My Event Ratings

Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great marshalling but some little things that could have been done so much better
In full: I thought the marshalls out on the course were great, especially towards the end. Unfortunately that's about all I've got good to say on this one I'm afraid. Nothing major but not difficult things to get right:
1. Try and get the distance right - this is a basic requirement and there were no reasons this couldn't have been achieved
2. Make sure you have enough of the t-shirt sizes. One small observation. You do tend to get larger runners towards the back and hence the need for L and XL sizes will be greater as us slower/bigger runners come in (I'm sure I put what size i was on my entry to, so this should be easy to manage).
3. Too much of a bottle neck around the sports hall - collecting numbers, toilet queues. May the number collection could have been done outside so people could spread out more. Not the easiest to sort but worth a bit more thought. Perhaps send them out and that solves the problem. The cost of entry is more than sufficient on this one.

Date of review: December 17, 2012

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

In short: Good, challenging course with excellent setting for the finish
In full: I don't want to repeat everything already said, and as a first race it was OK with a number of areas for improvement. Key ones for me:

1. you really need to be better with the drinks station. Runners in the stride don;t want to stop and wait for someone to fill a cup. I just skipped it as I could see what was happening.

2. At the finish you need to keep non-runners well away from the actual finish line. They really clogged it up and with many there who i suspect hadn't been to races before, they really (but not intentionally) got in the way.

I hope you have another go next year as i really enjoyed the course. But definate room for improvement. Thanks to all the supporters and marshalls who did their best.
Date of review: August 13, 2012

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Challenging but expensive
In full: I wasn't sure what to expect for an out of city half-marathon for £25 (plus £5 per head for anyone else in the car that wasn't running)...and I suppose I'm a bit dissapointed. Nothing going on before the race (no refreshment outlets, no real build up, etc)...and very little after (a cup of water and a XL vest which is so small my young daughter has it).

I found the course challenging and genuinely enjoyed the race itself. However, to charge £25 you need to do a bit more. I've had more at races half the price in terms of facilities, information, things goingon pre-post race and the goody-bag/t-shirt/medal at the end.

Sorry, don't mean to be critical but I'm concerned that a few race organisers are started to bump up the prices a bit and it needs to be checked to ensure people keep doing races.
Date of review: July 18, 2012

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

In short: Great effort to keep this a friendly, not too serious race
In full: This is a challenging course, but unless you are putting yourself under pressure for a good time, it's a good mix of ups and downs. Marshalls were excellent and extremely supportive (apart from the guy reading his Kindle). Would be good to see more local runners - i hardly saw any from my club, or other local clubs for that matter, apart from Kimberworth who were well represented, and with this being on the doorstep I might have expected a few more.

I hope the race continues next year...I will be there
Date of review: July 2, 2012

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

In short: Excellent, again!
In full: This race has it all really and athough some clearly had a problem with the first major turn, route maps are available and i would suggest a bit of pre-planning and the problem may not have occurred anyway. I feel for those that got a bit lost but think of us who had to get out of their way and have our rhythm disturbed.

Anyway, back to the positive stuff. Weather kinder this year, marshalling excellent and friendly, jst generally a great event.

Have the organisers ever thought of spicing this up a bit by running it in the winter or even at night. There aren't enough night races and this would be an absolute classic.

Thanks again to the organisers, I'll be back again.
Date of review: June 18, 2012

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

In short: Change to route
In full: I do this race as it is local, but with the surrounding countryside around Sheffield the route could be more interesting. I know people like the stadium finish but not for the sake of the rest of this dull, flat course.

To make this more interesting and challenging, why not do a full marathon or at least change the course. Even if you want to go out of the stadium, head off in a different direction and stay out of the city centre.

Feedback for the organisers:
- T Shirts very poor for the money. Not that I'm in it for the T-Shirt but many races now manage tech-Ts at lower cost.
- drinks stations a bit chaotic. I didn;t get close to one until bramall lane and that was a bun fight. Put it at both sides of the road and use bottles

Saying that, i know there is a lot involved in organising such a big event so I'm not going to be too critical. Oh, take it back a month or 2 to try and avoid the carnage caused by the heat.
Date of review: June 1, 2012

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

In short: OK, bit expensive for an out of town half-marathon
In full: Not one to moan too much but I think £20 for on the day entry is a bit steep. It's not a big city 1/2 marathon and the small number of drinks stations and total lack of directional signs/arrows around the town to direct runners to the car parks and/or registration was a little dissapointing. If the cost relates to the goody bag, then, yes it was a good one, but I would rather pay less for the running...that's what this should be about, not the t-shirt of sweatband. Nice course though
Date of review: October 31, 2011

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

In short: Excellent course with top support. Rory and Jen put on a great event!
In full: This would be excellent for anyone thinking about taking the leap in to ultra distances. Only one or two tough climbs and a nice finish outside the castle in Nottingham. Well marked overall. Organisation excellent and well marshalled and supported throughout.
Date of review: October 11, 2011

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

In short: Excellent support and marshalling. Thanks to those that braved the heat!
In full: In terms of catering for the conditions this event was second to none. The amount of water out on the course was superb and the support was excellent throughout, even for us nearer to the back when even the most fervent of supporters must have been wilting! I'll be back next year.
Date of review: October 4, 2011

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

In short: Tough course and warm in the August heat. Thanks to Rory and Jen
In full: If you are thinking of doing this next year, don't be fooled by the up for 10m down for 30m...it's not. However, if you don;t rely on that this is one to just take your time on and enjoy the surroundings. The Tissington Train is long and (sorry to say) rather dull. But the organisation was excellent. I'll be trying some of the other ULTRArace events next year.
Date of review: August 22, 2011

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