My Event Ratings

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

In short: Fantastic!
In full: I really enjoyed running this race. This was my second Marathon, I completed London last year.

The course was fairly flat, just a few inclines but nothing to worry about. Power station section not great, but liked the fact the organisers had a big banner announcing 'the road to hell'! Last few miles along Madeira drive more than made up for it.

I used the park and ride, no problems although more detailed instructions would have been useful.

Start area was good, lots of places to buy a hot drink (needed on such a cold morning). And free water and power drinks was useful.

Finish area was fantastic. Great that the park n ride buses were at the exit of the secure area. I didn't need to climb the steps!

Water pouches great, although I squeezed one over my head and it exploded - that'll teach me.

Areas for improvement:
- A bit too much "out and back" for me, it's demotivating to see the faster runners legging it past you the other way!
- Not enough toilets at the start. Yes, there are never going to be enough. But the queues were the worst I've ever seen at an event. I've never seen so many people peeing in the bushes. Not great!
- Some confusing instructions at the start area. We were repeatedly told how to open the water pouches, but neglected to tell us they were already open! And no signs to tell us where the start is (I know, just follow everyone else).
- Having an area that looked like the finish gantry half a mile before the real end was cruel and made that last bit agony.
- I liked the water pouches, however nearly got hit by flying powerade bottles. Can we have smaller bottles next year? Seemed to be an awful amount of wasted drinks.
- Final instructions should have been printed, and not enough detail. Check out the instructions for the VLM! It removes a lot of the anxiety about the day.
Date of review: April 24, 2012

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

In full: Well organised race in aid of an excellent cause. Lovely atmosphere at start/finish area.

Course very nice, a little hilly and quite a few puddles to run around and tree routes to dodge, but hey all added to the fun of running with 700 other Father Xmases!

Mince pies and hot chocolate at end very welcome, and a reasonable goody bag with a very nice chocolate bar and bottle of water.

All in all, it was a really lovely race, very well organised and I'm looking forward to running it next year.

In the spirit of improvement, just a few minor things which could be bettered for next year:

- Odd that you had 'register' at the start. It wasn't clear if you needed to or not (you didn't if you went on the bus). They just wanted to know how much you had raised - fair enough.

- The instructions for the day were a little confusing - the start time was not mentioned once. Also it wasn't clear where spectators should park and if they were allowed into the coral reef/look out center car park.
- Could the finish be adjusted so pedestrians aren't trying to cross over, right as runners are bounding along there last few meters?
Date of review: November 28, 2011

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

In short: Well organised, enjoyable day out
In full: I've run this a couple of times before, as Fleet is my local race, being a resident of the town. The new course is much better, especially the location of the start. No jumping over streams or traipsing through muddy paths! I also liked running through the centre of town twice. Huge amounts of support round the course, especially in town. This put a big smile on my face and gave a huge boost.
I also like the fact the very last bit of the race was downhill, exactly what you need.
This race was a bargain compared to the rip-off Reading half. I'll be back next year.

Well done to Penny and all the organising team, well done. Thank you.
Date of review: March 21, 2011

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

In short: Mud, mud, glorious mud
In full: My local race, 2nd time of running and a bit slower than last time due to the hideous weather. Once again well organised just a few minor grumble.

The trek to start was a bit of a shambles - next year I'm walking on the roads to the start. Shame that last 100 yards to the finish area was so muddy, so a sprint finish not on the cards. Superb marshalling once again, thanks guys.
Date of review: March 18, 2008

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

In short: Very enjoyable race. Well organised but unfortunately congested
In full: I enjoyed this race, having completed it last year too it was good to see a number of improvements. The Tuesday market place was a great place to start and finish in and the course was a good mixture of town centre running, urban areas, parks and river bank.
Goody bag at the end was very nice too, an excellent medal and reasonable t-shirt as well as a nice bar of fudge. Good to see plenty of water stations too - there was certainly no excuse to go thirsty during the run.
There was an excellent crowd turnout and a nice buzz around the market place at the end.

