My Event Ratings

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

In short: Charming event with a very friendly vibe and an interesting route
In full: Local event just down the road from me. Ahead of the race I was a little concerned about the route - being mainly on woodland trail and single track, but I need not of worried. The trail was easily wide enough for 2 to pass and at no point did the twisty route become a problem.

The route included a start/finish section on roads, a section through woodland trail and more on dirt track - I really enjoyed the variety. Scenery was impressive but must admit with the heat the hills certainly proved a tough challenge!

Big thumbs up to the organisers (most marshals I've seen at a 10k event!), especially the people giving out water at the end of the race. Only suggestion would be a medal or T-shirt for next year?
Date of review: July 1, 2011

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

In short: Gnarly hills and speedy declines
In full: 2nd running of this local-ish event. Had forgotten the gnarly hills between kilometres 6 and 8! Some challenging inclines including a lengthy section off-road. But the scenery and mainly downhill last 3-4 kilometres make the climb more than worth it!

One grumble is that the race clashed with a vintage motorcycle event, meaning that the last 3 kilometres was spent avoiding motorcycles and mouthfuls of exhaust fumes! But a small grumble and the warm reception on the finish lane more than made up for it. I shall be back next year!
Date of review: June 19, 2011

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

In short: Exhilarating downhill sections and great scenery
In full: Bitter cold morning for this run. Arrived late and by sheer luck parked just a few metres from the start but race organisation seemed spot on. Route was very enjoyable; impressive scenery, very little traffic, mainly on roads but some pathways. Monster hill around 4-5k, a real knee-shaker that seemed to have no end. But the reward, once the lactic acid burn faded away (and apart from the scenery), was a couple of k's later, around the 7k mark. 1-2k of more or less continuous and VERY fast downhill - exhilarating stuff! Cold wind in your face, legs pumping, and an opportunity to run a couple of seriously fast split k times. Overall PB potential was wiped out by the hill in the 1st half of the race, and overall race time quite slow but seriously good fun. I shall be back for the Feb race!

A couple of other positives: nice to receive gloves at finish; race results online very quickly.
Date of review: January 24, 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		60%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Impressive scenery but very blustery
In full: Another well organised event at Silverstone with straightforward chip collection and an entertaining public announcement system providing updates all night long.

Conditions on the track were very windy with little or no protection offered by the wide open track. But nonetheless the Silverstone circuit is a splendid venue and offers some impressive scenery.

Chip time was a little slower than expected - probably due to not having a start mat but overall a big thumbs up! Although perhaps next year a medal or race memento might be considered?
Date of review: May 10, 2009

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

In short: Scenic multi-terrain event superbly organised
In full: My third running of this local event and both the organisation and support seems to improve each year.

The number of competitors seemed well up on last year and the atmosphere was buzzing after the pre-race warm up. The public announcement system was great - particularly as runners were crossing the finish line.

With glorious sunny weather the route was as scenic as ever, although the hill sections were a little harder than I remembered. But the friendly atmosphere and achievable distance make this a great race for first time runners.

There were free drinks and Lucozade samples at the race finish and a nice medal (although not quite as impressive as the two previous years). I really hope this great event continues to be well supported, I'm sure to be back next year.
Date of review: May 10, 2009

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

In short: Fast and friendly with potential for a personal best
In full: A second running of my local event and far more enjoyable in the cool weather. Really hope the organising team decide to keep the late March date rather than several months later.

The course itself is fast with two laps of a course primarily on roads with a short section on dirt track. There is a water station between the 2 and 3 mile markers and the marshals once again did an excellent job around the course.

Overall an excellent opportunity to run a fast 10k with a friendly and uplifting atmosphere. I'm sure that I will be back next year!
Date of review: April 26, 2009

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

In short: Fast, scenic event with a charming atmosphere
In full: Didn't really know what to expect from this race but I was more than pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was very friendly with runners of all abilities turning out in the bright sun. Thanks also to the marshals who did an excellent job ensuring the event was well organised.

The course itself comprised five laps of a scenic circuit on grass field, dirt track and pathway. The final 200m had a slight incline but otherwise the track offered great potential for a fast time.

The T-shirt was a nice touch and together with a bumper goodie bag that included a couple of bananas, an orange, several chocolate bars and a drink, this race offered really superb value for money!

I will definitely be back next year and would encourage anyone in the Oxford area to support this excellent local race.
Date of review: April 26, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Mud, blood, spills and thrills aplenty
In full: I foolishly didn't look into this event before turning up on the morning and definitely paid the price!

Leave your Mizuno running trainers, iPod and running shorts at home and get some specialist off-road footwear and a pair of tracksuit bottoms!

That said, I had a brilliant time and despite dreading the hilly section in the woods on each of the three laps, wiping out and eating mud at least a dozen times, and tearing my shins to ribbons through the brambles, this was great fun! The course was a good challenge and a varied combination of trail, hills, mounds and fields, and the atmosphere was very friendly.

A great day out and certainly lots of laughs and spills – but I'll be more prepared next time! Also worth mentioning that this event seemed excellent value at just £7, and it was really good to see the race times and photos online so quickly.
Date of review: February 3, 2009

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

In short: Great value, well attended rural gallop
In full: Despite the cold and rain this was a thoroughly enjoyable race! The course is mostly flat and on roads with a short section on dirt track, so there was great potential for a fast time.

Excellent attendance in spite of the weather and a good, friendly atmosphere with the added bonus of jaffa cakes and jelly babies at the end of the race! Also a very nice medal to add to the collection.

My only gripes would be the lack of a clock on the finish line and the rather misleading event name (it was some distance away from Swindon), but otherwise a really superb event - great organisation, good attendance and a suitably fast course for late November conditions!
Date of review: November 23, 2008

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

In short: Few disappointments but very rewarding overall
In full: Third running of this, my local event and still very much worth turning up for. Disappointed that more info wasn't provided about the distance from the new car park to the race start, and I found myself having to run the 20-minute walk to the start instead of the five minute walk from the car parking in previous years.

But once underway the race was thoroughly enjoyable with great scenery and enough downhill sections to compensate for a few steep climbs. Great crowd support and a very friendly atmosphere. Really enjoyed my run!

Slightly disappointed that there were no medals this year but still a very enjoyable morning in the Oxfordshire countryside!
Date of review: October 12, 2008

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