My Event Ratings

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

In short: Great First Half, Dreadful Second Half
In full: This was my first marathon and I was happy to finish it under 4 hours, although far from what I had expected due to injuring my knee around mile 15.
Anyway, the first half of the course, i.e. the half-marathon course is great and the support from the crowd is acceptable. The second half is, as many others have mentioned, soul destroying. There are less runners, there are very few and far in between supporters, runners have to compete with cyclists and horses for space and, this year, the headwind for about 6 of the last 8 miles when you most need a push was really hard.
The organisation is good and the race village was very well organised. The start and finish were smooth and runners did respect their placing at the start which was great to see and experience.
Overall, a great experience and already looking forward to beating my time on my next Marathon. Probably not in Nottingham.
Date of review: September 12, 2011

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

In short: Fantastic Half-Marathon
In full: I might be biased as this is my town's new half-marathon. This first edition went really well. The only issue was the start and doing a lap that brought the runners back through the starting line when the slowest runners hadn't crossed it yet.
The course is flat and fast and definitely PB potential in sight.
The touch of being able to bid for the number and keeping it was great and something I can see getting copied elsewhere.
I will be back next year to get a new PB :)
Date of review: September 8, 2011

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

In short: The first mile is a killer
In full: If you don't like hills (or a big hill) then this is not the Half-Marathon for you. I must say I was taken by surprise with how steep the climb on mile 1, which just threw me out of my stride completely.
Other than that, the organisation was very good and the area is nice.
I might come back but not my favourite Half, surely.
Date of review: July 20, 2011

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

In short: It doesn't get much hillier than this
In full: I am normally a road racer. So, this race put me very much out of my comfort zone. The scenery is fantastic and the race was very well organised.
As a road runner, running on grass, gravel, mud, sheep p**, etc... is not my idea of fun. On top of it, the up and down hills were absolutely nuts! Especially doing 1k uphill at some 45% between 8 and 9k...
It was a good new experience for me but really not my thing. Maybe with different trainers, etc... I think I will stick to the roads :)
Date of review: June 20, 2011

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

In short: My local race. Very well organised, nice route. Shame not much support on course.
Date of review: May 9, 2011

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

In short: Nice run - Good organisation and nice course
Date of review: May 9, 2011

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

In short: Very nice race to start the year
In full: Nice place, nice people and an enjoyable route.
Date of review: January 17, 2011

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

In short: What a perfect day
In full: Great organisation! Flat and fast course! A perfect day! I will be back next year!
Date of review: October 25, 2010

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

In short: Nice run - Good organisation and nice course
In full: The day started miserable and running the first and last km on mud was a bit of a challenge.
On the positive, the course was nice and flat, the organisation worked well and the atmosphere amongst runners was nice.
On the negative, the route was not well enough sign posted at a couple of points and the crowd was non-existent.
I hope to be back next year and see more people lining the course.
I would definitely encourage anyone to join in.
Date of review: October 12, 2010

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

In short: Will be back to Bristol
Date of review: September 6, 2010

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