Latest Ratings
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2013 Linda Franks 5 Mile Road Race
 | | 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 race
In full: It's been very difficult in the last 12 months arranging road races in Gloucestershire - after the debacle of the Cheltenham Half Marathon the Police clamped down on road events, which has meant the loss of some much loved races. Luckily, the Linda Franks race has survived, and is in very good health. This was very well organised and marshalled - and it's quick too! But the best thing was the terrific tea and cakes afterwards - keenly priced and delicious, not to mention an extensive lucky dip where your running number was put in a hat and you stood to win a prize (I got a very nice photo frame). I'll be back!
Date of review: January 30, 2013
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2012 Fairford 10k Race
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A few hiccups but ...
In full: I'd been meaning to do this race for some time, and this year I got my chance. I wasn't disappointed - although it's not really a PB course, I ran a reasonable time and felt pretty happy at the end. The course is very pretty and although the weather was rubbish, the atmosphere was great. The only glitch was the results, which I think were the result of trying to write down times and numbers in the driving rain.
Date of review: June 6, 2012
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2012 5K Run
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: An absolute and utter disgrace
In full: This year, being in the form of my life, I decided to run the 5 instead of my usual half. When I saw my time at the end I knew it was short, confirmed by my team mate who won the race, who was also going for a PB. If you advertise a race as being a certain distance, and you take money off entrants, provide them with chip timing etc., then surely the least you can do is either measure the course or mark the race as "Approximately" 5 miles. I won't be running any more races organised by this crew.
Date of review: May 22, 2012
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2012 Fire Service College Annual 10K
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Interesting and unusual
In full: The Fire Service College is where fire persons from all around the world come to train to tackle emergencies of all kinds. Set in a disused airfield, there are burnt out buildings, cars, aircraft, you name it. There is also no shelter, so when the race was run in a Biblical storm it was sink or swim. At the end of the first lap I was tempted to pretend I was running the 5k fun run but decided to get my money's worth. At one point on the course the wind was so strong that my trailing leg was blown into my leading leg and nearly tripped me, while at another point I had two runners behind me sheltering from the wind, who had the nerve to come out and overtake me when I turned out of the wind. Still, it's a potentially great PB course, full of interest, well organised and if the only complaint is a lack of showers at the end, well that's not too bad.
Date of review: April 30, 2012
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2012 Worcester Half Marathon 2012
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Some teething problems
In full: The main problem was parking - why not add the parking to the cost of entry or something? Weren't the organisers paying Worcester Warriors for the use of the facilities anyway? The delayed start was annoying, but nothing more. The race itself suffered from a lack of mile markers after 5 miles, and I was sent the wrong way when the half marathon and marathon courses diverged. Having said that, I ran a fast time (the fastest for a good few years) so I had a good day at least.
Date of review: April 16, 2012
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2011 Tewkesbury Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Not trying very hard
In full: Why not send out the chips with the numbers? Why not enough loos? Why some loos run out of loo paper? Why no countdown to the start? Why water stations undermanned? Why so little in the goody bag considering the entry cost? Why so windy?
Ok, the last one isn't the organisers' fault, but the others are. I think it's a shame that so much of the race is run on boring roads in industrial estates, past army vehicle depots etc. But from 5 or so miles on it gets more pleasant.
Date of review: May 24, 2011
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2011 Crowle Gunpowder Plot 10K
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Superb in every way
In full: I'd never heard of this race but two friends recommended it, and I'm glad they did. I was expecting a ramshackle village "fun run"; what I got was a smooth, beautifully organised proper race, over an interesting and varied course, well marshalled and a pleasure to participate in. I will certainly be back.
Date of review: May 10, 2011
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2011 May Hill Massacre
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hell, but in a good way
In full: Back in 2007 I ran the very first May Hill Massacre, mainly because I didn't know what I was letting myself in for. I didn't run the next three, mainly because I did know what I was letting myself in for. Because the Race Director was stepping down this year, I decided to run it again. Of all the things I didn't expect to happen, I actually ended up enjoying it. If you like mud, and hills, and more mud, then this is the race for you. Me? I'm a tarmac man, through and through, but it's a tribute to the MHM that I'd even consider doing it again.
Date of review: February 8, 2011
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2010 The Easy Runner Sodbury Slog
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Thank God it's over
In full: About a mile or so of this organised hell was good - the bits on the roads. The rest of it was like a terrible, terrible nightmare from which I couldn't awaken. Nothing on earth would persuade me to do this again - it's tarmac for me from here on in. It was, however, extremely well organised, the support was fantastic and the organisation faultless. Just a shame about the course. And yes, I knew about the conditions beforehand - I only entered to try to win my club's off-road competition series!
Date of review: November 15, 2010
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2010 Stroud Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Oh no, not the industrial estate again
In full: I've run this race about fifteen times so you think I'd know better. Obviously not - every year I turn up, the very epitome of stupidity (that is, someone doing the same thing again and again in expectation of a different result). The weather was fantastic this year, perfect for running, and that was nice. But the course is horrible, and the loop round the industrial estate at 9 miles is exactly what you need to help your sanity on its way.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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