My Event Ratings

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

In short: Liked the amended course but needs some organisational tweaks
In full: As many others have noted already, there was lots to like (good car parking, easy to get to and away from, fast, flat (aside from the last mile but we were warned) PB potential course, great marshalls) but some niggles that if resolved would really bring this race into the 'must do' category.

Chief amongst these is starting the 10K race ahead of the half-marathon. Fine to do so, but give them a bigger head start (10 minutes or so). The back markers in that race were being over whelmed inside of 0.5 miles, as the downhill profile of the first few miles lead to a fast start, and the course was just too narrow to be able to cope with the volume of people.

Also, it was slightly disappointing at the end of the race to only get a medal and the requisite entry forms for future races. For the money I think a goody bag of some description could have been provided, particularly given the aspirations of being a big city running festival.

However, this race now has an improved course so if these peripheral issues are taken note of and addressed this should become a 'must do' race (it isn't that far away), whether you are looking towards the VLM or someone entering your first race.
Date of review: March 7, 2010

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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		60%

In short: Superbly organised race, from getting into the car park through to the goody bag. Probably the best set of marshalls in any race
Date of review: November 17, 2008

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

In short: Same old GSR !
In full: Got to Portsmouth at 09:00 to find the normal GSR weather, hosing it down and blowing a gale ! However, running on the sea front in late October should we really be surprised ? Weather eased off for the race, which was a marked improvement over last year, but perhaps an earlier date should be looked at given the number of people attending (running and spectating). Great support as always, and the multi-wave start help get everyone running in the slightly tight and twisty first mile, though, as noted already, having started in Orange wave C should I really have been overtaking people from waves A and B within 1.5 miles ? Still, a good race for beginners and those seeking a PB alike.
Date of review: October 28, 2008

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