My Event Ratings

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

In short: Good morning here's the news, and all the news is good, good evening here's the news, and all the news is good. And the weather's good.
Date of review: March 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Very hot, very crowded, well organized. Got my PB, but doubt I'd do it agian.
In full: The weather was unusually hot and humid which made it very hard work for the back-of-the-pack, like myself. The spectators were great but it was grim as a runner.I have to say I didn't enjoy the race as much as last year, although I (just) managed to get under 5 hours, which was my goal. Overall the organization was excellent, although the absence of water at a number of water stations was frustrating. I thought the crowding seemed worse than last year and I seemed to spend the whole race weaving about and dodging people. As a deliberate walk-runner I always move to the side for my minute walk after each mile, but especially in the 2nd half people just stopped and walked in the middle. I was overtaking people continuously from 5 miles, so it suggests that many people went off too fast and slowed down dramatically later.
Date of review: April 23, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great half, but beware the downhill first few miles (it will get you later)
In full: Great race. I'm preparing for a 1/2 Ironman so I did a 25 mile cycle before hand, yet still managed a good run (only 6 minutes slower than last years race). The key to Brentwood is, as always, good pacing. The start is deceptively fast, as it is downhill for 2 miles, so be very restrained. I was overtaking loads of people from 6 miles out, which always raises the spirits in the second half. The best thing was seeing my friend Andy finish the race - and he was running his first half marathon since losing a leg and an arm !
Date of review: March 26, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A great first marathon - thanks in part to excellent RW pacer!
In full: A very enjoyable first marathon. As an old, slow, fat runner I really appreciated the help of the Red start Pen 9 RW get-you-round pacing group. I felt good enough at half way to push ahead, and left the group, but the initial run with the pacing group really help set me up for the second half and the novel experience of the some what dreaded miles 20-26. Thanks. I am already planning next years training for FLM and hope to get under 5 hours.
Date of review: April 27, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great fun, well organized
In full: An inevitable PB as this was my first 1/2 marathon. Good atmosphere, fast start (beware the downhill first few miles). Bit of a hill at the end. Very enjoyable overall.
Date of review: March 12, 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		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Well organised, flat course, perfect weather = PB
In full: Well organised and very enjoyable race. The wave starts meant there wasn’t too much congestion in the first mile and not too much weaving about overtaking slow runners or walkers . This is a good flat run with perfect weather this year, resulting in a PB for me. The drinks stations were well placed (3 and 7 miles) with bottles rather than cups. We parked in Gosport a few minutes from the ferry (every 15 minutes, £1.80 return + 70p for a bike) and cycled (about 1 mile to the start). This made for an easy and speedy arrival and departure. Will definitely run it next year.
Date of review: October 10, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator