My Event Ratings

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: Excellent organisation makes this one a bit special.
In full: Friendly marshals and organisers really do make a big difference in my opinion. Positive encouragement was everywhere.

Facilities were excellent at Congleton High School with changing and showers and even massage on offer.

Course is challenging in parts but The Sting is only about 300m and so doesn't last forever. Pity it's at the 12 mile marker though! The early start makes for little trafic on rural sections which is always well received.

A T-Shirt that actually fits rounded off the perfect day!

Well done and thanks very much to Congleton Harriers and Congleton Lions. See you next year.

Date of review: October 10, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great atmosphere, decent course and well supported by runners and spectators. Starts too early.
In full: I'd echo other reviews about overly ambitious runners starting too near the start. I just don't understand why people do this. They must just get carried away with the big race atmosphere. Ultimately this can only make things harder for themselves (surely it must be very demoralising to be passed for a lot of the race) and others who are caught in unnecessary bottlenecks.

Thought the course was really pleasant. Traffic free is becoming increasingly rare these days and as such was very welcome. My favourite bit was getting encouragement from other runners heading out in the opposite direction. This really makes a difference so thanks very much to everyone for that and I'm really sorry that my work rate meant I couldn't reciprocate.

What about that last mile? Police marshalls managed to completely confuse me and it was all a bit frantic with lots of sharp turns and footpaths to negotiate. I managed to collided with a wall 200m from the finish line thanks to an inpromptu downpour making conditions underfoot very slippery. That could have been very nasty.

It's a little frustrating that some marshalls assume you know where to go. Not everyone will have run in events on previous occasions. I had to ask confirmation at least three times. Give the bib to someone else.

My only real gripe is I didn't get a medal despite finishing second!

Thanks to all the good people at West Cheshire AC. Hope to see you again next year.





Date of review: May 23, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Fast, traffic-free and a friendly atmosphere. Steps are famous for the wrong reason!
Date of review: April 12, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator

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: Excellent event - scenic and mostly traffic free.
In full: Large field gave some organisational challenges at the start but the course itself is really pleasant 'out-and-back'. It was particularly uplifting to receive encouragement from the slower runners on their way out. Tremendously friendly. Chip timing and a T-Shirt that actually fits! Will return next year without doubt.
Date of review: November 24, 2004

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Tremendous atmosphere, fast course and great organisation.
In full: This is definitely worth a trip. NWRRC are to be congratulated on their hard work and dedication for putting on a great event. They should feel justifiably proud - I didn't hear anyone complain (weather accepted) and the run along the prom was really special. Not sure about playing the theme to 'Chariots of Fire' over the PA system though - was the announcer Alan Partridge?
Date of review: November 24, 2004

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Bizarre course but seems popular despite itself.
In full: Two laps of the track to start with 800 runners? You can imagine the chaos! Watch out for the farm track at 4 miles - nearly lost it last year on wet cobbles. Additionally, there are a couple of killer hills, the worse of which is just after 9 miles so hold something in reserve. In it's favour, the race is well marshalled and the pre-Christmas timing always lends itself to a friendly atmosphere. Please can we have a choice of T Shirt size? How many XL runners do you know??
Date of review: November 24, 2004

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: My favourite race in the calandar. Simply brilliant.
In full: Traffic free, fast and flat with beautiful scenery and a tremendous atmosphere. It doesn't get any better. Get your entry in early, it is always oversubscribed months in advance.
Date of review: September 1, 2004

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Well organised, fast course and friendly atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit.
In full: Big race (850 finishers this year!) billed as fast and flat but there are a couple of short sharp hills in the last 3k (just when you don't need them!) to watch out for. The finish on a traffic free, tree-lined boulevard for the last 400m is special.
Great atmosphere.
Date of review: September 1, 2004

Report this rating to the moderator