My Event Ratings

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

In short: Fast course with good organisation and support
In full: For a first time event, this was exceptional; and can only get better with time. A village fete atmosphere at the start was a charming and welcome addition.
The course is fast and excellent for PBs, principally flat with a very gentle hill section around half way to give a chance to vary the pace and give those leg muscles a change.
The country roads, which provided most of the miles, were quiet and very scenic with good support along the way. It was a bit of a backstreet and pavement mission to get out of Bridgwater in the first mile or so, and back in, but there were no hold ups as the marshalling was excellent throughout. The last quarter mile was around the Rugby field to the finish: great for spectators, but not so great to run on not so smooth turf when one has cranked up the pace for the final mile. One gripe: the mile markers were out. GPS doesn't agree precisely with distances measured by wheel, but it isn't that different. The first mile marker was around 0.8 miles and many others were at X + 0.8. Strangely, the odd one was pretty much exact. Not a problem if you're running with GPS (mine registered a spot on 13.1 miles for the course), but a disaster if you only have a watch to calculate split times. I imagine a lot of people forced themselves to slow down when they saw their time at the first marker!
But overall this was a cracking race. Fast and huge fun. Congratulations to the organisers for a first rate event. I think there were only around 200 runners this year; this should grow rapidly when word gets around.
Date of review: September 2, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great organisation, friendly and efficient
Date of review: August 15, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Fabulous!
In full: A great marathon; well organised and marshalled; lots of drink stations and friendly support enroute. For me, one of the greatest pluses was the absence of any long soul destroying sections. You were running along pavement one minute, crossing the road the next, having a jaunt along footpaths, taking a turn and there's the Thames...right up this next bit, and hey ho, I'm now being sent here, or there, out in the country, through the historic town centre, I had no idea what I was going to see next... just BRILLIANT! There was so much to occupy the mind that the miles just flew by (well, almost!). What a change from some of those big city horrors where you can run several miles along dual carriageway slowly going insane. A large cup of coffee and a well stocked goody bag were just what the doctor ordered for the finish. Well done to all concerned in the organisation. I will be booking for next year as soon as applications open.
Date of review: October 20, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: An absolute gem!
In full: This marathon is just brilliant. Incredibly friendly, wonderful course, grandstand finish, chip timing, buffet lunch, generous prizes.... where do I start?!
This marathon has big city organisation for a field of just 98 in the marathon and 218 in the half. The chip timing gave a personalised printed result at the end of the finishers funnel with time, overall place, and category position - just brilliant. Results were up in a flash. The two timing clocks (one for the half and one for the marathon) were well positioned over the finish and perfectly synchronised - in front of the football ground stands.
The prizes? Well, not only was there a full presentation but there were beautiful plaques, engraved and with the three legs of man in slate, for the first three in EVERY age category!
Goody bag? Check this out: Mars Bar, Orange drink, Isle of Man lapel pin, Bottle of water, Guide Book to the Isle of Man, Bottle of Sports Lubricant oil, Tee Shirt.... and I'm sure I've forgotten something else!!
Medal? A great medal in red, gold and white in the shape of the Isle of Man. Fab.
Hungry? Now look, you think you've got good value already and you head up to the room at the top of the stands and the whole area is absolutely 'heaving' with food. Sandwiches, pies, chocolate bars, crisps. So much food that even the hungriest runner couldn't possibly go hungry. As a 'mainlander' on his first visit to the island, the level of hospitality just bowled me over.
I will do my very best to be back next year, and will try hard to get a group of club members to come too. This marathon is not to be missed.
A very well done to the organiser Christine Bathgate, IOM Veteran Athlete's Club, the Sponsors, all the marshallers, and everyone else who made this such a great event.
And if this isn't enough....!!...it is the first event in a week long series of races called 'No Rest for the Wicked' which includes Marathon (or Half), a 4 mile hill race, a 10k, a 6 miler, and a 7 mile cross country - all of which included generous individual prizes plus overall series prizes and wonderful company and comaraderie of all involved.
Maybe I should just go and live there!
PS Got back today and my legs hurt :-)
Date of review: August 16, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Testing, but fast
In full: Well marshalled and friendly race. Good value and a nice coffee mug too! (Plenty of more expensive races where you get nothing.) Lots of up and down but nothing serious, making it truly 'undulating' as it said 'on the packet', but fast nonetheless. The route was virtually traffic free (counted only about half a dozen cars in total). Thanks and well done to Wye Valley Runners.
Date of review: June 29, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Very well organised; friendly and a definite PB course. I've been twice now and will be back. Other races can beat this on scenery and variety, but if you want to see how fast you can run a 10k, this is the place!!
Date of review: March 11, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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: Well done to the organisers!! Great race!
In full: This was a great marathon!! It was tough but, hey, what a great change from a flat city marathon! A resounding well done to the organisers. There was excellent handling of each stage, from registration to baggage storage, chip handout and collection, start, marshalling, drink and sponge stations, finish and free post race pasta. It all ran like clockwork. I have nothing but praise for the organisers but DO have a criticism of some of the runners. The organisers clearly worked damn hard to get this race running so smoothly, they gave up a LOT of their time and Colin Jackson came all the way from Cardiff. So why did so many runners clear off before the prize giving?? This is the culmination of a marathon and was quite a spectacle, and VERY generous too. Just because you didn't get a prize yourself doesn't mean you just walk away from other people's achievements. The organisers AND the winners deserved more. Even so, some actual winners even cleared off before the prize giving. By the time the hardworking commentator got to the end, there were very few people left. Quite disgraceful. You train for months for an event like this, staying for another half an hour to support the prize giving is just common courtesy. I hope those who left early and read this take note.
Date of review: September 25, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Super race; good atmosphere and very friendly
In full: This was a super race.... well done to the Angels. You know how it is with some races... there is that wonderful atmosphere, low key but lots of happy, friendly, fit people out to give it their all and have a good time. This was one such race. The start/finish location at The Beacon Hotel was just great... most people stayed to have their free beer and chat, laugh and relax...just how I reckon it should be. And the race itself? Fast and furious!! Definite PB promise with lots of wonderful and friendly marshallers, and a great welcome home outside The Beacon. Highly recommended for the future. Well done Angels!!
Date of review: September 10, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Excellent organisation and very friendly
In full: This was a brilliant 10.... excellent organisation and very friendly. It was a fast, flat course and finishers were welcomed at the finish over a tannoy. Prize giving waited for the last runner home (other organisers please note!) and the whole atmosphere at the start and finish was uplifting. Results were available soon after runners finished, and were posted on the internet the same day. Photographs of individuals were available online soon afterwards. Exemplary organisation, good parking and marshalling... and a pretty much traffic free route. Well done!! I'll be back!
Date of review: September 6, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A really enjoyable 10k on quiet country lanes.
In full: I brought a friend along for this, for his first race; never been in Tadley before. The course was really enjoyable, on quiet country lanes. The marshals were encouraging, the other runners friendly, and the finishing area just perfect with speed humps to slow the sprinters :-) . A good quality tee shirt too! For those chasing a trophy they had lovely crystal engraved bowls and cups. I have been to lots of 10ks and came 127 miles for this one. I wasn't disappointed. Thank you Tadley Runners!!
Date of review: July 16, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator