My Event Ratings

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Fantastic event as always and the weather was kind for once!
Date of review: October 28, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Oh my God, so hard, but so amazing!
In full: Absolutely loved this race! Only my second full marathon, but no comparison to my previous (Nottingham 2008) marathon due to the scenery, the atmosphere, the weather (!!!) and the challenge.

The only downside I would say is the disappointing finish. I rooted around and found a slate coaster hidden on a table but there was no sign of the promised goody bag and certificate.

But that's not enough to put me off doing it all again next year!
Date of review: October 26, 2009

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

In short: Excellent race as usual. The crowds are like no other race!
In full: This is my 4th GNR and I've continued the pattern of setting a faster time at each. The weather was amazing, the support was great and it was brilliant to see Tanni Grey-Thompson handing out water again this year.
The only critisism I would have is that the new family meeting area made no sense. Thousands of people huddled on a patch of grass when the velodrome was empty. Still, that meant shorter queues for beer in the marquee!!
Date of review: October 8, 2008

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

In short: For my first full marathon, I'm glad I chose this one; great organisation and atmosphere!
In full: I have completed about 15 half marathons in the past couple of years and for a first full marathon, I couldn't have picked a better one. I can't fault a single thing about the whole event, (with a slight reservation about putting Lucozade stops immediately after the water stops) so I'll definitely want to do this event again.
Date of review: September 20, 2008

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

In short: Fantastic organisation and great support along the route.
In full: I learned a valuable lesson for this run - don't give blood in the week leading up to a race! I found myself toiling heavily on all of the hills and was weak as a kitten most of the way round.
I was extremely impressed with the organisation and the marshalling. I live on the route and I saw the marshalls setting up the road closures and giving advice on directions in a very professional manner.
The support along the route was great too; lots of people provided drink and sweets. If anyone enjoyed an ice pop at the 5-mile mark, they were courtesy of my wife!
In all, a great route, lovely weather and next year I won't be giving blood too close to the event!!
Date of review: October 22, 2007

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

In short: 3rd time I've run it - gets better every year!
In full: I know it's expensive and a pain to get accommodation. I know it's a long trek "Up North". But this run is ace. The start was excellent this year, where in the Orange Zone, we got through the start line really quickly. The atmosphere all along the route is fantastic; I can't believe how people go out of their way to help the runners along.
I get a faster time each time I run this race, so I should be on for an all-time pb by next year!
Date of review: October 1, 2007

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

In short: A reasonable race, nothing special, no big problems
In full: This race was OK. The atmosphere was OK, the scenery was OK, the organisation was OK. Nothing special. I thought the start wasn't particularly well signed and the marshalls had to tell people how to get there and my final result showed me finishing behind my frined, whereas I'd finished about a minute ahead of him, so chips next year please?
Date of review: September 29, 2007

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Still pricey, but great scenery and support along the whole route
In full: This is my 3rd running of this half-marathon and I still moan about the cost of the race considering you only get a medal, a banana and some water at the end, but I love the route, so I keep coming back for this one. It was the scene of my first half and also of my fastest, so I'll probably continue running it and moaning about the price for a few years yet...
Date of review: April 29, 2007

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

In short: Great atmosphere, nice views of Bath, could have held the road closures for longer...
In full: I agree with several of the previous reviews. Yes, my Garmin measured it as 13.3 miles and so did a friend of mine. Also, I opted to arrive 1/2 an hour in advance and still froze, so I feel sorry for those who arrived promptly at 9!
This was my wife's first half marathon and I ran it with her. This meant I saw the pitfalls for slower runners for the first time. Half way around the second lap, we were told repeatedly by the marshalls to run on the path as the roads were reopening. This posed two problems; 1)the first aid and water tents were on the paths and 2) the paths were covered with bottles and lucozade containers. I opted to stay on the road and my wife obeyed the marshalls. Inevitably, she slipped on a lucozade container and twisted her ankle. Anyway, just a little moan...
Apart from that, I enjoyed being lapped by the lead runners and was able to see the unbelievable speed that they run at, so I'm not necessarily against 2-lappers for that reason!
Date of review: March 29, 2007

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

In short: Fantastic scenery, friendly runners, but would prefer a more public finish line.
In full: I ran this race with my wife as it was her first race. The fellow runners were very friendly, which is more than can be said for the weather.
The route was fantastic and at one point a huge herd of deer ran across the road just behind us. Just as well, if they had crossed in front of us, we'd have been waiting a while to continue!
The only downside I thought was that the finish line seemed to be tucked away on a back road; I like to finish more publicly. Maybe that's an ego thing...
Anyway, great race as long as you got there in plenty of time and I'd love to do it again.
Date of review: March 5, 2007

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