My Event Ratings

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

In short: Home town race.
In full: I had previously ran this race in 2010 with a time of 1:32:03 and having just ran the Silverstone Half Marathon only two weeks previously I wanted to knuckle down and at least aim for sub 1:30.

I was meeting my friend Dan who I met at the 2010 Great North Run and have since planned to meet up at last years Great Birmingham Half and always motivating each other via twitter.
The weather was atrocious and did not look like settling. Luckily the Madjeski stadium that hosted the race had plenty of seats under cover whilst we waited for the race to start.

Half hour to go and the heavens opened, Dan and I went to our respectful starting places and I warmed up in the sub 1:30 group.

When the race started I kept a steady pace and noticed similar runners throughout the 13.1 miles. I had issues with my laces and that slowed me down twice. The sun did come out then disappeared again.
Luckily I knew the race route and what to expect so when I did see the stadium in the distance I knew I had an extra bit to do that doubled on itself.

At the very end I crossed the line and when trying to slow down I slipped, tripped and badly bruised myself. The Red Cross and St Johns were helpful and kept me warm and ensured I was ok to leave.

Overall the event was great despite the weather but having lived in the surrounding areas for my childhood I will run here again and again.
Date of review: April 28, 2013

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A race in a town where I was brought up.. past and future combined.
In full: I have always wanted to take part in this race but due to previous coaching commitments it has had to wait.
This race is being used as part of my Marathon training and I have been slowly increasing my mileage since January and have never felt any better.
Claire was on hand to give support and stayed in the Stadiun until I had passed the finish line.
Having earmarked a time of 1:35 or better I made sure I was in the pack with similar paced runners and sure enough at the gun I maintained a steady run which carried me through half the race.

From Reading Uni onwards I somehow managed to pass the 1:35 pacemaker and kept up the pressure to achieve a PB (previously 1:33). Going past places I grew up around was special and it certainly made time fly by. At one point I was doing a 1:30 pace but by mile 10 I started to slow down to ensure I kept my energy to finish on a high.

Running into the stadium was amazing because I have supported Reading since a kid and was my first chance to enter like a player and receive a medaal. How cool is that.

In short- a must do again run to do even better than before but 1:32:03 well what more could I want.
Date of review: March 28, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: 2nd race here in 3 years and worth the wait
In full: This race gave me a PB at the same course and I also ran with someone i was dating at the time so was nice to travel with her (and my aunt and uncle-who always support me at this course). This was to be the last time the old rickety bridge was used as the starting point and nostalgia kicked in once I also remembered it could be the final Grand prix if Donnington took over- as this is now 201o when writing this i know its not the case.

The course will never be easy as running on mostly tarmac is not great for the knees but i was prepared as had practiced on plenty of roads and cross country for added measure.

I did manage to start off well and ended with a PB OF 1:33 which took me by suprise. i did aim to run better in 2010 but sadly was even slower than 2007. I am now training for the great north run with aim of at least 1:33 if not sub 1:30
Date of review: May 8, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: 3RD
Date of review: May 8, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Racing against rhinos and cheetahs what more could you want
In full: I work for ZSL London Zoo so was able to get into this race quite easily and there was a great atmosphere among the crowds. Having walked around the zoo a few times I didn't realise how hilly it was and that it took 3 laps to complete the 10k distance.
It took a lot out of me compared to other races I have done and is not one for PB although I will strive to do much better in this individual race.
Position was 67/573 and time was 43:03. I have done sub40 in other races and that would have put me in top 30.
Date of review: October 2, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: I felt like a Grand Prx Racing Driver only wetter
In full: The event was great, my aunt and uncle took me there from Milton Keynes and sat in the stands to watch. Everythign was layed out really well and the pace times were set out accordingly. Nigel Mansell pressed the start gun and we were off.... it rained, hailed, sun glared, wind and calm. I had never raced in so many different weather conditions before. The track covers a large area so probably in 4 postcodes all the way round. It looped one way round then the other and also cameinside for part of a lap. I managed to keep myself up with the runners I started with and that helped with the timing.

Overall I managed 568th place with time of 1:36:35. Very pleased I was.
Date of review: October 2, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Well I just checked and my PB was 66.00 and I did it in 39.21
In full: I last raced 10k with a friend in 2004 2castle run in warwick. I had trained but my freind hadn not and so she lagged behind. It was only until I checked today that I had smashed my PB by nearly half an hour. It will be a bit harder to do as well but 23rd July I will try my best. Dave Bedford will be proud.
Date of review: May 16, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator