My Event Ratings

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

In short: Quick course with good support in a few of the villages on the way.
In full: Course is fast, but take care not to go out too fast, it's tempting as the first 2 miles are downhill. The last mile is uphill and a good test for tired legs, I almost blew a gasket going up it today!

Mild weather brought out the spectators in many of the villages. Didn't experience the usual problems with traffic in the last few miles today, although did just about get clipped by a caravan.

Organisation seemed good this year. Everything underway on time and plenty of marshals along the course. Water stations well stocked when I went through.

Thumbs up from me.
Date of review: March 21, 2010

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

In short: Wt
Date of review: February 28, 2010

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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: Snow made things more challenging. Single track pretty technical, may scare off beginners. Great organistation, great race.
In full: Not sure if this review is in the right place, there seems to be reviews for an ultra listed under the duathlon link...

Pretty challenging start conditions, wet snow made it slippy in places. Run loop pretty nice, mix of flat beside the river (slippery in the snow) and undulating tracks through the woods. Oddly enough, seemed easier the second time around (possibly because much of the snow had melted).

Cycle leg was more challenging than I was expecting, each lap must have taken me close to half an hour! Fire track difficult to read in the snow, a few unexpected bumps in there! Single track took a lot of concentration, showed up my lack of off road riding! Some of the rutted stuff would probably put off less adventurous beginners, indeed I saw a few people who seemed to have pulled out.

All in all, a good race. Potentially faster under better weather conditions, but could also be worse under prolonged wet weather!
Date of review: February 21, 2010

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: £40 for a map? Steady on!
In full: Not sure how the entry fee can be justified. Nice map, but let's be honest, the course was already marked with existing signage (plus a few stickers placed by the organiser). 4 feed stations that didn't deliver all that was promised (soup, gels?). Why organise a race that finishes at a hotel that won't let spectators park there? I was already annoyed at having to embark on a 3-hour return journey to collect my number the night before (then found people collecting numbers at the start - why advertise one thing then deliver another?). Grrr.

Despite all the above, it's the people you race with that make the day, and I did have an enjoyable race with Team MAD! Not sure I'd do it again though.
Date of review: February 13, 2010

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

In short: Muddy and wet.
In full: Very muddy and very wet.
Date of review: January 24, 2010

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

In short: Great day for it, and there seemed to be less nutters in cars this year!
Date of review: March 15, 2009

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

In short: Hillier than I remembered...
Date of review: March 1, 2009

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

In short: Tale of two halves...
In full: First few miles not terribly attractive and often hard to pass (or be passed). From about 6 miles it got much better, more scenic and an undulating country road. Well organised and friendly marshalls.
Date of review: October 19, 2008

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

In short: Pretty well organised, although a bit lacking on pre-race instructionss (like where did it start) and an unnecaessary crossover along the waterfront.
Date of review: June 8, 2008

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

In short: Good race with a fun run for those who don't fancy the half.
In full: A late start probably upset some, but the 15 minutes made no difference to me. Early downhill miles are a great way to settle into the race, although it's worth remembering that the last miles is slightly uphill. Plenty of friendly people running and spectating. Roads generally well managed, but still a few impatient Sunday drivers out there that just don't have a clue.
Date of review: March 9, 2008

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