My Event Ratings

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

In short: Jam-packed with slower runners
In full: Even for a three-hour runner the race is jam-packed with slower runners who go off too fast and then limp the second half. Great support. The route is probably good for a PB, but the number of runners make a PB harder to achieve than on a smaller marathon.
Date of review: April 26, 2010

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

In short: B****y undulating first half!
In full: A race of two halves. First half more than undulating, in town, lots of runners and supporters. Then the half marathoners finish and you go out into the dusty windswept suburbs. The second half is flat, but the damage is done. The second half doesn't quite fit the map, so there are loopbacks to add-in the miles. Lots of drink though, and well organised, but ultimately a little too hilly to be fast and not hilly enough to rate as a tough race.
Date of review: September 15, 2008

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

In short: Improving?
In full: I ran this in 1999, when we had a long hill at about mile 18. The new route is vastly better, but 18 miles into a stiff headwind was unwanted, (though running the last 6 downwind was great). Missed the expo, as a friend collected number for me, and as I got in early I was able to get on the bus and away before the crowds arrived. Acceptable organisation for me, but I sympathise with the people at the back and at the expo.....
Date of review: May 31, 2008

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

In short: Good first try
In full: Good weather helped a lot in making this race enjoyable. Switchback run throught the country. This will be a good race when the organisation is fine tuned. Problems: the race started whilst we were walking from the briefing, there was poor mile marking, (first marker was at 10Km and I didn't know if it was for the marathon or 50Km runners - we did different out loops), last drink at about 16 miles for the marathon runners, a heart breaking 2 mile loop at the end, no drinks at the finish, are all things that need fixing. People have talked about getting a glass engraving - where from? I didn't see anything and didn't get one. As it was a nice day I enjoyed it. If it had been cold and wet, it may have tipped the balance into being unhappy. Organisers were friendly, but need to make some minor changes if they want to make this a regular occurence. P.S. I had a bored wife and two tired kids, so had to leave promptly after the finish - are the results posted anywhere?
Date of review: January 28, 2008

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

In short: Not Flat Half Marathon
In full: The half marathon seems to climb gradually for the first half, and occasionally in the second half.
Annoying anti-bike gate to get around at one point. Start/Finish well organised. A smallish meeting with some atmosphere - I'll do it again because it's OK and local, but I would not travel a long way just to run this one.
Date of review: May 13, 2007

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

In short: Acceptable, but not special.
In full: This was a funny Half-Marathon. It's not really flat - there are some gradual climbs out in the country, but it's not hilly. It's not urban, though it begins and ends by running through town. The roads are mostly wide and clear, but the there is a narrow footpath in the last quarter, with a bike restriction. The atmosphere was friendly, but I made no friends. My wife really enjoyed the five-mile race and set a PB, I had a terrible race and bombed.
I'll go back this year, but more out of curiosity than enthusiasm.
Date of review: March 7, 2007

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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		100%

In short: Absolutely lousy weather ruined a good race
In full: Strong winds and rain ruined the race, and not too many people turned up this year. However, it was well organised and the circuit, (short loop and then three laps of the race track is great. Personally, three laps is the perfect number for any race - one to find your way, two to let it sink in and then a final hard lap. You cannot see the whole lap at any point, so it does not get demoralising, and it is a lightly rolling course with varied sections, but not quite hilly. Given a wind less than 50mph it could be quick, (and it still was quick for the winners - supermen!) I will come here next year, hoping for a sunny March day, and maybe a PB.
Date of review: March 4, 2007

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

In short: Organised OK, but uninspiring route
Date of review: May 12, 2006

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

In short: Finish seems a long way from the car park!
Date of review: March 15, 2005

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