My Event Ratings

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

In short: Beautiful course, great organisation
Date of review: May 10, 2013

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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		80%

In short: Scenic course on quiet country roads.
In full: Well organised, cheerful and kind marshals, lots of jelly babies at the drink stations. Would have preferred a medal to a shirt.
Most enjoyable race, great venue.
Date of review: April 15, 2013

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

In short: A great race, loved it
In full: Brilliant organisation, friendly, welcoming. A most enjoyable day and plenty of cheerful marshals.
Date of review: October 9, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Short course and not a road marathon
In full: Advertised everywhere as a road marathon and it's not, probably a quarter of the course is off road and I've since discovered that the UKA permit is indeed for a Multi terrain event. Very disappointed, I wasted a weekend and a lot of money going to Jersey to do this race. The course was also short so not as many folk did PB's as they thought. The first half of the course is lovely. Good support and kind marshalls but not one marshall did anything about the idiots wearing headphones, which were supposed to be banned from this race.
I did speak to the race director and he didn't seem to be aware that the race was advertised as road! But he did apologise (he was a very nice chap) but I doubt they'll do anything to put this right so I will have to take the matter further.
Date of review: October 4, 2011

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Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Lack of marshalls and signage spoiled the day
In full: Unfortunately due the lack of marshalls and poor signage my race was spoilt. Shame as it's such a good venue. Basic inexperience in race organisation I guess. Some of the marshalls hadn't been advised how to marshall either, I had to ask one 3 times which way to go, eventually then I had to stop running and ask her was it LEFT or RIGHT!!! At several key places there were no signs or marshalls and as in most races you can follow the runner in front, it wasn't possible to do this as so many runners were out training in the park.

Some runners told me that for each of the 3 larger laps they had run a slightly different route.

Lack of hot drinks to purchase was very disappointing too.
Date of review: May 16, 2011

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

In short: A very special race
In full: Stunning scenery, superb organisation, but those hills are tough.
Date of review: June 12, 2009

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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: Beautiful course, almost traffic free, superb organisation
In full: I was not looking forward to the towpath section but that turned out to be a wide tarmac road with a good running surface and it was a joy to run on. Undulating section in first half then flat all the way to the finish. It was great to run back into Newry with the roads safely coned off, police and marshalls stopping any traffic for safe and efficient crossing. Race venue was lovely, no toilet queues! Great medal and t-shirt too. I'll be back.
Date of review: May 27, 2009

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

In short: Superb organisation, very friendly race, highly recommended
In full: Lovely scenic route, great marshalling, nice medal.
Date of review: May 12, 2009

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Overall score		20%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Dangerous course - if you feel suicidal this is the race for you.
In full: Let's start with the positives, lovely weather, good race info on location of race HQ and parking details. Lovely friendly helpers all doing their bit to raise money for their charity. The course was well signposted and waymarked. Lots of drink stations, squash, water and lots of sweets on offer.

This event had been advertised on RW as road, but somewhat oddly it has a UKA multi terrain permit, there is some off road. I guess multi terrain must mean that there need be no concern whatsover for the runners' safety. I consider this course highly dangerous, a few of the marshalls did help with some of the road crossings. The majority of marshalls had not been briefed on any aspect of marshalling at all and failed to advise me to cross at a junction to safety whereas I was trapped on a verge on a busy A road in heavy traffic (I was told this happened to several runners). After this experience on the A road at 9 miles I decided to pull out at halfway so just pottered around the rest of the course including stepping over the rubbish flytipped at the edge of the golf course. However at 13 miles I just decided to walk round the 2nd half and I was only nearly killed twice on the 2nd lap. The course is also measured short.

This is such a dangerous course, obviously designed by somebody who has no knowledge of running or health and safety. How there has not been a serious accident so far is truly amazing.

I would like to meet the man that underwrites the insurance for this event....he is one brave man.


Date of review: May 11, 2009

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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		100%

In short: Superb marathon, I loved every minute of it.
In full: It's several years since I've done a RW event review but this wonderful race deserves a very special mention.

The organisation was faultless, all the helpers and marshalls friendly and welcoming.

The course winds through sleepy Dorset hamlets and the scenery was stunning with minimal traffic. Gently undulating with a couple of hills but nothing serious and some good gentle downhills. I could PB on this course as it's so interesting and scenic.

This race has gone straight to my No. 1 favourite marathon (and I've done a few).

Well done Gillingham Trotters.

Date of review: May 4, 2009

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