My Event Ratings

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

In short: A much better organised race
In full: 13.2m for my Garmin - spot-on bearing in mind the inevitably of not being able to stick exactly to the line with so many runners. Not as pretty or fast as previous courses as some have pointed out - but how else to handle 15,000 entries ??

Cycling thru the town centre and down to the start at about 8:20 I was horrified to see 00s still arriving and parking in central Cardiff - clearly they'd left things far too late. Also amused to overhear moans about the 'heat'/sun, inclines ('hills' to some it seems - love to see the reaction if they trying running elsewhere in Wales?) and T-shirt/goody bag. My kids stopped expecting goody bags (at parties) when they were ~10. Better to cut the cost of entry and give any surplus to Barnados

The organisers and those helping did a good job - but who'd be a race organiser these days? This is why I prefer smaller off-road events

Date of review: October 20, 2011

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

In short: Madness...
In full: Great fun, provided you are fast (and so miss the crowds), don't mind being tripped (and jostled for 26 miles) and have never known the joy of running a race like the Rhayader 20.
Date of review: April 28, 2010

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

In short: Well supported and marshalled 20m race - excellent prep for a Spring Marathon
In full: Liked the new course, but some might find doing 3 laps (and the same bumpy bits, x3) a little repetetive. Any way the (disparate and dispersed) start, finish, parking and race HQ areas can't also be brought closer together ? Having raced 20 miles, something to go with the cup of water at the finish would also have been appeciated (a bannana ?) before jogging back to the car park. I'd have died (and payed money !) for a cuppa tea before driving home. Maybe next year ? Someone mentioned cakes - where were these ?! Otherwise, excellent organisation, nice mug, very well supported race, marshalled and lots of friendly people dishing out water on the course. Thanks Gloucester AC + chums. A great club and a great race...
Date of review: March 7, 2010

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

In short: Don't expect much sleep - some walking may be on the cards though..
In full: Strictly hardcore - one for those who like a challenge. And if you do, you'll love it..

Date of review: November 29, 2009

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

In short: Top bannana ! Thanks to Ponty Rodents and everyone who helped out
Date of review: February 23, 2009

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

In short: Well timed fixture, by a great club, over a mildly challenging course
In full: This year's start was a little bit dodgy though. Handing out the 'freebee' after the race at the HQ, 1 mile+ from the finish, also seemed an odd move !

Minor niggles though. Gloucester AC and those who arranged and supported deserve much credit for this and the other road races they organise. Those marshalling on Sunday should be awarded the Robert Falcon Scott survival medal !
Date of review: January 6, 2009

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

In short: Rewarding, challenging but very friendly off-roader in stunning countryside
In full: Well done Islwyn RC for organising and launching this fine event - always a special occasion when a new race appears in the calender ; this deserves to succeed though and will no doubt grow from strength to strength

Does what it says on the box ("Challenge"!) but opens up what for many of us is probably a much overlooked chunk of of Welsh countryside - the alpinesque Sidhowy Valley

Looking forward to 2009 !
Date of review: May 18, 2008

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

In short: A great little race - very well organised and easily overlooked
Date of review: April 6, 2008

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

In short: A great off road HM - so much better than the ugly big city races...
In full: One of my all time favourite races. 99% on trail and a challenging but not too bumpy course. Hope the organisers don't try to expand the field - 1200 the absolute limit ?

The shuttle bus system worked well.
Date of review: March 17, 2008

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

In short: The best 10k road race on the circuit ?
In full: A great race - Bourton RC should be very proud, and the locals thanked for putting on such a superb day. No wonder its so popular and attracts 'the elite'. Book early for 2009

The two interesting and well supported ~1k laps at the start and finish make for an exciting, fast race - even for those of us in the middle of the pack ; nowhere to hide etc ! Not getting too carried away, and pacing yourself for the more straight forward (literally..) middle part of the race consequently especialy impt at Bourton. Be prepared for a very fast start with lots of heel clipping..

The bends, twists and turns do provide some opportunity for corner cutting though. 6.14m according to my Garmin (others made it >6.2) - there again, desperate to get a PB and dip under 40m for the first time, i did run in the kerbs !
Date of review: February 26, 2008

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