My Event Ratings

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

In short: A few niggles to iron out but great potential.
In full: Can't disagree too much with what has already been written, but I like to have my say!
It took me an hour and 45 minutes to get from Wolverhampton to the stadium, this would have been resolved if there was some marshalls/police on the 3 junctions after the turn off from the A34, because we were left to the mercy of the traffic lights and other traffic this created the massive queues and traffic back log that saw many people arriving with minutes to spare, and yes delaying the start by 20 minutes.
This is the only issue that needs resolving, every course is individual, what makes it drag, boring or difficult for one person makes it interesting and challenging for someone else, I achieved a PB by over a minute, I wasn't expecting to, I had profiled the course on map my run, so I knew it was going to be up and down, but it still happened, I think the majority of people run races to test themselves, if every race was the same people wouldn't enter.
This race has fantastic potential, and for the first run the organisation and support were really, really good, I would do it again in a heart beat, I don't know what the organisers ambitions are but it could easily be up there with the other two massive sporting distance events this country currently have, and yes potentially number 1.
Date of review: October 26, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Unusual race, with great potential!?
In full: There are alot of things that could be said about the race, I have read all of the previous comments, but if the info I have seen is correct the critics have to remember a few things.
The biggest one is, last year was the first year that this race was run, with a start list of approximately 50 or 60 runners, this year they were pushing 800, even expecting this many participants, actually dealing with that many must be difficult.
Yes, there was only one toilet at the start, but the train station wasn't far away, as one person wrote, and having seen the race information, I had already prepared for limited toilet facilities, after all when I've been to other races with more toilets I've still queued for a while.
The demolition site, on the other side of the canal, please, there is no point talking about something that is not in the control of the organisers.
The finish line wasn't marked as a finish line, but I thought it was clear enough, the mats and the crowd on the bridge gave me a distinct feeling of having finished and there was a 13m marker.
Why do some people run these races, just to get a goody bag at the finish, if that is what you want then save your money and go to the shops and spend it on whatever you like.
Yes, it would have been better if there had been the odd marshall dotted along the course at important junctions etc, but don't forget marshalls are volunteers, and I don't think this race was organised by a running club so there wasn't the pool of people to volunteer.
The only gripe I could understand is the one of safety through the tunnel, I was fortunate enough to get an earlier start spot and the tunnel was lit when I went through, but I'm sure the organisers will sort this out for next year, after all they ran through with torches last year.

I was expecting to finish this race in 1hr40mins, I was a good 6mins off this, the bridges took their toll I think, so when I finished I was really disappointed, and vowed never to do this race again, however, reading some of the negative comments on here, made me reconsider a few things, but mainly, why do I run in races. The answer is simple, how far can I push myself, this race is relentless, I don't run races to be with other people, its a test of my own fitness, mass starts or staggered/wave starts, don't bother me, its me v the clock.
Yes it is relentless, relentless in its boredom, looking down at the path, the water and the industrial wastelands you are running along, it is such a test of your mental fitness to race.
Having initially vowed never to go anywhere near this race again, I now look forward to the time when I can take it on and overcome the mental barriers, which are much bigger, for me, than the physical ones over this course, I will not relent, I will triumph.
See you next year!
Date of review: July 6, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Brilliant course, and extremely well organised.
In full: Very fast 2 lap course, very well marshalled with excellent organisation.
Doesn't matter if you are a beginner or experienced runner this race is for everyone, the course is as flat as you can get over 10k so PB's all round.
The races popularity is growing every year so book early!
Date of review: June 22, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Good 2 lap course around central Burton.
In full: It's been 2 years since i ran this race, slightly different route, only down side was the wind , it was blowing hard! Can't fault the organisers for that though.
This is a well organised event, the course is definite PB potential, 1 hill that drags more than anything, especially second time round, but it would be hard to find a 10 miler with less hills in the midlands.
Good support from the marshalls and at the start/finish, but as in my post from 2006 the locals don't seem that interested, never mind, they are the ones missing out.
Date of review: May 25, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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: Good 2 lap course, great stewards and organisation.
In full: Great course through Clayton, has PB potential but nailed on, I achieved a new one at 44:43 so very pleased, it was humid and the last 1k was all into the wind, although not strong did make a bit of a difference.
The course is undulating with a couple of long drags, but nothing too severe.
Marshalls did an excellent job ably assisted by members of the local special constabulary especially when we had to turn right across the traffic into the finishing straight, no messing everything came to a halt, the traffic that is.
First time but not the last I think.
Date of review: May 7, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Excellent race, but very hard, with killer hills.
Date of review: September 23, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Tough hill, but still a good course!
In full: The hill was tough, especially on the second lap, still managed some good splits made possible by some good long downhill sections.
Well marshalled at all the major road junctions and the support at the start, the start of the second lap and the finish was good.
Well worth doing.
Date of review: July 22, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great run around a two lap course + a little extra tagged on the end.
In full: Very well organised event around a two lap course taking in the surrounding roads and the JCB grounds. Great support from the runners of the earlier fun run.
Finish with a bar/pint, organisers could learn alot from this.
I have seen on the "motion based" website someone measured the course with a garmin 301 two years ago and it was 5.25miles, I measured it on map my run, which I always thought measured slightly less than actual mileage, and it measured at 5.15miles, can anyone confirm these with there GPS??
Date of review: July 13, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: 2nd year at this race, hills were just as steep though!!!
In full: It all started so well for me, the first 5 miles in just over 40mins, the rest, as they say, is confined to history.
This really is a special race, a big thank you to all the organisers, marshalls, persons, young and old, at the water stations, plus a big thanks to all the people who supported throughout the run, you are precious.
Ah the hills, if you take anythng from these reviews remember this, Hanley, the starting/finishing point, was built atop a bloody big hill.
This run is well worth doing, geat atmosphere and brilliant goodie bag, even had a souvenir brochure which included events until the same time next year, at least I can start planning next years torture early!!!

Date of review: June 11, 2007

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: Tough first half, warm sunny day, nicely downhill second half.
In full: It was a tough first 3 miles to the race nearly all uphill, the next mile was undulating, and the last three was mainly downhill, with about the last mile fairly flat, support throughout the race was a little lacking, but, the people just after 3 miles with the impromptu water station were a god send, thank you!
Organisation was good and the memento was certainly different, glass paperweight type thing with a male and female runner inside it.
Would certainly do this run again.
Date of review: April 16, 2007

Report this rating to the moderator