My Event Ratings

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

In short: A great new event – interesting course, well organised and a nice friendly atmosphere.
In full: I particularly liked the course – flatish to start, then a fairly gentle climb to the Gibbett (apart from the last bit) then a fast (but not too steep) descent. Psychologically appealing in that most of the hard work is in the first half and as it’s mainly on country roads and gravel tracks, I wasn’t held up anywhere or hindered by the bumpy stuff. Well organised – all the bits that mattered were right. Generous goody bag and beer at the finish.
Date of review: June 2, 2012

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

In short: Well organised, well supported, undulating jaunt
In full: An impressive debut. Well organised. Well thought out route - undulating, but mainly downhill for the last few miles. Roads were mainly closed so you could take the racing line. Liked the Grizzlyesque bit through the pub. Locals were well briefed and support was good including lots of householders providing refreshing hosepipe showers. Ticked all the boxes I wanted - I'll be back next year.
Date of review: October 2, 2011

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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		100%

In short: Great new 5 miler on the undulating country lanes around the Berkshire village of Peasemore.
In full: New this year - this 5 miler is on the undulating country lanes around the beautiful Berkshire village of Peasemore. A nicely designed, well-marshalled course, good support from the crowd and excellent organisation make this one for the calendar next year.
Date of review: September 9, 2007

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

In short: Friendly 5 miler with an interesting course - just how a small race is supposed to be
In full: A very friendly race with a good mix of abilities and a varied course on the quiet roads and tracks around the village of Kintbury. Plenty of (hardy) marshals and one drinks stop, which is plenty for a 5 miler. Bargain entry free, and for that you get a medal, celebrity starter / prize giver as well as supporting a very worthy cause. This is just how a local race is supposed to be.
Date of review: May 30, 2007

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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		60%

In short: Well organised and friendly pre-london jaunt round the Hampshire countryside
In full: I did the 10 last year, and was back for the two-lapper this year. Well organised by Reading Roadrunners and the marshalls were all very friendly and enthusiastic. Sensible goody back with a mars bar, gel drink and dinky towel this year. Had excellent pre and post race massages from the team from Thames Valley Uni in return for a modest donation to their charity. Race result puplished within hours and even sent to me via an automated text message. Rain held off until I'd finished too!

Difficult to find anything to improve with this one. I guess some tyvek stips to attach the chips would avoid all the unlacing / relacing, and a bottle or pouch for at least one of the energy drinks would be good as I tend to tip the cups down my front.

I think we also ought to start a campaign to have a earth worm on the t-shirt next year - it's the unofficial course mascot!
Date of review: February 25, 2007

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

In short: A cheeky no frills 5 miler organised by Concept Sport.
In full: The first time I've done this and it's not a bad race. Start and finish at the industrial estate, with Race HQ at the nearby school. Quite a good turn out, but the route was wide enough to cope. A few very gentle ups and downs to add a bit of variety. Well organised and marshalled and started on time. I knocked 2 minutes of my pb (set on a much hillier course). Measured 5.2 miles on my Garmin, but I wasn't running the corners very tight. Water and a basic medal at the end.
Date of review: January 28, 2007

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

In short: Friendly proper XC with a few cheeky bits. Hot soup at the end.
In full: I did this last year and it's growing in popularity. Fun and well organised as I have come to expect from Tadley Runners. A great end to my 2006 racing season.
Date of review: December 10, 2006

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

In short: Flat, well-organised and very friendly - a great marathon
In full: Well organised and very friendly marathon with great support from the marshalls. Gold stars to the American guy who kept telling people how good they looked (and was suprisingly convincing) and the lady on the 10 mile drink stop who had my drink ready to hand to me as I lumbered up to the station - this was the first year I've bothered with my own drinks and I managed to find all four. Could only be improved by some sort of a goody bag at the end, and maybe some cooler t-shirts. I'm already thinking about doing it next year, and I've barely taken may trainers off so it must be pretty good!
Date of review: October 22, 2006

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

In short: A few minor teething troubles, but an excellent first attempt at a much needed 10 mile. Roll on 2007!
In full: The first one of these and I enjoyed it. It was an interesting and genuinely gently undulating course on quiet country roads. The marshalls were very supportive and I got a pb. The niggles? - well the entry form I had said a 10.30 start and it was changed to 10 (still made it to the start in time though), I only counted 2 drink stations when we were promised 3, and the time on the clock at the finish looked a bit generous to me. These are all minor points though and I'm sure all will be sorted out for next year. The event deserves more support and I'll certainly be there next year.
Date of review: October 15, 2006

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

In short: Not as good as Bristol 2005, or Reading 2006
In full: Well, I might still be sulking as I was 5 minutes slower than last year, but I have to agree with the previous comments that this race has lost it's edge. On the plus side, the crowds and marshalls were excellent and the drinks stations and bag storage were all fine for me. The open air urinals were also strangely liberating (and avoided me having to add to the yellow river in the tunnel). The sunny weather meant that the delayed start wasn't a problem. On the negative side, the start was very congested this year and probably lost me a bit of time over the first couple of miles. I prefered the course in 2005 - yes there were one or two slightly steeper bits, but I prefer to do my climbing in short sharp bursts, rather than a longerer plod up the Portway. There didn't appear to be a Park and Ride service open if you came in off the M4 and my side of the road parking space from last year is now a building site so I had to park in an NCP that charged by the quarter hour. The goody bag was also pretty poor (the £1 Evening Post one was a lot better). Come on Bristol - you can do better - it was great in 2005!
Date of review: September 17, 2006

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