My Event Ratings

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: very nice friendly race
Date of review: July 30, 2012

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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		80%

In short: mud glorious mud, and 5 water crossings for the hell of it
In full: I always enjoy this race. A real x-country race, of muddy fun. I was well surprised with my time, a new pb for the course, as I'm not as fit as I was last time I ran it. I probably paced this race a lot better this year. Bearbrook running club always organise a good race, and with a lot of marshalls out on the course, at the water crossings and ditches everyone was well looked after. A good mix of fast and fun runners, so this is a good race for anyone that wants to have some muddy good fun. A big thanks to everyone at Bearbrook.
Date of review: February 19, 2012

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

In short: The hills were tougher than I rememered
In full: This was my second comeback race and I found it a lot tougher than I remembered. Probably because I'm not as fit as I used to be. The hills were steeper and longer than I expected.
The race is run on rememberance Sunday. And before the start their was one or two minutes silence. I arrived at the start with about 30 seconds to spare. Due to turning up late. The race started straight after the silence. The field set off on some well trodden grass which made it very muddy and slippy. I think a race was held there the day before. The first 1/2 mile was also the last 1/2 mile and it was good fun trying to stay upright as I was flat out for the finish. After the first mile on grass you have a short streatch of tarmac, which leads you to a hill and out of the park onto a golf course. I know this was going to be harder from that point as the hill was steeper than I expected. We was quickly across the trail and into the woods. There was lots of muddy puddles but it was easy to go around them and not lose anytime. Then the hills came quick and often. A couple of the hills were a little slippy but with a little care you was able to take them without slowing. The course was well marked,and had mile markers every mile. And lots of marshalls to help you on your way. It was nice to hear the marshall at the top of the last hill tell me it was easier from there. The trails were wide so overtaking wasn't a problem. After the last hill it was back across the golf course on a nice flat then gently down hill section. before you rentered the park for the last mile, returning the oppisite way back to the start, finish area.
There was Gaterade for all finishers. And a bootbag for a momento. After a short walk back to the clubhouse. There was a buffet of sandwiches and other bits and loads of cakes and drinks.
A big thank you to everyone who made this race possible. And a very big thank you to Colin the race organiser who emailed me the results because my computer wouldn't open the ones on the website.

Date of review: November 17, 2010

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

In short: Great race
In full: We had another good morning in Marlow. wot a lovely day for a race made all the more special as Jade won the junior girls category in 38:45 to set a new Pb. Once again Handycross joggers put on a very well organised race. With a fantastic goody bag. We don't want to sound ungrateful but we did think a trophy would have been a better prize for the junior winners, than a John Lewis voucher. WE stood by the Grant and Stone banners just before the finish line and was amazed how many runners we had to shout at to keep going as they fought they had just crossed the finish line. I think the organisers need to think about the way they can prevent this in the future. Maybe a 100 meter board would be a good idea. Apart from these two small points, we would all like to thank all the organisers and Marshall's for making this another great race.
Date of review: May 10, 2009

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

In short: great venue nice friendly race
In full: The race is run around a lovely lake. And the race HQ is in a pub that has a great big windmill as part of the building, very scenic. The organisers were very friendly, there was a nice relaxed atmosphere about the whole event, with a good mix of runners of all abilities, a good race for a first time run.
There was about a 5 minute walk around the lake to the start, which was nice for the spectators, as we were able to see the whole course, and watch the runners on the other side of the lake, as we made our way back to the finish next to the pub. After just 200 meters we knew who the winner would be as she just ran away from the others. My step daughter started off in second place but soon dropped to fourth where she finished, first junior, I think she might have been the only one in the race. Her time of 22.24 was a new pb. So although a little disappointed at not finishing in the top 3 she was very happy with the time.
There was bananas, choc biscuits and lollipops and water after the race, and a nice meddle, but the only disappointment was that there was no trophies, and I have marked down the value of the race for this. We came to the race looking to take away a trophy and was disappointed not too. A look at the previous results show that not many of the top 3 finishers in the earlier Chick Chase races have returned, So maybe the organisers need to address this. The only other bad thing about the race was the midges, but the organisers have no control over this problem. A nice pint in the pub after the race helped make this a very enjoyable morning.

Date of review: March 25, 2009

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

In short: I started racing for this race
In full: I'm a local and some friends of mine was talked into running it by another friend who runs it every year. It's one of the main events in the local callender.
Two hard as nail hills followed by a long easy and fast down hill back to the local pub.
Great views from the top of the hill. On a clear day you can see for miles.
The race is open to all ages and you get families running it with their young kids. A very enjoyable event come and have some fun.

Only down point it has been known to be short of marshalls but I think the problem has been adr
ssed.
Date of review: April 7, 2008

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

In short: My favorite race was even more fun in the mud
In full: that was fun, the tough challenge was made even harder because of the mud. It was the third time I have run the race and I train on the course, and I would never have dreamt of getting up that hill in those conditions. After a few laps It would have been almost impossible to climb the hill with out the ropes. But that made it all the more fun and probably made the climb easier as you could rest your legs and pull yourself up. That's not to say there is anything easy about getting up that hill. As you run laps you get lots of support from other runners as you pass each other. For me the only thing that was missing this year was the cake and chocolate bars Rory provided for an energy boost.
I love this race and will be back for my 4th crack at the 1/2, the marathon is to far for me, in the autumn.
If you fancy a challenge this is the race for you give it a go.
Date of review: March 21, 2008

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

In short: I nice senic run along the Thames
In full: Due to the organising skills of the Donalds, who managed to change the course at very short notice, due to the flooding the race went ahead. A very pleasant run along the Thames. A bit muddy in places. In fact it was better than I had expected.

This was the first time the race had been run and apart from 1 or 2 problems that can be sorted out for next year, the race was a great success. With better weather conditions before the race and a good starting postion as it was a bit narrow in places this is definatly a multi-terrain PB course.
Date of review: July 29, 2007

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

In short: A new 10k pb course for me.
In full: I knocked 23 secs off my old pb set last year. so very pleased with the run. Possibly a little to undulating for some that's why I've marked down the Pb potential. A very good race around some nice country lanes. The marshals were in all the right places and used tape and cones at some of the junctions to make sure the runners stayed out of the road. Would have liked to see some more encouragement from the marshals on the course. And that is the only knock I can give the event. Apart from that a very well organised race.
Date of review: July 8, 2007

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

In short: This race truely lives up to it's name
In full: Set in the beautiful Wendover woods, this is a truely great race. But only for the brave or the mad. I'm sure beginners would be welcome but they would need to be brave. I've only been running for just over 2 years but I'm mad.

The course was changed for this year and it was a lot harder than last year. I ran, walked the 1/2 I don't think anyone can run up that hill 11 times 20 times if you did the full marathon. It's probibly the steepest hill in the woods and at times my hands were on the ground.

I hadn't trained properly for the race due to injury and it was a stuggle from the word go. If you are thinking of running this race train properly for it. This is without doubt one of the toughest races in the country. And I beleive it is something everyone should run at least once. This was my second time and i'll be back in November to try again.

The race is run over 2km laps up and down hills of verying degrees of differculty from gentle to you must be joking I can't run up there. Even the gentle hills become a challange as the big hill sapps your strenght and your will to carry on.

The organisation is first class for a small race like this. Ambition events really know how to do things. The race organiser Rory Colman was there with his camara taking photos and videos of the runners which can be found on the Ambition events website.

If you think you are tough enougth for the tough challenge then do it you won't regret it. Or at least you won't forget it.


A big thanks to the Ambition events crew for another great race.
Date of review: April 17, 2007

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