My Event Ratings

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: My favourite Half ever
In full: The Reading Half Marathon is one of the best if not the best half in the country. The organsation is impeccible. The goody bags full of all kind of treats. The course is fast I ran a PB last time I did it and the stadium finish is great also.

Date of review: April 10, 2012

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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: Essential marathon training run
In full: The 5th year in row I have done this one. And they even sent me a personalised race number to commemorate it, I felt like an elite runner!

I had a nightmare, due to over crowding I tripped up on the bridge and gashed my knee within the first few miles. The St John's were exellent albeit a little slow.

Good Points
The marshals and everyone involved including Ian on the mic
The first 10 miles of the race along the Taff Trail
St John's
The Bad Points
The start sending 300 people around narrow streets is a disaster waiting to happen.
The hills!!!
The off road route through the trees screws me up everytime!
No large t shirts left at the end for us runners of a fuller figure.
Date of review: April 10, 2012

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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 full: Good value for money and great family friendly atmosphere. Plenty of free parking although can be queues at the end getting out. Free pre and post race massage. The start is abit of a free for all with not pacing and spent most of the first mile running on the grass verge or avoiding people. Could have done with some portaloos along the course as I was busting.

I was quite pleased with my t shirt at the end but there was a glass paper weight the last time I did it.
Date of review: August 18, 2011

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

In full: Nice rural race and a local race for me. Few undulations and lovely scenic route. Great atmosphere amongst the runners, plenty of fun runners and fancy dress gave it a good feeling. Plenty of water stops and nice race course finish although ground was not good underfoot. Value for money well done St Michaels!
Date of review: June 1, 2011

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

In short: Champion just champion
In full: Struggled in the heat and humidity in this testing undulating course.

Enjoyed the route the Don valley stadium start and finish was good however getting out of the stadium was a nightmare, not properly signposted and lack of marshals at the end. Good crowd support, confused as to running above the crowd at the end when doing a loop of the stadium and only getting 70 meters of glory on the track. Surely a lap of the track with the crowd cheering you on would be better? Half full cups of water were a problem especially when the heat was bad.
Date of review: June 1, 2011

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

In short: Turning into a major race
In full: Third time I have done this, large field and nice city centre start and finish. I didn't experience any of the toilet and start problems because I got there early. There was however a few near misses with bollards and speed humps.

Scenic route it was nice running along the waterfront but not going going into the industrial estate towards the end.

Nice medal at thend and goody bag but rubbish t-shirt.
Date of review: March 29, 2011

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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: Just gets better and better...
In full: Fourth year in a row I have done this one, despite running around in circles at the start and a low key start it is a nice "local" race for me.

Good turn out wth nearly three hundred runners was it wise trying to squeeze them around narrow streets?

Great atmosphere the locals did come out to cheer and stare, the marshals were great especially the one who gave me the jelly babies!

Lovely wickable t-shirt that I will wear with pride and yummy cakes and drinks on sale at the end.
Date of review: March 21, 2011

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

In short: Yet again a well organised race
In full: Nice race across the coastal path, very scenic good family orientated atmosphere

Nice memento at the finish, good free massage at the finish.

One small thing? Where were the on-route toilets?
Date of review: March 21, 2011

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

In short: Brighton Rocks...
In full: My fourth time running this one and my fastest time around the course it would have been close to a PB had I not needed to gatecrash the Hove Bowling Club coffee morning and use their toilet. Where were the toilets on route? I queued for over half an hour beforehand and gave up just before the start for fear of getting stuck in traffic.

Much improved on previous years big field, nice medal and good sized water bottles and Lucozade.
But the crowds were very quiet, I was trying to work out whether it was because of the early 9am start or due to Brighton and Hove being knocked out of the cup the day before!?!

Still my favourite half and excellent running conditions, but the climb up the hill the train station was a killer as was the 8 hour journey home, but I will be back!
Date of review: February 23, 2011

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

In short: New Year same quality from Wye Valley Runners
In full: Excellent running conditions and a testing course to blow the cobwebs out.

Great atmosphere after the race in the rowing club, fast results service and free biscuits and squash at the end.

The marshalls were excellent all the way around.
Date of review: January 6, 2011

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