My Event Ratings

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: A Christmas Cracker
In full: So pleased this race is back on the calendar - it was missed last year. Numbers were down on 2008, but that's understandable given the temperature.
The two-lap course isn't favoured by all, but I quite liked it.
Close to a PB for me, so not bad considering the icy conditions.
Big thumbs up to everyone involved.
Date of review: December 14, 2010

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

In short: Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain...
In full: Shame the weather took a turn for the worse in the latter stages, but the wind and rain couldn't spoil this event.
Top marks to the marshals and all involved.
Easy, Easy, Easy...
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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

In short: A Post-Christmas Cracker
In full: As is often the case (and I can't think of a solution) a bit narrow from the start up to the 1st corner, but a grand little race with a cheeky little hill. Well done all concerned.
Date of review: January 21, 2009

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

In short: Fast, fun, friendly
In full: A credit to the organisers, who even arranged perfect running weather.
I can think of only one criticism - nobody likes U-turns!
Didn't notice many km markers, but wasn't looking for them - it's only 2 laps!
Date of review: September 28, 2008

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

In short: Wow
In full: My second half, and first really hilly race at any distance, and first with major off-road bits, so was hoping for around PB + 10 mins - amazed therefore with my (unofficial) time of PB + 26 secs!
I'd give it more for beginner-friendliness were it not for the challenging nature of the course.
Only gripe was arriving at the first water station before the water - and could really have used it at the top of that first steep climb!
Overall, really enjoyed it, even the somewhat changeable weather - was it just me, or was it always raining when coming downhill and blazing hot going up?
See you next year.
Date of review: July 21, 2008

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

In short: A most enjoyable race, but the worst goodie bag and medal everr!
In full: I for one take my running cap off to the organiser's - I think they've done incredibly well to grow the event to this size so quickly and to overcome what must have been quite a logistical headache.
The course was fine - it did exactly what it said on the tin. If you want hills, don't run a towpath race! It was occasionally difficult to get past other runners, but with a little prompting all were happy to make way and to give a smile or a wave. I even found runners moving over for me when I was quite happy to carry on behind them for a while, but it was easier to pass than to explain! The overnight rain had caused a few puddles, but nothing most of us aren't used to. We were warned as we approached the tunnel that the lights had failed. There were a few toward the end, but in all honesty it's a short stretch and dead straight, there is a handrail, and though I'd heard that it was slippy in there the ground wasn't particularly difficult. More lighting would have been nice, but wasn't essential.
The marshalls I came across were friendly and helpful, and plentiful where needed. As the course had no road crossings etc there was little need for marshalls on the course, and the signage was adequate, though I think a few mile posts had disappeared, unless I missed them while taking in the scenery!
Yes only one toilet, and the overspill (if you'll excuse the phrase) apparently caused queues at the station toilets too, where it affected Joe and Joanne public as well as runners. A couple of porta-loos next year please! I didn't realise that Mr Bannatyne had been persuaded to give access to showers (& loos?) at his club, so I missed out.
While it was quite clear from the crowds when approaching the finish it was difficult to judge exactly where the line was until you saw the timing mats. After doing my best to sprint, I thought I was going to have to continue up the hill into Brindleplace!
I'm calling this a PB, since it's my first half in many a year, and I think I just about beat my 1:45 target.
All in all a most enjoyable race, but the worst goodie bag and medal ever!
Date of review: July 5, 2008

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

In short: A great race, well organised, marshalls helpful, friendly & encouragingg
In full: Lovely course (not spoiled by only brief views of the M42), a bit narrow in places but that's OK, scenic and interesting.
Finish was a little awkward because of the reseeding of the footie pitches.
Very nice and unusual paperweight memento - wouldn't want to start a collection of them though!
Good to see locals, marshalls and runners all cheering everybody on.
Date of review: June 22, 2008

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

In short: Great race
In full: Weather couldn't have been much better, nor the organisation.
The medals are a bit tinny, T-shirt would be better if it mentioned the event on it.
Congratulations to the organisers and volunteers - thanks folks!

Date of review: May 18, 2008

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

In short: Loved it - but oh, so hot!
In full: Happy Birthday Will! My first marathon, so nothing to compare against, but it seemed to me that the organisation was superb, aside from the fact that someone messed up booking the weather. It was HOT! Nice for the impressive crowd, but made it really hard work for us, especially on the Greenway, which reflects the heat upwards and goes on forever. Must have reduced the PB potential, apart from for us first-timers of course!
Chuffed to have made it in under 4 hrs, (by just 32 secs) and apart from miles 17 to 25 loved it.
Lovely course, though could have done without the loop through the town at the start.
Oh yeah - one more small gripe, echoing Corinna O'Connor, small & medium Ts ran out quite early - surely runners are generally on the skinny side? Very nice medals.
Great finish area, though it would be nice to be able to see the finish line from further out.
Marshals plentiful, friendly and helpful, and that goes for the other volunteers, such as the Sea Cadets, too.
I'll definitle consider a return next year.
Date of review: April 27, 2008

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