My Event Ratings

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

In short: Will be there next year but lack of signs / arrows and incorrect instructions from a marshal messed it up for a few of us.
In full: I really enjoyed the race despite the following blunder. Marshals were really nice but they need to point where to go rather than clap. As once of the front runners I repeatedly had to shout at marshals "which way". It was bound to go wrong and it sure did later on in the race.

Things got worse when one marshal on a bike told 3 of us "straight up and turn at the end". There was a junction half way up where we should have turned right but we went straight up and turned at the end. Correct turning was not signed and there was no marshal there, arrow on road.

Only ran 12 miles in the end. Cost me a possible 3rd or 4th place cost the leading lady (who was in the lead by minutes) her win.

Still, I did really enjoy despite this and I am sure next year everything will be fine.

Date of review: August 12, 2012

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

In short: It's all downhill, after the first climb :-)
In full: :-)

Love it, trails, grass, road track. See you next year !
Date of review: May 23, 2012

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

In short: A three year old could have done a better job of organising it.
In full: :-(

And to think Welsh Athletics were involved here too somehow. Strewth !

I bailed at 3 miles (injury issues) but even by the time I had jogged back to the start there were still people only a couple of hundred meters in to the race : shows how many were running it.

So, knock entries back to, say, 8000. Start it in waves, do away with the turn just before the finish (everyone slated this last year) and cut the price of entry. I know it is for charity but in all honesty, in an age of austerity, £27 is far too much especially for something that gets it all so basically wrong.

:-(
Date of review: October 19, 2010

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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: Another excellent Cardiff Half Marathon :-)
In full: ....

But broken grenola bars, a marshall who didn't release the water cup soon enough and no yellow sign at the exit of the A345 (for those of you who can't read maps and only read yellow signs ...

I only need to read a complaint, as per the Swansea 10k a few years back, of 'one two few singers on the course' and I will die laughing, or of indignation, or both !

:-)
Date of review: October 17, 2010

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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		60%

In short: It's All downhill, Apart from the big hill in the middle.
In full: :-)

Stunning scenery, superb organisation and a really fun day out. A really cracking race and getting more and more popular each year.

See you in 2011

:-)
Date of review: September 6, 2010

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

In short: Mostly on Sand, which is Hard, Accidentally Short Course
In full: :-)

We ran up the beach for a few k then on to the footpath on the front. Some random cyclist on his way home from work, who happened to be wearing a yellow jacket, had stopped to pick his nose. No-one was more surprised than him when everyone mistook him for the turnaround point and headed home 1k short of the half way water station !

At least I ended up with a PB for 7.8k !

:-)
Date of review: August 23, 2010

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

In short: You need a race plan, or it's gonna hurt !
In full: :-)

With an awful lot of downhill between the start and 6 miles it is easy to shoot your bolt before the climb back up to Brecon. This can make for a very unpleasant experience.

On the other hand, run the first 6 sensibly and you will be overtaking from 6 to 8.5, whereupon you can enjoy a gentle 1.5 mile roll-in to the finish.

:-)
Date of review: August 3, 2010

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

In short: Wot I said last year :-)
In full:
Just do it !
Date of review: May 26, 2010

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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: A real gem of a race :-)
In full: :-)

Honestly, it is superb. Like a mini festival with a BBQ, kids race and stuff.
Date of review: May 26, 2010

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

In short: Fast, Flat Course, Crowded Start and a bit longer than 5k !
In full: :-)

This is a superb 5k series that has been running for years. Well organised in so far as it goes but it really needs a small revamp.

* Move the start towards the junction 60 meteres, you can have two starts, a fast one and a sub 22 one which merge by the garage.

* Get the course re-measured, it is not just a little bit over 5k, it is quite a lot over.

* Have a large loop in the car park in Mumbles : that turn costs 10 seconds for even a faster runner.

* Think about chip timing, even if it is gun to chip : peoples times are often out and I was missed off the results today.

Having said all this, there is so much good and right about this I do feel a little bad criticising, but still, make these improvements and it will be perfect.

:-)
Date of review: May 12, 2010

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