Latest Ratings
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2011 Kenilworth Half-Marathon
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Kenilworth Runners deliver another good one
In full: This isn't the easiest HM course but the slick organisation & enjoyable atmosphere make it a "must do" for me.
Introduction of chip timing this year is a good improvement. Although I would rather not collect my number/chip on the day, I found the process pretty smooth & quick (I arrived about 1hr prior to start).
Undulating course, including a nasty hill at 12m, but loads of supportive, encouraging marshalls & plenty of water stations. Preferred this years finish along path rather than grass.
As ever, a nice goodie bag with a (tech) tee that I will actually use!
Not a fancy HM, but you can tell it's organised by a running club for runners & they get all the basics right. They were oversubscribed this year so get next year's entries in early!
Date of review: September 4, 2011
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2011 Birmingham & Black Country Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Unusual HM with some nice touches. Well worth doing
In full: Thanks to the organisers for putting on a fab & unusual HM. Slickly organised, easy to get to as right next to Wolverhampton station, & really liked the staggered start times so that it was uncrowded & you ran with similar abilities.
The route is lovely - canal all the way to Birmingham; in 2 minds re PB potential: it is mainly flat, but the bridges (esp in final 2m) & the tunnel scuppered me!
Would agree with the earlier comment re small amounts of water in cups (it was HOT!), but then that's prob because I haven't mastered the art of drinking from cups & prefer bottles :-) You can never please everyone...!! I also feel the finish point was a bit of an anti climax & the friends who came to watch me felt the same. Could we not have carried straight on & finished under the bridge so we could see the end & the supporters could watch us better?
Anyway, minor gripes, & didn't detract from what i think is a fantastic HM which sells itself on its uniqueness rather than letting it be an obstacle to a great race. I really enjoyed myself, well organised, friendly & encouraging marshalls, lovely atmosphere at start, decent goody bag. Will be back next year!
Date of review: July 2, 2011
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2011 Sphinx Summer 5
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Very well organised by Sphinx AC, friendly & encouraging marshalls, good atmosphere ( 80/90% club runners), nice route: 2 laps of War Memorial Park & relatively flat. Plenty of gorgeous, free cakes at the end too!! Well definitely do again
Date of review: July 2, 2011
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2010 Kenilworth Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Should be a regular in any runner's calendar!
In full: OK, the reason I'm reviewing this so late was that the debacle of the Bham HM yesterday has made me appreciate just how fab the Kenilworth HM is and how the organisers did a fab job.
Undulating course, with one nasty hill at end, through beautiful countryside. Loads of encouraging marshalls and well placed water stops.
Had been concerned re lack of chip timing, but as it is so small (700 runners) you cross the line pretty quickly so time is fairly accurate.
Fab tech t-shirt in goody bag. It is a personal choice, but I know I'll get more use out of this than a medal I stuff in the drawer!!
I have to praise Kenilworth Runners for putting on a fab race and for great organisation. Will definitely be back next year - thanks!
Date of review: October 25, 2010
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2010 EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: An experience I won't be repeating until much better organised
In full: Unfortunately I have to echo many of the negative reviews here. Such a shame, but I would advise:
a) the organisers to go and see how other races are managed before putting on another calamity
b) until things are improved for runners to save their money and enter a different race
Given how many other brill, well run, and enjoyable HMs are local (Cov, Kenilworth, Stratford) let alone nationally why bother with the hassle of this one? It seems to me that the organisers have been too intent on increasing numbers and fiddling with the route when what they actually need to do is get the basics right.
Us runners vote with our feet you know!!! I won't be back.
Date of review: October 25, 2010
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2010 Rotary Club of Kenilworth Two Castles 10K
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great event - scenic though challenging
In full: 2nd year of doing this and enjoyed it as much as the 1st - where else in the world can you run from one medieval castle to another?!
Think it's well organised and lovely mix of really serious runners and newbies. Great support as you leave Warwick, through Leek Wootton and especially in Kenilworth which drags you through the final killer km and uphill to the Castle! Special thanks to the lady in Leek Wootton and kids in Kenilworth with jelly babies, and the young boy with his hosepipe - you helped me and many others along!
