Latest Ratings
| 1 to 10 of 25 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 |
2013 Rotary Beacon Easter Bunny Run
 | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A bit of up, a bit of down, a lot of fun
In full: A well organised race in lovely countryside. Not flat! - the clue was in the name of the venue - Beacon Hill (although there was nothing too steep). This was much more fun than a flat race, with a friendly atmosphere and plenty for the kiddies to do.
The post-race goodies would put many a "big name" event to shame. A good quality t shirt, decent medal, banana, cereal bar, lovely chocolates and - best of all- a free sports massage from a friendly physio.
I shall be back next year.
Date of review: April 14, 2013
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2012 Aberystwyth Twin Peaks 7
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: An excellent race, ideally suited to a cross between a whippet and a mountain goat.
In full: The calm, sunny morning duly turned to wind and rain just before the race. I found myself starting faster than planned just to get warm! The Pen Dinas climb is mostly fairly gentle but it is made worse by the slippy mud and running water on the narrow, gorse lined path. The descent was "interesting". I wore road shoes and concentrated on staying vertical! Others wore trail shoes - the intelligent runners' choice. I know that the view from Pen Dinas is brilliant but I didn't see it on the day.
Descending on the road back over Trefechan bridge to the harbour was a chance to pick up the pace again. Fast running along the prom only brought the challenge of Constitution Hill closer. This reduced me to a wheezing, arthritic shuffle, which was soon forgotten in the sweeping descent and the sprint(?) finish along the prom to the bandstand. The marshals were brilliant- happy and encouraging despite being soaked and chilled. Good goody bag, very welcome tea followed by a late lunch in the greek restaurant made this an excellent day out. I'll be back again next year. Diolch yn fawr, Aber.
Date of review: October 18, 2012
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2012 Mizuno Reading Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Once again, an excellent event, on a fast course.
In full: This is definitely an expensive race, but I've run it several times, and it is my pb route, so I just keep coming back for more. Like many people, my garmin read long, but given the width of the course and zig zagging, this was well within the confidence limits for the garmin. I am confident that the course measurement is accurate, and I got my best time in a decade.
I was pleased that the colour coding worked better than in the past, certainly in the red pen, where I started. Having had a disrupted preparation I started towards the back of the pen. I'm glad I didn't tag on to a pace runner, I wasn't impressed with their strategy. By running an even effort, I gradually passed The 1:45, 1:40 and 1:35 runner and was not far off the 1:30 runner. They all went off fast, then slowed.
Its a great race for beginners too - my son's first race of any description and he ran a negative split by keeping steady until the dual carriageway then picking up, finishing in under 2 hours. I personally do not like the stadium finish - the "roar" does not make up for the awful running surface.
Date of review: April 16, 2012
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2011 Destination Basingstoke Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The hilliest sauna I've experienced
In full: Brilliant organisation, a great course and amazing support from the villagers along the way. The 29 degree temperature meant that even a gentle jog warm up left me bathed in sweat. A couple of miles into the race I saw sense and eased back, averaging 30 seconds a mile slower than planned. That, and the wonderful hosepipe showers, kept me vertical until the finish. On a normal October day, this route could produce fast times, despite the hills.
An impressive first running of an event that I hope will become a perennial. Well worth travelling down from Shropshire.
Date of review: October 2, 2011
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2011 The Hay Hill Raiser 11
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A challenging race with a teasing glimpse of Lord Hereford's Knob.
In full: A great race, well organised by Hay Hotfooters. From the inspired safety talk (did anyone win the broken ankle award?) to the happy, smiling marshals the evebt was thoroughly enjoyable. Even the 480ish metres of ascent did not dampen the spirits. As it was a Hay Hotfooters race, I expected cake, and I wasn't disappointed. A leisurely lunch in Hay afterwards made this a great day out. (I am assured that the views were magnificent, but I was too busy chasing, and being chased, to appreciate them!) I'll be back next year, and I intend to bring more from the club.
Date of review: September 9, 2011
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2011 Race the Train 14.75
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great atmosphere, great race, great fun
In full: It rained all night and started up again mid-morning. My wife assured me that it would change, and it did! - the rain got heavier and the wind picked up! None of this detracted from the enjoyment at all.
I got trapped quite a way back at the start, spending much of the road section working forard. Things got easier once we got off road. The outward leg was pretty enjoyable, apart from the turnip field, but the return was pure fun! Mud, climbs, descents, sheep tracks and the occasional runner disappearing from sight down the slope or taking up involuntary bog snorkelling.
When the train draw alongside towards the end of the off road section, I was convinced that I couldn't beat it, but I was too stubborn not to try, even when my legs objected to running the last mile on road. Really chuffed to beat the train by a minute! My wife said she had a great time on the train and we both enjoyed the evening event. A great all round experience - we'll be back!
Date of review: August 21, 2011
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2011 Tenbury 10K
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A good friendly local race - hard enough to make know you've been working.
In full: My second time at the race, so the halfway hill didn't take me by surprise this time. It still slowed me down to a jog, though! A well organised, friendly event with a good mix of participants. Not a pb course, but a very enjoyable one!
Date of review: August 7, 2011
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2010 Shobdon Wood 6
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great scenery, great atmosphere, great doughnut!
In full: A truly enjoyable alternative to watching the marathon on telly. The race might be more helpfully named the Shobdon Hill race - Shobdon Wood is not flat! Great views over Mortimer Forest and the hills of Herefordshire, Shropshire and mid-Wales. Well organised by a friendly club, with a very welcome doughnut waiting at the finish line.
Date of review: April 25, 2010
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2009 The Magic Roundabout 10k
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A tough, but runnable, race in fantastic countryside.
In full: Personally, I would have preferred a uphill start! A great race - really friendly, well marshalled and packed with humour. It is not a pb course - too many ups to counter the swift downs, but it isn't slow either. If you took the time to look around you would admire superb views in every direction. My other half really enjoyed the day out - and she even watched some of the race too. The finish, at race HQ was like opening stockings on christmas morning - T shirt, crisps, cake, water, banana and tea!, all with glorious scorching sunshine. I'll be back, rain or shine! Well done Hay Hotfooters!
Date of review: May 31, 2009
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2009 Shobdon Wood 6
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Its amazing what you will do for a cup of tea and a doughnut!
In full: A beautiful setting for a reasonably challenging race. Well done Croft Ambrey top marks for organisation and friendliness. Well marshalled and marked. At the speed I ran this year, I even had chance to admire the views and the bluebells! The first few climbs aren't too bad, and even the mile long slog is survivable, its the last short climb through the trees that killed me off!
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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