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

In short: Fantastic course and well organised
In full: One of the few that I wouldn't want to miss. Despite the heavy rain and a spot of flooding, this is a truly great course. Challenging and constantly changing scenery. Very good marshalling and local support popped up just when you need it.

Improvements for next year? A goodie bag to complement the good T-shirt OR a medal even better.


Date of review: November 6, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A good race at an excellent venue
In full: A really good race, very well organised. Good bits: brilliant location for start and finish, excellent medal and goody bag. Many thanks to the organisers, marshalls and supporters.

Things to improve: the 10K/HalfMara split made more visible, more marshalling between miles 10 and 12 where there was no pavement and moving traffic. More toilets too would help.

Date of review: July 21, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A well organised race on a nice route
In full: After the disappointment of the initial cancellation due to the snow+ice this race turned into quite the opposite - dry and very warm. Only thing I missed was a car park a bit closer. Walking back to Peach Street felt like another half mara.

Many thanks to all the organisers. I hope those who had problems with the heat have already made a fast and full recovery.

Date of review: May 26, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A good race at an excellent venue
In full: This was a nice family day out (weather depending). Excellent location and pretty much a perfect surface. Organisers somewhat amateurish in places (children's race, overall starting and ending of the race).

A little steep on the price - my children and I received three rounds of posting for this event (a staggering 10 envelopes). I would prefer if the posting was stremlined and the rest spent on the good work that the charity does.

Date of review: April 11, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A well organised race with a good atmosphere amongst the runnerss
In full: This is a good race on a very nice course. It has two proper hills and some smaller inclines to navigate but the downhills are sufficiently gentle to make up time. A p.b. for me so a good day out. Thanks to all the marshalls for their efforts.

There are a few tweaks that I hope the organisers will consider for next year:
- chip timing
- the race website should have up to date information including news items
- more control of traffic: in a couple cases there were cars, runners and groups of cyclists with no marhalls around
- bananas instead of oranges at the end :-)


Date of review: March 3, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Very well organised race, picturesque route and very challenging
In full: This was a really nice race to take part in. I wasn't aiming for a quick time but a steady pace. The ups and downs and the scenery made it quite memorable. The only real dampers (literally) were the two flooded sections of road.

Just a tiny request for next year - could there be more "large" t-shirts please? With no medal, that would have been my memento for the race but all were gone by the time I finished in the 500s.
Date of review: November 2, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Nice event but not really one for a PB
In full: A good race but would have been brilliant if the surface was uniform. Rocky sections meant more time was spent looking for safe footing than enjoying the scenery. I was a couple mins off my PB that I acheieved on a harder course a few weeks earlier at Whipsnade and I definitely found this one tougher.

One small adjustment might be useful would be to put different colours for the 5K and 10K race markers.

Date of review: September 15, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Fantastic organisation and a great family day out
In full: First time I've done this race and I think it was excellent for a 10K. Three laps around Whipsnade zoo past the animals and overlooking some lovely scenery was a treat. There were no dreary bits at all. The medal was very good too.
Date of review: June 2, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Meticulously organised, really nice route
In full: My first marathon and really pleased with it. Thanks to everyone involved in organising this race - marshalls and everyone at water stations in particular. Just the one hill (twice). I did feel guilty dropping water bottles and sponges everywhere. Must have been tens of thousands to clean up. More large plastic bins to aim at might help.

Date of review: April 27, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A really good half-marathon for the more serious runners
In full: Well organised - very well attended by regular distance runners. The route is very good, the scenery distracts from the three genuine hills (20-25m inclines). Really good atmosphere.

Good marshalling and signs. A no frills race with a sparse goodybag and very little local support.


Date of review: February 4, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator