My Event Ratings

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

In short: Thank you to the organisers for giving up their time in freezing conditions
In full: The big facts are that this is a much cheaper entry than many other 20-mile events and is organised and marshalled by the devotion of volunteers. Yesterday, these people were heroes; my car said it was -1, it was snowing at times and there was a horrible icy wind in parts. These people stood there for several hours to support us runners and all were positive with kind words to cheers us on. Thank you.

In addition, it is a nice country course with variation, has the feel of a club event and is the perfect event if you are preparing for a spring marathon.
Date of review: March 25, 2013

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

In short: Nice course with perfect organisation
In full: I think they are helped with the setting. By having the start / finish on a big airfield, it is easy to get cars parked next to the start and there is an easy get-away for the first 3 miles. But, it was really well organised with water / energy every 3 miles and supportive marshalls. I like the 2-lap format as you can focus on a negative split. The first 3 miles of the lap is on the airfield, but interesting when you run over Top Gear features like the hammerhead and gambon. Then it is out onto lovely, undulating surrey country lanes with a mixture of views and little traffic.
Date of review: March 4, 2013

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

In short: Excellent new course in lovely settings
In full: This is a local race for me and I have run the old version several times. I would like to congratulate the organisers on a better course this year that avoided the main roads. Maybe the weather helped this year, but some of the views and scenery on this course are stunning - from the frost-laden grounds of Loseley House to the scene across Guildford towards London from the top of the Hogs Back to the tree-laden Weald as we descended.

To improve this event, I would like to see chip-timing at the start and finish. To have chip-timing surely increases the costs for competitors, but we don't gain anything from it if it is only set at the finish.
Date of review: December 3, 2012

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

In short: Fast course but event needs to be better organised
In full: Some really good aspects to this event:
- Sir Roger Bannister at the start
- Pace setters
- Fast and generally flat
- Lovely running by the river in the centre of Oxford
- The bands and support by the road
- Plenty of drink stations
- Perfect running conditions: cold, sunny and still
- Good t-shirt and medal at the end
Some points that need improving:
- We arrived in the car-park queue at 8.15 and only just made the start at 9.30
- It was a bit chaotic around the stadium
- The car park exit was closed until the last few runners were passing
- The event was sponsored by Mini, but the detour into the mini plant and running the ring-road overpasses did not make for scenic running
Date of review: October 16, 2012

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

In short: Well organised half in a fantastic setting
In full: It was tough in the heat, and with the trail route on the hills, was never going to be a PB. But, my challenge was to enjoy the 6 wine stations and complete the run. The course is lovely, and the hot sunshine added to the beauty as you ascend Ranmore common on the north downs escarpment. The numerous and well stocked stations were well appreciated.

A few points of feedback for next time:
- I would prefer an earlier start than 12.
- my children did the fun-run, and we did not see anywhere that it was much more expensive to enter on the day
- how about having the fun-run after the half marathon has set-off
- how about letting the supporters and fun runners buy a portion of the hog roast
Date of review: September 11, 2012

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

In short: Pleasant running with good support from other competitors
In full: I enjoyed the route across the slightly undulating surrey countryside in the lovely sunshine of a spring morning with good banter from other runners. The 9 / 6 / 6 mile loops made it easy to segment the course mentally. The only major downsides, which would have been out of the control of the organisers, were the challenges around the start / finish. Despite the first two miles of the route being closed, a UK Cycle Event had to share the same road and cyclists were having to plough their way through the running field. Then, to reach the finish line, I had to dodge a few cars turning out of junctions immediately beside me.
Date of review: March 26, 2012

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

In short: a lovely event
In full: One of the best events around, partly due to the clockwork organisation from marshalls who were continually shouting support.
Date of review: March 19, 2012

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

In short: a flat, fast half marathon that is a nice event due to the great organisation
In full: This event has so many positives. The course is straightforward, flat, with a nice leg along the sea front and fast. The organisation is excellent, with supportive marshalls throughout, plenty of water stops and jelly babies en route. A good number of runners and supporters turn out and it all adds to being a lovely event. Many have pointed out that the goody bag is great, but for me, an additional bonus was that my daughter ran the children's race and got the same goody bag and medal as us; she has been left with a really positive memory of her first event.
Date of review: November 21, 2011

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

In short: Well organised, nice support, fast 10k
In full: There was a nice atmosphere down Fleet High Street with a number of people cheering on the runners. The event was well organised, with a central start and finish, and easy access for spectators to see runners several times. It is a generally flat route, with a few undulations in the later part of the route. The 2-lap format is good in that you know what you have to do on the 2nd lap!
Date of review: October 23, 2011

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

In short: A nice route and enjoyable event
In full: I like the route as it is challenging and fun (aided by the ice this year). I wonder whether the start and finish could be at Loseley? I think it is quite expensive for a non-standard distance.
Date of review: December 15, 2010

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