It is a bit hilly - leaving Warwick on Cov Rd during 1km, Leek Wootton through 3-5km, on approach to Kenilworth (6km) and the final 400m run up to Kenilworth Castle. They're not really killers, the one at 6km probably being the worst, but you certainly notice them and it may zap the PB!
My only negative thoughts were that only the Stratford Rd entrance to Warwick Castle could be used this year which is a long walk from the main car parks. Please let us use the Stables entrance again next yr! Also lack of toilets at start - I gave up in the end (though maybe the thought of a toilet at the end helped me run faster!).
Also preferred the previous finish both as a runner (it was more uphill and couldn't see the supporters so well) and my supporters didn't find it as good to watch from.
However, these are picky things in an otherwise much enjoyable run and won't put me off doing again.
Warning - be prepared to enter this one early. It now sells out very quickly and know alot of regulars missed out this year.
Date of review: June 7, 2010
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2010 Coventry Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well done Cov!!
In full: Jeez...I think we all did well to survive this one on what must have been the hottest day of the year! My 2nd time here and loved it as much as the 1st, even if I was 13 minutes slower this time!
So well organised, lovely atmosphere, brilliant marshalling, water stops and road closures and nice medal. But the thing that really makes this race is the local support - they really get behind you, supply bananas/choc/cheese (I kid you not) and thank god for all those hosepipes yesterday!! The people of Cov make this race great.
Bargain value for money at £16 entry and it does Coventry proud. Must admit I prefered the Oct date but can understand the move and will definitely be back next year (but praying for coller weather!)
Date of review: May 24, 2010
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2010 Shakespeare Marathon
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bit disappointing, a few tweaks would make it a lot better
In full: Did the 1/2 and have mixed feelings on this race.
Good bits - the BEST marshalls who were friendly and supporting, good support in the villages and at start/finish, lovely medal, easy parking, good supply of loos
Bad bits - roads not closed other than at the start, half marathoners only get water, no time indicators at the start so you could line up appropriately and not be weaving in/out of slower runners or be annoying the faster ones
Overall I have to say I found it poor value for money. I recognise it's for charity and am not bothered by things like goody bags, but do think they should look at making some changes. It is an expensive race given that the Coventry 1/2 is much cheaper, closes all the roads, provides bottled energy drinks and organises the start better.
Also found the course slightly, well, boring - long stretches on country roads/Greenway which stretch miles in front of you and have little supporters on to cheer you up.
Don't know if I'd return.
Date of review: April 26, 2010
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2010 Not the Roman IX
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A test of the winter training!
In full: 1st time doing this race and will come back next year. Organisation great (thx for the regular update emails Ashley), nice local feel and although a lot of club runners a friendly atmosphere, not too intimidating. Tough race (though maybe that was just my xmas excess) which is quite hilly. Great way to blow away the winter cobwebs. Shame that no timing clock at the end but other than that thought Stratford AC did a great job. Well done!
Date of review: January 18, 2010
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2009 The Coventry Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great organisation, lovely atmosphere, Nice bits through parks & university and a few tough hills to sort the men from the boys!
In full: My 1st HM and thought it was great. Seemed really well organised and everyone very friendly. Great atmosphere at the start and finish, loads of marshalls, 4 well placed drinks stations (water & gatorade at 8m) and lots of support along the route.
Special mentions to the ladies handing out jelly sweets (along Charter Ave?) and the lad with water, choc and bananas around 10m - you made my day!!
Few tough hills - notably around Allesley Hall Drive, Park Hill Drive area (4m) & leaving Warwick Uni campus (8m). Still, the final few miles are flatter with a downhill finish.
Considering this race was only £16 to enter (compared to Stratford 1/2 @ £28) I felt it was a bargain. Plus with 2500 entrants it was big enough to feel like a 'real' race, yet not too crowded or intimidating to us newbies! Will definitely try and be back next May.
Date of review: October 26, 2009
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