My Event Ratings

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

In short: Some organisational problems but generally a good race.
In full: Wasn't very impressed with the organisation at the start and finish but once on the course it wasn't too bad. Surprisingly quick despite the 3 small hills.
Date of review: March 8, 2010

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

In short: Well organised race, not too crowded
In full: Good to have a race on a Saturday so I could do a long run the next day. Undulating and breezy but still some potential to put in a reasonable time. I overdid it the day before and blew up after 4km.
Date of review: October 14, 2009

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Yet another race that has suffered by making it too big
In full: With the commercial pressures (and in this case the need to make money for a charity) this race (like the Bath Half) seems to have deteriorated because it now has too many people. Most of the problems would not have happened if there had been 950 people like last year.

Apart from the start I don't think it was too badly organised and on the right day the course wouldn't have been so tough, although I did prefer the previous race finish. The Red Bull at the start and finish was great, although as water was rationed at the finish I had 2 cans and probably won't sleep this week!

The main problems were related to the infrastructure groaning under the shear weight of numbers.

Race Directors please do not try to overfill races.
Date of review: May 12, 2008

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Muddy mess.
In full: 1 hour delay was poor. Too overcrowded even though only 2/3 of runners turned up. Muddy field caused wet feet before even starting. Getting too expensive.

On the positive side it is well supported, fast course, good marshalling and reasonable goody bag.

Might do it again just to see if it gets better, but will probably leave it a year or two.
Date of review: March 17, 2008

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

In short: Friendly local race for me. Needs some tweaks on the organisation and then it would be much better.
In full: I did the marathon as it was very local to me and I enjoyed it. Luckily I knew the area so was aware where to turn etc.

I think this could be a very good race and the organisers had the best of intentions so I'll add a few recommendations which would have made it much better:

1. Mile markers for the marathon (as the Garmin measured it as further than 26.2 it was hard to pace) the 40k marker also seemed out.
2. A sign at the end of the loop saying "Marathon turn after 3 laps" and "Ultra turn after 4 laps"
3. It was too far between the last drinks station and the end. We could have missed the earlier drinks on the first lap but it was over 5 miles between the last drinks and the finish.
4. PLEASE take out the "dog leg" at the end. It seemed to go on forever.
5. There seemed to be confusion about whether we should run on the right or left. I would generally run on the right but at parts of the course we were told to go on the left. I'm assuming the course was measured along the shortest route.

I hope the organisers manage to iron out some of these problems as it could be a very special race. I particularly liked the pub at the end to rehydrate.

I will do it again.
Date of review: January 29, 2008

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

In short: Well organised undulating but with some PB potential.
In full: It was fairly undulating but no real killer hills. Should have taken the downhill 2 miles at the start a bit slower as I paid for it from 23 miles. One very friendly lady marshall at 21/22 miles offered me a water bottle and ran alongside me which I really appreciated and found this summed up the friendlyness of the marshalls on the course. Although the medals weren't engraved they offered to do it afterwards.

Well done Bob and Leicester!
Date of review: October 18, 2007

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

In short: CaniX half was fun and well organised
In full: All in all a very enjoyable experience. As the CaniX half set off with dogs a bit earlier than the others it was slightly lonely, but this added to the charm of it - so much different than a city race. Fantastic run in to Stonehenge at the end.
Date of review: May 11, 2007

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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: Nice run in the woods with the dog.
In full: Really well organised and fun. Some quite quick runners there but very friendly.

Only gripe I have was the length of time between the run and results/prizes.
Date of review: February 19, 2007

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

In short: Fast and flat but bendy and windy.
In full: Great finish and lots of drink stations. Found the Barrage 2nd time round a bit windy, also found the bends in the park and castle hard towards the finish.

Rumours are that they may scrap the full marathon next year which would be a pity. I can't see how a capital city could be without a marathon.
Date of review: October 26, 2006

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

In short: Mostly a pretty good race.
In full: My thirteenth 1/2 Marathon and 2nd Stroud. I liked the new course layout, I found the quiet and wide industrial estate roads to be quite quick. The only part I didn't like was the road back from the Little Chef R/B towards Stroud with the busy traffic coming up from behind you with no footpath or cones.

All in all though a good fast course. Bit of a shame about T shirts, but if the money raised goes to charity then fair enough.
Date of review: October 26, 2006

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