Serious runners still wear a Santa Suit and unless you get to the front then no chance of a PB, especially with the number of bottle necks and twists on the course. This is an all level, fun, charity event, now in year five but the well intentioned organisers have a way to go to get it running smoothly. It is a great day out to Mid-Wales and is very good value for money. All runners commit to raising a small amount for charity. It is the original Santa run and this year included a record attempt for the most yo-yos at one event so will be interested to see if record is accepted. Also interested to see if more turned up for the shorter Liverpool run. Good entertainment, more water than many a 10k/half marathon I've run and the whole town seemed turned out to cheer. Memorable, but not just for the run. Might even be seen on Blue Peter!
Date of review: December 4, 2005

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

In short: Cheeky little tester in glorious surroundings, well organised and friendly. Good VFM
In full: Much better conditions this year than last. Race as remembered last year. Still playfully testing in first five, fun on the down run and some undulates I'd forgotten about. Well marshalled by pleasant, cheerful and friendly people, which does make a difference. Nice start and finish at the club running track. Adequate water, decent T-shirt and medal,pleasant club house welcome at the end with plenty of food/drink available, essential on a bracing morning like today. Stunning views over towards France make it a bit special. I'll be back as it's good fun to run whether or not you are chasing a time. Good excuse for a weekend away. Well done Spartans
Date of review: November 20, 2005

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

In short: Cheeky little tester, not as easy as it seems
In full: Very easy to go off too fast on the long downhill. Preserve and the 3.5 miles of ups aren't too bad. Much improved marshalling, more water (And thankfully bottled v.cups...other races please note) than last year, with a great finish on the nice soft track at the stadium. Buses to/from start and finish offered parking alternatives. Baggage done well and good to have facilities at the end. Well worth doing as a race oor as a run as around 400 runners with paces from the fast 1.06 to get you round 2.30. Recommend to all in travelling distance.
Date of review: October 29, 2005

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

In short: If you like playful, multi-tarrain and want a challenge!!!!
In full: Well organised, well marshalled, smaller race than the Great North Run, but great value for money, challenging course and breathtaking view. Ceiling of 500, but only around 100 per year, which means a lot of local runners must be missing out on a really good race. Classed as undulating there are some cheeky bits, especially the last cross country rise on the marcle at 5-6 miles. Made me smile. No chance of a PB but good chance of discovering if the inner man is there or out to lunch. I'll be back. Good facilities and co-incides with events at the rugby club from where it starts, so food and drink a plenty to refuel at the end. Would recommend far and wide.
Date of review: September 18, 2005

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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		100%

In short: Out of this world, breathtaking, picturesque and friendly, comfortable course
In full: Okay, a bit busy at the start and took over two minutes to cross. Chirpy little mile uphill before what seemed like eleven continuois miles of gentle downhill. Power walkers sometimes got in the way, strolling 2/3 abreast chatting and oblivious to the thousand plus runners who were coming after them 30 minutes after they set off and indeed a bit of an obstacle in some narrower stretches. Adequate water on the day and nice touch with squash and jelly babies. I have never run anywhere as picturesque. Race went by v.quickly. Nice medal. No goodie bag and option to but T-shirt, but at v.fair price and choice of s/sleeve/l/sleeve/ white or coloured at around half the price of next year's Bath Half!! Good crowds at start and finish, easily and well marshalled, destined to become a calendar event despite the three hour journey. Pity I missed so much training (All August) as this is v.high PB potential. I'll be back as this is definitely an all tie favourite. Well done to all associated with this race.
Date of review: September 11, 2005

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

In short: No chance of overheating and some of the puddles at the base of the undulates deeper than most water jumps on a steeplechase. Well marshalled, reasonable race
In full: Flat/undulating describes bits of the course. Some of the undulates a bit lengthy and steep in a teasing sort of way. Horrible conditions today, torrential at times, in the air and rushing down the undulates, but at least the rain was warm. Good changing rooms, but no water to any of the showers. Start a bit flawed. i.e No marshalling and audible call to the pack, but well marshalled throughout. Enough water stops for today. Goody bag interesting mix of lollipop, sport drink, banana and cereal bar...Hmm. Plenty of parking and good venue for post race recovery drink/food. Might be back, but there are better/better value races around.
Date of review: July 24, 2005

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

In short: Too hot for me to attempt a PB this year but potential def. there. More water required.
In full: Stunning route through picturesque countryside, generally flat and not too many twists and turns. Cider at the end bit rough, especially for drivers!
Date of review: July 13, 2005

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

In short: Warm today, good atmosphere, gently teasing, great turnout, great VFM
In full: Flat! Undulating versus speed ramps, you decide. Nice change to course this year and it was chipped. Everyone got a medal and T-Shirts for first 600 entrants not finishers(as long as you liked them loose fitting if you were over 45 mins and S or M) Fast course but very tight start and very warm day. Two water stations plus finish. Inadequate los a drawback and no baggage storage following 1k plus walk or road train ridse from parking so just as well it was warm. Good t-shirt/medal/vfm and very beginner friendly. Good charity partnership and good associated junior races. I'll be back
Date of review: June 26, 2005

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

In short: Woo Hoo! What a race, whatr a place, back next year to run it properly
In full: Wow! Breathtaking scenery, reasonably flat course, great touches like the water stations increased to every two miles and some locals out with the garden hoses, presentations done nicely at the finish, nice solid attractive medal and ribbon(but no mention of the island race, missed opportunity) and quality T-shirt on a bargain entry fee. Alpen bars and fruit juice at the finish and some sponsors health tablets. Easy to travel too and cheap in advance. Journey back in time to a place where life is good, the food is good nad relax with an atmospher that welcomes beginners to good runners. Winner circa 1.16 reflecte dheat of the day, but gossh, this will be a calendar event and one I wopuld recommend again and again and again. It will be an all time favourite.
Date of review: June 22, 2005

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

In short: 10th and was thinking last, but route change made it easier and somehow more interesting
In full: Having run through months of cold, damp and wet the hot weather was welcome at the start but cursed by the end. This was, as usual, an outstanding day, which will live in memory for years to come. No PB this year, but hey, can't have everything
Date of review: April 20, 2005

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