My Event Ratings

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

In short: Tough 10k in great setting. Shame about naff memento!
In full: Great setting for a 10k and a good excuse for a lovely family day out afterwards. Course was split in two - tough first 5k, predominately uphill. Second 5k a mostly enjoyable downhill run to the finish.
Great organisation and good value as included entry to the park.
Only downside was the memento. My sisters first 10k and thoughts of a medal got her round only to get some beans and a microscopic pin badge. Not a great reward for the efforts for first timers..!
Date of review: May 20, 2012

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

In short: Fast course with lots of potential ...
In full: Great event on fast course. Definitely one for a pb with the right amount of training. Will be back next year with a proper training plan to make that happen !
It's been said before - only niggles are the baggage trucks (who thought those vans were big enough for 1000 bags?), the number of loos and the loop at the start.
However, for the first year a great race and a great autumn HM target race!
Date of review: September 8, 2011

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

In short: Certainly got the pulse racing ...!
In full: A great XC which was generally flat and fast, with one energy sapping muddy field at the end!
Good organisation, but with a 10 minute walk to the start a baggage drop at the race start would have been particularly welcome! Suprising it was a 'leave on the side at the start at your own risk'... hmmmm not likely! Meant for a long walk back getting cold.
Despite this a great XC. Many thanks to the organisers for rescheduling after the Dec cancellation. Really enjoyed it and will be back in December 2011!
Date of review: March 13, 2011

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great challenging race !
In full: Really enjoyable, but hard work !
First time I'd attempted a race like this but well worth it. So much different to a road race/10k/marathon.
Some really tough hills, deep mud, fast decents, ...
Great fun and defintely one for next year!
Date of review: March 5, 2011

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Excellent race!
In full: My first experiment with a non-road race and what a great race to pick! So hard, so much fun, and so rewarding! Good camaraderie the whole way round. Thank goodness the rain held off.
Already looking forward to next year!
Date of review: January 16, 2011

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

In short: Well organised, scenic route .... but it was hot !
In full: Really enjoyable run through great scenery. Well organised, enough water stops and encouraging marshalls! Course was flat, but a PB was a tall order due to the forest tracks and heat on the day. Great way to spend a summer's day - sun cream was definately needed! Defo one for next year ...
Date of review: July 13, 2010

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

In short: Great race around country roads
In full: Undulating course, well organised, good value for money and well marshalled. System to pick up number at start worked well. Small size allowed for ability to pick up planned race pace quickly at the start.
Date of review: July 7, 2010

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

In short: Great city 10k
In full: Great race taking in lots of the city centre. A fast, flat course that offers real PB potential, albeit the last 3km on park trail makes this more challenging.
Good organisation and great support.
Only a few gripes - more toilets would be good, better organisation of runners at the start (slow vs. fast - no time boards), and pretty cheap/nasty medal for £20 entry fee.
However, these shouldn't detract from a really enjoyable race.
Date of review: May 19, 2010

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

In short: Race hindered by unmarshalled pens at the blue start
In full: Fantastic day and occasion! As good as 2008 when I last did it. The sheer support around the course never fails to amaze me. It certainly keeps you going in the last three miles.

Only gripe is the unmarshalled pens at the blue start. Meant I was 40+s slower in the first mile meaning I was playing catch up from then on in. Those faster than planned miles certainly caught up with me at the end. Think there were two challenges - 1. slower runners in the faster pens, 2. why was only half the road available to run on in the first mile or so after the blue start?

Also - having to take a day off work to go into the Expo is a pain, but understand why they do it. Does give you a massive boost in the days leading up to the event !

Taking nothing away, a fantastic race and so pleased I have had the opportunity to do it twice. I did achieve a 23min pb vs 2008 so fast times are possible.
Date of review: April 29, 2010

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

In short: Great fast race with good support throughout
In full: Local big half marathon delivers again with fast, well organised race, with lots of support throughout, cheerful marshalls and plenty of water/lucozade stations.
Achieved a 4 min pb, although there were a few hills in the first few miles!
Only challenge was getting to the start line with large bottlenecks and long delays by the roundabout between the 'race village' and the start line.
Date of review: March 21, 2010

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