My Event Ratings

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

In short: Easiest course you'll come across to chase a PB, marvellouse support from marshalls, locals and seasiders.
In full: What a fabulous race. There were loads of marshalls out all over the course, and what struck me was that every single one of them ventured words of encouragement to me as I went past, right to the end. It really does make a difference. The locals and daytrippers were also really supportive, despite my increasingly neanderthal replies as the race reached melting point.
Was extremely grateful for the copious amounts of bottled water, as I've ran a few marathons where you're handed just half a plastic cup of water every 3 miles, which just isn't enough for me - I must have downed around five litres yesterday all in all.
This course is made for PB running. However, with any marathon you have to earn a fast time and my legs just wouldn't respond after the 20 mile mark. I'd like to blame it on the scorching conditions but that wouldn't be fair - my tailing off was due to insufficient training fair and square.
Oh - and not to forget the guy with the mike at the finish line who made us all feel very special as we crossed the line, however bedraggled. If Carlsberg made PA announcers...
Congratulations and thanks to all the organisers and helpers. We will be back next year a bit fitter and stronger hopefully.
Date of review: October 3, 2011

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

In short: Superbly Organised - Definite PB Potential
In full: I would recommend this to anyone wanting a fairly flat PB-potential marathon in their calendar for 2011. Nasty short hill on 16 miles did for my PB attempt but generally flat as a pancake.
There must have been 3 marshalls to every competitor around the course and at the end. Water station every 2-3 miles, with bottled water and a couple with isotonic bottles also.
Organisation proceeded like clockwork, and very thoughtful touches in all aspects towards the runners.
Will be back with some better-prepared legs next year for a big hack at the PB. Well done Mablethorpe.
Date of review: October 4, 2010

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

In short: A good course with some testing but runnable inclines, well marshalled
In full: A good event that that was assisted by benign weather conditions. Good race organisation and excellent marshalling and some gratifying vocal spectator encouragement on this rural route. Was worried that I'd have to run 1/2 mile extra - each mile marker was showing longer than Garmin, and gap between signs and GPS was over 0.5 mile by mile 24. However, mile 25 was measured short and GPS registered only 26.37 at end.
Date of review: January 25, 2010

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

In short: A very pleasant race to compete in - excellent organisation
In full: This was a very enjoyable race. The organisers' attention to detail was evident, and lessons were learnt from last year, re. baggage store queues.
There was a lovely atmosphere from very early on in the morning - goodness know how they managed to get a rock band to play at 8am. The official warm-up was a bit cringing, though, I didn't see anyone partaking - most runners would have already completed their own warm-up and just wanted to start the race.
The route really is good - it's not an easy course - with some good undulations between miles 3 and 5. The second half does seem much flatter, or at least without the sharper or longer gradients.
With the race moving to May next year, if this leads to an increase in participants, it might cause too much of a blockage on the uphill Park Hill Lane pedestrian stretch, which was crowded this year (any excuse to get the worst hill removed). A good route for the last mile and the noisy crowds in the Broadgate finish area were uplifting as I ran the last 200m.
A really enjoyable day.
Date of review: October 26, 2009

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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: Lovely route that bites around 11-12 miles
In full: Great race, really lovely route. Felt really good once I had relaxed into the race from about mile 5. However fit you feel, and even though the overal gradient is downhill from mile 7 or 8 onwards, the short testing uphills from mile 10/11 through to 12 onwards do sap the strength. Kenilworth RRAC really know how to stage a race - well done, and thanks to the girl / boy scouts at the water stations for a great job well done.
Date of review: October 4, 2009

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

In short: Enjoyable race, excellent route and organisation
In full: I really enjoyed this race, or at least until my legs started screaming for mercy at 18 miles. Given the fact that it was a completely flat course, the waterways made for pleasant scenery. I was attracted to this race by the point-to-point route that finished up in Hackney Marsh near to the Olympic stadium, and found it surprising that the field was so small (about 130 runners). The course was very well signed and marshalled throughout.
I was disappointed with my time, but most runners that I spoke to were struggling with the heat and sun. Having said that, bottled water was in plentiful supply at regular intervals, plus energy drinks provided at a couple of the drinks stops were a real filip.
Well done to all the organisers, and hope you get lots more runners entering next year - you deserve it.
Date of review: September 13, 2009

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

In short: PB Course, pleasant but dull
In full: Does what MK does well - miles upon miles of red ways, nicely avoiding traffic, and pleasant but dull route. Don't think I could ever find my way along route again. In parts it was like a maze. Too far from town centre to attract any crowds - need to run through shopping centre for that. Have heard that some elite runners were sent the wrong way at mile 8 and ruined their chances of a top time. It happens but it's very sad nevertheless. Definite PB course, even if the many underpass declines & inclines took their toll in the second half of the race.
Date of review: July 26, 2009

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

In short: Really enjoyable - not an easy race but very fulfilling
Date of review: June 14, 2009

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

In short: Small, friendly race. Brilliantly marshalled.
In full: I picked out this race specifically to try for a PB - which I almost managed, just a minute off it - and was pleasantly surprised at what a lovely little race it was.
The atmosphere was friendly and informal; I thought the marshalling was superb - there were possibly more marshalls around the course than entrants.
The course itself was very pleasant, with only the very slightest of gradients - hardly noticeable. I was expecting some strong winds to battle against, but the only breeze encountered actually assisted me on the long stretch on the open road between mile 9 to 11.
Will definitely mark this one out for next year - when I'll hopefully have shed some of this excess weight and really go for a good PB.
Date of review: May 17, 2009

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