My Event Ratings

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

In short: A charming event with a few first-time glitches
In full: My wife actually ran this one (I was just a spectator due to injury) but I am relaying her comments and mine as an observer. For an event in central London this was a really low key and enjoyable event. The start/ finish setting in the walled garden was a real peaceful oasis and the riverside route was flat and scenic. Obviously, as a first time event there were a few glitches, which we offer in in a constructive way, notably at at least least one point, near Chiswick bridge, the route signage seemed to go astray and a marshall would have been helpful to stop people getting lost. Also, for next year it would be helpful for the finish to be more clearly marked and to have water at the finish rather than some way away in the gazebo. Finally, while it was good for the water on the course to be given in bottles, the bottles were too big to either drink or to carry easily so it might be better to give smaller bottles. All these are minor comments as the race was a really good one and the organisation was much better than might be expected for a first time. Finally, a word of praise for the catering, a really nice selection and the Moroccan food in particular was excellent, healthy and really good value. All in all very enjoyable and we would both hope to do this again if it runs next year.
Date of review: April 7, 2013

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

In short: Vey enjoyable despite the conditions
In full: I'm just glad that I didn't read last year's reviews before signing up to this as it proved a very enjoyable event, the organisers clearly learned from last year's comments. It was certainly a hard 20-miler and the muddy conditions between 3-6 and 13-16 miles weren't much fun at all but the organisation was excellent (all of the usual from parking [excellent work from the cadets] to toilets to registration etc). The marshalls were excellent, very cheerful despite the freezing conditions,and the water stops were well equipped with water and other provisions at one stop. The campsite was a good start/ finish venue, though it would clearly place a limit on numbers for the event. Also want to add for the apprciation for the compere/ briefer/ announcer - very clear and funny without being irritating. One thing for the future is that this is very "off road" in places so trail shoes are really a huge benefit and I don't think that the event website makes that as clear as it should.
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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

In short: superb organisation and a great training run
In full: This is everything that a race of this kind ought to be. A very good course, 2 laps is idea for a 20 miler and the course is varied enough to be constantly interesting. Plenty of (effectively unlimited) parking and ample toilets. Very well marshalled with efficient, friendly and well organised water stations. Thanks to the guides for the bacon rolls at the end. Also great to have the race director greeting and thanking finishers, we should have been thanking him really. It is impossible to find anything to complain about in what is in my view the best of the "pre london/ Brighton" training events - though the Cranleigh 21 gives it some good competition on that score.
Date of review: March 3, 2013

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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: Very enjoyable race despite the weather
In full: As always, Deal Tri staged this event really well. The location is idea , with plenty of parking and the quiet road is ideal as a start/ finish location. The course is very scenic but the hills mean its more one for relishing the views and the challenge than going for a PB. Yesterday's weather, cold and very windy, certainly added to the challenge and real credit is due to the excellent marshalls who remained amazingly cheerful and supportive despite the bitter cold that they were having to stand around in. All in all an event that maintains its high standard each year - and at least the weather held off so that the race happened at first time of asking this year
Date of review: February 11, 2013

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

In short: Muddy but fun
In full: This is always a very enjoyable race in superb scenery. The course was muddy but not as bad as I had feared given all the rain recently. Very well organised and marshalled and the school makes an excellent start and finish area. Plenty of easy parking on surrounding roads without having to worry about creating local gridlock.
Date of review: February 4, 2013

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

In short: An excellent race
In full: Notwithstanding technical gripes about people wearing headphones (I don't do so but it is pretty common in all races these days, whether or not race regulations say it is prohibited) this is consistently an excellent race each year and really the classic 10 mile race. Excellent scenery, well organised and a course which is testing but interesting and fair. The school is an excellent start and finsih venue and the placing of the start and finish lines (which has moved around a bit in recent years) is now pretty much ideal. Certainly one that I will look forward to running next year, I only hope that we have such good weather. I quite liked the practicality of having a reasonably good quality bag as a momento rather than yet another medal, though I know medals are an essential for some.
Date of review: January 28, 2013

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

In short: Well organised, friendly and good value
In full: A very enjoyable event - I can certainly see why it was a sell-out. The organisation was excellent, with the sports centre being an excellent start and finish point. The course was challenging in places (especially the hill at 6M) but was very fair and an interesting route. Very scenic and mainly off road (but certainly not too muddy) with excellent views over the downs and the usual good and friendly marshalling. Excellent value at £9 for all this and a very decent goody bag (and mince pie!!). With this event and their summer 1/2 marathon the Seaford Striders certainly set a high standard for their events.
Date of review: December 10, 2012

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

In short: Superb scenery and good organisation
In full: A most enjoyable race, a good course which was hilly but not unreasonably so and which provided excellent views. The start/ finish venue was an excellent one - with good organisation to deal with relatively limited parking given the recent wet weather. One thing perhaps to watch for next year if it is as cold as this year is that there was a patch of ice where water had run across the road at around the 8km mark, on which I (and others) took a fall. I realise that there is not much that can be done about the weather but a warning sign of some kind would probably be sensible
Date of review: December 4, 2012

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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		60%

In short: Well organised race, no gimmicks but a real challenge
In full: This is certainly a real "runners race" - on a challenging course with no gimmicks or goody bags but just the pleasure of a well-organised event. The course is hilly but fair and although the all-road course was certainly not traffic free it was well marshalled and the drivers who I came across were perfectly courteous and much of the course had decent pavements anyway. The field was of a high standard (the 2 hour cut-off is not unreasonable for a 10 mile race and I could see the reasoning for it on safety grounds) but not intimidatingly so for average runners. I liked the choice of a pen or mug as a momento.
Date of review: November 19, 2012

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

In short: Simple but effective
In full: A very enjoyable race - the 4 laps course is unusual for a half marthon but made it interesting and there was always plenty of room on the course. The fact that so much of the course was by the sea was excellent on a lovely day today. Very good organisation at the start and finish and well marshalled. a flat course would be excellent for PBs (not that I troubled that today). All in all a very enjoyable race and one that I will look to return to.
Date of review: November 11, 2012

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