My Event Ratings

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

In short: It'll do organisation spoils the runners hard work
In full: My first crack at a full marathon, run with my a friend who did London about 7 years and swore never again...

Some initial credit for the organisers - the London Road start seemed to be well organised. Starting in the blue wave, we actually started running well before the start and carried on over the line - no bunching or slowing (quite rare in my experience).

Course is scenic in places, industrial in others.

The finish line problems are well detailed in other reviewers, so I won't go over them again. To me, it just seemed the organisers made several decisions on the basis that "it'll do" and had little interest in delivering a good day for the runners.

No spectactors at the finish? "It'll do".
Small and very congested immediate post-race area? "It'll do".
Long walk to the (over-priced) shuttle bus? "It'll do".
Medals with no year? "It'll do".

I'm sure you get the idea.

A huge thanks to the spectactors who did go out around the course, especially around 25 miles. Having my name on the front of my t-shirt was the best £8 I've ever spent.

I would like to give the organisers a second chance but the race fee plus travel & weekend accomodation costs are just too much to stomach if they don't deliver a second time. My marathon money will go to somebody else next time.

GSI Events - you are the weakest link. Goodbye.
Date of review: May 31, 2011

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

In short: Very good race - just needs a bit tweaking for 2012
In full: Thankfully I arrived in decent time to join one of the rather long loo queues and squeeze into the start area before 9.30am. It seems some of the trucks bringing the toilets got stuck in event traffic so that didn't help the queue for the usual pre-race formalities.

The park sections of the course are nice, shame about the industrial estate towards the end but I guess 13 laps of Sefton Park would make people dizzy.

Alan @ Run Liverpool says they want to move the start/finish to the Pier Head for 2012 to provide more space and toilets will come on the Saturday night. It's very good to hear that improvements are already planed - live and learn.

I took just over 7 minutes off my half marathon PB, so am very happy with the race and will be back.
Date of review: March 29, 2011

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

In short: A tough but super scenic 10k
In full: Grand weather and very well organised.

3km to 4km was hard work but thankfully, what goes up must come down. The incline between 8km and 9km was tough on my tired legs but I still managed a PB.

More hill work required if I'm back next year.
Date of review: February 8, 2010

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

In short: A super Sunday morning!
In full: It's not a race which makes it a whole lot of fun. Start in the shadow of the historic buildings of the Liverpool waterfront with chance to enjoy a nice leg stretch through the town. Great atmosphere and the sight of the Red Tidal Wave surfing up the road flyover is just fantastic.

Walk it, run it, or do it three legged - bring the family (and the dog) for a fun morning - see you in 2010!
Date of review: December 7, 2009

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

In short: A good Sunday morning outing
In full: Well organised and a great turnout. A bit slow through the start but then plenty of space on the outside of the park to get going. Nice pockets of support through the park.

Looking forward to 2010!
Date of review: October 5, 2009

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

In short: Good crowds and a great run
In full: Cups at the feed stations? I ended up wearing or spilling more than I could drink.

The crowds up Ecce' Road were fantastic and great to finish down the home straight on the running track. My first sub 2 hour half marathon, so highly likely to be back next year.
Date of review: May 6, 2009

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

In short: Great introduction to trail running
In full: My first 10k (on or off road).

I had been a bit worried about the organisation when my race number came in the post with information about the Forest of Dean race. Then the replacement version e-mailed still had FoD car parking information in it.

No problems on the night though. As noted in other reviews, the bunching on the climb of Old Pale kept the pace down (which removed my worries about going off too fast) but it soon spread out coming off the hill and through the forest. I loved the twisty singletrack sections, many of which I've ridden on my MTB in the past.

No t-shirt in the goodie bag though - boo hiss. Will be back next year though
Date of review: July 4, 2008

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