My Event Ratings

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

In short: Not officially a race, but dont tell the runners ;-)
In full: Based in the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, atop the South Downs where a good mix of runners / joggers / hikers and walkers gathered at an unearthly hour.
On offer was a range of routes 10/15 & 20 miles, all based on the same core route.
As mentioned in the title this isnt officially a race, more of a gathering, or to give it the official term "a challenge" , and the entrants to all 3 routes set off together on the stroke of 7.30am
No marshalls to be found on the route, but the course was very well signed ( if you didnt get distracted and take a 2 mile diversion), and had 3 CPs along the way to visit, each stocked with a good supply of water bottles. Search and rescue teams also on hand for the day to help anyone who encountered difficulties.
Great mix of terrain, woodland, parks, fields, byways and one or two hills. Not one for the time chasers, but if you enjoy a leisurely jog/run around the countryside this one is well worth doing.
And its BHF event, so although possibly a little steep in cost for on the day entry, the proceeds were at least going to a good cause.
Date of review: February 24, 2013

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

In short: Great race, but finish line carnage
In full: Very enjoyable race today, with great facilities, but the finish line seemed an area of carnage at the end of lap 1, with people being physically pushed and shoved my some marshalls down either lane...How hard would it be to have to have a "finish" sign on the left hand side, and "another lap" sign down the right ? Just a thought, surely would make the marshalls life one hell of a lot easier than trying to physically direct every single runner !
Still very much enjoed the race though and will be back
Date of review: February 17, 2013

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

In short: Turbo X comes to the Rough & Tumble
In full: Special race, made even more special by the mud, and magnificent weather, enabling us to have the most spectacular views. You`ll have to travel a long way to find a tougher more spectacular race....as for the bad condition of the race route ...I shaved 3 minutes off last years time...;-)
Date of review: January 13, 2013

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

In short: Maddiest, muddiest, boggiest , sandiest, wettest Race of the Year !
In full: and we loved it...A true challenge and a real sense of achievement to complete this beast.
An energy bar/sweet would have been nice in the goodie bag, but apart from that top event...
Date of review: December 9, 2012

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

In short: Hills, Hills, and Wet Muddy Hills
In full: Awesome event this year, loved every energy sapping mile. Much tougher route than the previous year, only helped by the extra water features all the way round the course. Love the T-shirt, much more creative than last years. Cant ever take this event too seriously.... its a fun day out rather than a full on race, but did have some slight concerns over the lack of marshalls / first aid out on the course. Baggage area also needs looking at / organising a little better. Guy getting my bag just seemed to vanish when he couldnt find it, and gave up., Ended up standing around for 10 minutes freezing cold, before resorting to going in and finding it myself ! Will be back again I am sure !
Date of review: November 12, 2012

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

In short: Wet but welcoming.
In full: Great shout out to all the volunteers / marshalls and everyone else that made this event possible in those conditions. Vast majority of the marshalls were superb, shouting encouragement, and great to see quite a few supporters out on the route shouting encouragement, particularly around mile 11/21, and back up at the Rising Sun too.
Date of review: September 23, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Disappointing
In full: I had been lead to believe so much, but on a personal level this race simply failed to deliver.
The start area was a complete mess, with lots of runners starting in positions they clearly were not suited too, resulting in carnage and lots of trips and falls during the first 2-3 miles.
As others have mentioned the distance seemed long, I too clocked this as being 13.3 miles. Potentially cost me a PB, as I was a minute off my best.
Finish and run off area was spacious, but water as the last stop was a bad idea, needed to come first, rather than last !!
This was my 10th Half Marathon, and it will be ranked as #10 on that list....I wont do it again, a lot of money, and not even a T-shirt to show for it....Rip off Britain....Rip off Reading !
Date of review: April 3, 2012

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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: Mud, what mud ?
In full: Obviously picked the right year to give this one a try..Difficult to beat on the scenery front, and well marshalled by the enthusiastic volunteers. Lots of friendly camarade on the way round, coupled with smooth start/ finish, baggage areas, made this a day to remember...
Date of review: February 26, 2012

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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		100%

In short: 2011 once again saw a superbly organised Half, 5 mile and Fun Run !
In full: "Interesting" mainly countryside course, with some challenging climbs. Superb setting, with plentiful onsite parking, changing rooms, and showers. Excellent organisation with baggage trucks close to start, and not suffering from the usual lack of toilets at some events. Medals, T-shirts, Kit Kats, Bananas and Drinks at the end handed out in an orderly fashin made for an enjoyable day.....Shame about the wind in 2011, but we will be back !

Date of review: October 9, 2011

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

In short: Very interesting course, and very enjoyable ! Definitely need more toilets though !
Date of review: September 25, 2011

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