The start needed better organisation - it wasn't clear where to line up with several queues all merging into one. The course was very congested for the first few Km which put pay to any PB chances for me. I also found the last few Km very congested, once we returned to the shopping centre - I got stuck behind a group of women running three abreast who would not move over. It was great to run through the shopping centre and a great atmosphere, but perhaps a wider start might allow a natural spreading out of runners over the first few Km.
I was suprised to see the "chip time" on the results web site was over one minute faster than my stopwatch. Now as I much as I'd have loved to have completed it quicker, I have to question the accuracy of the chip timing. Perhaps this was just me.



Date of review: May 9, 2007

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

In short: Great South Rain
In full: Once again very well organised. Excellent crowd support despite the weather conditions and the marshals were good humoured - not sure I would be if I was in that weather :-)
Start once again was very congested - it was almost impossible to get a decent first mile in as I was dodging slower runners for some time. It's a pity a route can't be found where the course is a bit wider. Goody bag was a dissapointment considering the steep entry fee.
Last two miles were pretty tough, running into the wind and driving rain. However at least I kept nice and cool this time!


Date of review: October 23, 2006

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

In short: Once again an excellent race. Roll on Yateley 2007!
In full: Another excellent race which was superbly organised. Very well marshalled, especially around the roadworks and two way traffic at the 5Km point (whose idea was that then?)
Shame that some pathetic bloke walking in the road was f'ing and blinding at the runners around the 2Km mark. Myself and most of the runners around us just laughed back at him.
See you in 2007!
Date of review: August 3, 2006

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

In short: Well organised and marshalled, some traffic problems
In full: There always seems to be something about the weather at these Yateley runs! Despite the downpour at the start, this didn't dampen my enthusiam and if anything it helped cool the runners down (and give us something to talk about).
As usual the race was well marshalled and organised, no problems there. I have one item I'd like to raise though: traffic trying to drive in the directions of the runners. A BMW was driving with the runners on Hall Lane (just past the drinks station), causing many people to move right over to the edge of the road. Also a Sainsburys delivery truck decided to pull over right in front of me in Marsh Lane which was quite dangerous. Traffic should not be allowed to drive on the same side of the road with the runners.
Date of review: June 11, 2006

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

In short: Lived up to it's a name - a great race!
In full: Firstly, my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Duncan Gooderson. I hope the race returns next year in tribute to him.

Thank you to the organisers for a fantastic race which I really enjoyed and really puts King's Lynn on the map. A great goody bag containing a superb medal and decent t-shirt. Well marshalled and excellent organisation.

I would like to suggest two areas for improvement: the start area was quite narrow, and was hard to get any speed during that first KM. Also it would be good to have KM markers at eye height and not as metal signs, as some of them got knocked over or I couldn't see them due to the other runners.
But these are very minor niggles, all in all a great race, well done to the organisers. Hope to see you there next year!

Date of review: May 31, 2006

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

In short: Enjoyable, fast, race
In full: This is my local race as I live in Fleet, although first time I've run it and my 4th HM. Very much enjoyed this race. I managed to achieve a PB, despite the wind and unexpected heat, so was pleased. Was nice to relax afterwards in the Prince Arthur with a few pints and attempt to rehydrate (not sure Hoegaarden is the right thing to do that with though!)

Plus points: relatively flat and fast course (although the wind on the day didn't help). Very well marshalled. Good support throughout the run. My wife and friends walked all the way up to where Pale Lane crosses the A323 to cheer me on - made my day!

Some suggestion for improvement - these are just minor niggles... all in all I very happy with the organisation. More toilets at the start please - that queue for the dunny at the start was farcical. Somewhat disappointed that there was no "goody bag" at the end - even a fun size Mars bar would have helped. More prominent mile markers - black text on yellow background, and put them both sides of the road!
Will be back next year...
Date of review: March 20, 2006

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