My Event Ratings

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

In short: Great course, poor start & finish - Comedy goody bag.
In full: OK - well this is about the race itself which for a big City half, from mile two to the 13 mile marker is nigh on faultless, every corner you turn you can see that runners have picked this course - when the hills get tough, out opens a nice long undulating striaght, the parks were great and the last three miles a terrific challenge for all - impossible to quibble the route. But the baggage busses ... Eh? Unloading the porta loos at 10 to 9 and then the free for all for loos. The start which for me was at best chaotic with runners trapped the wrong side of barriers, a big surge over the line and then stop. Then the bloody awful scene that awaits 800 yards of about 60 to 80 runners running onto a piece of parkland for a pee - some poor local pushing a pram didnt know where to look - yuk! But, as i say, after that faultless - great course - plenty of water, good marshalling and steady support. The end was messy and the goody bag - well ... I was looking for a banana or a mars bar and was greeted with Flak seed, Tea bags and skin cream ... Is this a bad race, no, of course not - does this feel like a mature well run race - not yet. In all honesty, it felt over subscribed and that the organisers were overwhelmed - thats all - nothing serious ... can i say one last time ... cracking course only other minor was that I did a sub 1:30 and received a Text at about 4:00pm congratulating me on my 1:53 gun time and 1:58 chip time, i had only received my pack the day before so suspect that was part of the muddle.
Date of review: March 28, 2010

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

In short: Great course with more than a fair few hills
In full: Excellent weather always makes it a bit more special, but this looked like a friendly event from the start. Quite a crowded start and I was right at the back, but no problem winding my way through - great support from marshalls and the drink stations roared support, i got stuck with the same pack from about 4 miles, but never saw anyone else or catch anyone in the pack - hill at 12 killed me and I could'nt take full advantage of the down hill right at the end - overall, great fun, far better than the larger urban events, nice warm up for the Leicester full next week!
Date of review: October 4, 2009

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

In short: Not the suicide 6 at all, slick organisation on firm well marked trails!
In full: Great marshalls who clearly knew the value of a smile or a clap of encouragement for us poor self inflicting souls. Seriously, great course, perfect for a Friday night, the small group of supporters at the end were great - from the minute you arrive at the upstairs of the pub for this race its something different - quirky would be quite fitting. The loop at 2 miles is a novel thing, you cannot resist the occassional look over the shoulder - certainly did it for me, this is special, not for the obvious reasons like some of the really scenic runs or the super slick city halfs, but would recommend this to every level of runner - it is just a good honest run - I was quite unsure about the lager at the end, breathless and lifeless for 30 seconds, it was a virtual crime - I waited 15 minutes for a friend and sipped on a beer, which was mine, because i had earnt it - perhaps thats it? Nice one.
Date of review: July 18, 2009

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

In short: Goo organisation, Flat fast course, not a great experience up to 5 miles ...
In full: .... but once off the beaten track, much more pleasent - My first Tewkesbury contrary to other comments, i thought the chip timing was well organised and the organisers made a genuine effort without being over the top. Water stations were great, Marshalls supportive - so were the locals.

I have to say, some of the traffic was a bit scary - even thru the villages with drivers not knowing what to do with runners on either side of the road (Perhaps Keep left signs may have helped) - in the bigger picture, its the course that matters and without any hills and a really interesting finish, you can see that someone has taken time to think about this - you have to appreciate that. All things said, i would recommend this - Goody bag was excellent - but just to be difficult - would have preferred a T-Shirt to a medal!! (",)
Date of review: May 10, 2009

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

In short: Excellent organisation, great atmosphere - fantastic course.
In full: This was a great race, did the half and wish I had done the full, the support was fantastic, the course was interesting and mostly speedy.

Not sure what else the organisers could have done to make the run any better except run it for us. I will 100% be doing this one again, one of the best starts & finishes I have experienced - can't believe anyone could have a gripe on this one.

If you did'nt enjoy Stratford, then races probabley are'nt for you. Well done Rotary Club!!
Date of review: April 26, 2009

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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: A great one to just keep plodding at - slick organisation.
In full: Did this one last year in about 5 extra minutes, good to know whats ahead - thought the hill at 3 K was the hill at 6K!!! Can't fault the race really, T-shirts were fab, but suprised they had so many left, because they cant really do a lot with them now with all our names on?? Organisation and support on a pretty cold day make this one a real treat for Jan - friendly atmosphere, I will certainly be there again next year without doubt!
Date of review: January 18, 2009

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

In short: The start set the scene.
In full: What a crazy race, sent back at the start to make sure we hit a hill first - Brill! Being of the more conventional city halfs and 10K's this was a refreshing break from sterile street runs, you can have absoloutley no strategy when trying to overtake some other hapless soul on a hill and your both knee deep in mud. Did a very pedestrian 46 mins, but when having to queue at some of the single file bits, i found good natured runners all up for more mud! Never going to be one to suit those in pursuit of the off road PB - but a definite 100% thumbs up from me!
Date of review: November 16, 2008

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

In short: Well this one just gets better.
In full: I first did the leicester half last year after loving Coventry, I live near neither, last year was great and my running club are utterly bored with the rave reviews I gave it, this year was just amazing, what more can you ask from a race, marshalls were great, slick organisation and something to look at as you go round, astounding, I would move from my native Staffordshire to lovely Leicester pureley on the strength of today. To go past rows of Indian restaurants kicking out there beutiful smell and then to be thrown into beutiful parks, the space centre and then urban subways, shopping centres and an amazing finish to rival anywhere, how on earth do they improve this one ....?
Date of review: October 19, 2008

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

In short: This is a benchmark race, good fun, great course!
In full: Beutiful weather, great organsiation, even the parking was like clockwork, no one has mentioned the endless bananas, apples, red bull & water at the end - the cricket pitch curcuit was great, even the course itself is nice and balanced, no big hauls to worry about.
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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

In short: Boiling - lost the will until!
In full: The bloke with the hoespipe, deserves a medal - i sprang to life at that point thank god! Too hot for PB - but bless the water stations even the one at 12 miles they were cheering you on!
Date of review: May 11, 2008

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