Latest Ratings
| 1 to 9 of 9 ratings | Page: 1 |
2012 Cambridge Half Marathon
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Has potential but needs more work
In full: OK, first the good: this is a nice course, pretty flat with plenty of support and definite PB potential.
As for the bad: firstly toilets - not nearly enough. 14 is inadequate for 3,000 runners, there need to be twice as many.
I started late because of this and, as a result discovered problem number two which was that despite the vest chip the start time wasn't actually recorded, only the finishing time. It is the only way to explain the almost 4 minute discrepancy between my watch and my official time - in effect what you got was a gun time making the chip pretty pointless - shoe chips and mats next time please.
There needs to be a dedicated isotonic drinks station. There were a couple of people sort of tagged on to one of the water stations as an afterthought but this wasn't adequate, especially yesterday when it was pretty warm.
If this race is to expand the organisers need to find a new route and work with Cambridge City Council to improve some of the surfaces. There were a lot of potholes and uneven paving stones which could have been pretty treacherous in different race conditions.
I'd definitely do this race again but only once the problems have been ironed out.
Date of review: March 12, 2012
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2010 BUPA London 10,000
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday
In full: I was slightly undertrained this year so wasn't expecting a PB. I also wasn't expecting my stopwatch to go ka-ka koo-koo at the start either! I'm not sure it was liberating or disconcerting having absolutely no idea what time I was doing but it was certainly - er- different. In the event I plodded home in 1.10.
As ever this race was well organised and supported with plenty of bands en route - thanks especially to the one at 6k who gave me a real lift when I was flagging.
Not the best goody bag (what it it with those vile herbal sweets?) but a nice technical t-shirt and medal. Will be back for more next year.
Date of review: June 1, 2010
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2009 London Santa Run
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice little race but timing was awry
In full: OK so I forgot to have my timing chip removed (probably because it wasn't clear where you went to get that done) but that's not my gripe.
The start was between a pair of banners but the mat was 250 metres away on the eventual finish line. That means the first quarter km can't possibly have been recorded.
The rest of the organisation wasn't bad so a basic error like this was a bit disappointing.
I did measure the course on Google Maps so I know the distance covered was accurate -
thank goodness I had my watch!
Date of review: June 8, 2009
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2009 Reading Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great - but don't make it any bigger
In full: Since first I ran this one a couple of years ago the field has grown but the organisation is still very good. Having said that, many more runners and it could deteriorate so please don't make this race any bigger - the length of the wait for the buses at the end is a good indication that this race has probably reached capacity!
Marshalls and cadets were great, water stations well run and in just the right places - thank you! I thought supporters were fewer and quieter than previously. That said, you don't get cheered on by crowds in training so it shouldn't really a problem.
PB'd by 4 minutes and will pobably be back next year.
Date of review: March 30, 2009
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2008 Bupa Great Capital 10K
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Pleasant run on a sunny Sunday
In full: This race just needs a few tweaks to make it perfect.
More loos for a start - I always head straight for the loo queue anyway but it took a long time to actually get into one, think I was waiting for about 20 minutes!
Secondly I agree with the peson who said the water stations were too close together. The first one needs to be at about 4k - in fact pretty much directly opposite where the 8k one was on the other side of the road.
Thirdly, my legs had had just about had enough at the end of the race so I wasn't capable of a sprint finish but the course was too congested for one anyway, what on earth were the spectators doing lining the road on the right hand side???
So all in all, pretty good organisation but not quite perfect - you can do it guys, I'll be back next year to check :-)
Date of review: July 21, 2008
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2008 BUPA London 10,000 (Full)
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great way to spend a wet Bank Holiday Monday!
In full: Shame over half the entrants didn't feel the same - what a bunch of wusses! Enjoyed this race very much and got a PB. Reckon mats on the cobbles at Leadenhall Market would be a good idea - bit dodgy in the rain, also Lucozade Sport at around 7k would have been welcome, I was flagging seriously in the last km and a swig of the orange stuff just before would have been a help. A special thanks to the marshals and spectators (such as they were) for turning out on such a minging day. Will be back next year!
Date of review: May 26, 2008
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2007 Luton Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great way to spend a Sunday
In full: Firstly, hats off to those who did the full marathon. I ran as part of a relay team and there's no way I could have done three laps of that course! The atmosphere was great and the marshals excellent - very cheerful and friendly despite the drenching they got. I might well be back for more next year.
Date of review: December 3, 2007
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2007 Reading Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very well organised
In full: This was my first half marathon and was very well organised with a good atmosphere. Will definitely be back next year. However it isn't quite as flat as the organisers would lead you to believe.
Date of review: March 26, 2007
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2004 London Flora Light Challenge for Women 5K
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Such a big event needs better organisation
In full: Horrible race for anyone wanting to test themselves. Did a personal worst because of so many walkers being in the way. With such a big field the runners and walkers need to be properly separated, split starts would also be a good idea.
Date of review: September 6, 2004
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