My Event Ratings

Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Too many problems
In full: So we all know the issues - baggage area, tee-shirts, medals, reunion area, buses. Personally no major issues for me, but being in the top 50 finishers meant it was easier for me. I feel sorry for those behind me. And for ALL the supporters at the finish. Having said that, never again. Embarrassed.
Date of review: May 25, 2011

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

In short: Of feck, not ANOTHER hill!!!
In full: What goes down must go up. Hard course, but a top class event. Superb organisation (yet again) from Colin, Lois, and all the rest.
Date of review: April 25, 2010

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

In short: Mus, cowshit, and fences - what more could you want?!?
In full: Excellent race to pick for my first hill race. Superb course, excellent marshalling. Pub at the finish could do with laying on a few more behind the bar though.
Date of review: February 16, 2009

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

In short: year on year improvements need to continue
In full: Geoff Sims does now at long last seem to be getting the hang of this marathon organising malarkey. Over the last few years, there have been consistent and continuous improvements involving Expo, route, toilets, start/finish areas,quality of field, etc. This year things have got better again. As others have mentioned, the big problem areas were access to the start, off-road section, and slight chaos at the finish. All these are easily remedied, and Mr Sims should continue on his learning curve in this respect. Others that I spoken to have commented on the sheer disorganisation of the relay. I understand that due to road closures, relay runners had to be at their handover points at 9am. Since they may have had to wait for up to 4 hours, this is an area that definitely needs to be looked at, otherwise the event risks losing what is a valuable addition.
Date of review: May 27, 2008

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

In short: Tremendous frist running of this race.
In full: Good organisation (a few teething problems that will be quickly ironed out), fantastic location, good facilities. A valuable addition to the race calendar.
Date of review: April 28, 2007

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

In short: Tough hills, and even tougher wind
In full: Nice hiily course. Excellent organisation, marshalling, and post race venue. And superb trophies - a nice crystal tankard added to my collection.
Date of review: December 3, 2006

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

In short: improvemented from last year, but still more required
In full: Challenging route not helped by tough conditions, although the blame for that can hardly be laid at the organisers doorstep. Expo was MUCH better this year.
Start area was MUCH better this year.

Route still need improvement.
Mile markers either non-existent or WAAAY out.
Incredibly bad value. Poor quality medal, goody bag, and TBH, badly designed t-shirt.
Geoff Sim (Race Director) seems to be taking his ball home. But if he cant find a major sponsor in Edinburgh, maybe it is time for him to pass the mantle on to somebody who can organise the proverbial brewery event.
Date of review: June 13, 2006

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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: Fabulous event. From start to finish, simply a glorious race. Staggering scenery, fantastic organisation, wonderful people!
In full: Fifth marathon in a year, first time here. Great location for a marathon. Big city races are all well and good, but this is quite simply extraordinary! I should have run slower so that I could have taken in more of the sights. The course is in excellent condition, with the vast majority being fast flat or downhill good quality road. The rest is tough hills (again road), that are mostly short steep wee b****rs, but one long hill that is a bit harder. Mind you, they all have downhills as well!!
Good support from the local communities along the way, especially once you get back into Inverness. Cracking t-shirt and goody-bag (shame there was no beetroot this year!!) and a free BBQ at the end as well. Fantastic value for money in my book. Hopefully injury free next year and I'll go for the sub3. Well done BLNM organisers!
Date of review: October 3, 2005

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

In short: Good race, crap t-shirt
In full: Good, if dull, course. Very flat allowing some good times. Good support the whole way, along with 6 water stations. Excellent facilities at start and finish of race, including showers!! Goody bag is average with isotonic juice supplied, but the t-shirt was crap this year - just a marketing tool for Diet Coke - not really what runners want. Worth doing though to get a decent time.
Date of review: June 27, 2005

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

In short: Needs to overcome organisational and value for money problems to maximise potential
In full: Lets not get off on a bad foot. I got a sub3, a pb and a GFA for FLM 06, so i am chuffed. But a lack of major sponsorship means lack of cashflow and that leaves us runners paying the price, not just in terms of high entry cost, but in terms of poor facilities and services as well. Crap expo, poor loos throughout the course, patchy although vocal support (the weather didnt help!), terrible organisation (esp for the relay runners), crap goody bag all lead to very poor value for money. They had better get their fingers out for next year, and either lower prices, or improve what runners get for the overall package. On the plus side, the route was good, challenging but not too demanding. The volunteers were magnificent throughout the whole day. Overall - progress made, but still room for improvement.
Date of review: June 13, 2005

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