My Event Ratings

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

In short: A challenging cheeky little 5k! So many kids braving those hilly bits
In full: Good course for have-a-go-runners/joggers/walkers to serious club runners.
A pretty challenging 5k, up and down some steep hills. Brilliant to see loads of kids running, but maybe thats because no one realised how hilly the course would be- being a first time event it certainly fooled me.
Date of review: April 28, 2008

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

In short: Only made special by all the women running in memory of loved ones
Date of review: April 21, 2008

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

In short: Lovely raace, good course for those trying to PB, even if its windy!
Date of review: April 21, 2008

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Organisers please learn from this year's problems, you could really improve this event, its got great race potential (a nice park, flat and with PB offerings) Please, please make the most of it, for your future races here.
In full: Being postive let's talk about the plus points first:
1.Regents Park is lovely
2. Passing one of the football matches, as a goal was scored was the most cheering I heard all day (thanks guys- even though it wasn't aimed at us, it was great to hear)
3. 2 officials, (after the race) helping the little boy who was lost- well done to you.
4. Other runners- very friendly & chatty (while waiting in one of the many long queues)
5. Massage facility, a nice touch (pity about the queue though)
6. I had a brilliant race and thoroughly enjoyed myself, despite a lot of hanging around and queueing.
7. Regents Park- oh I already said that didn't I?
8. Uhmm......

Negatives: sadly far too many.
1. Extremely poor organisation from start to finish and then after the race too!
2. Lack of toilet facilties- its not the first time you've organised a race, you must have realised that 3,000 into 12 doesnt go!
3. Baggage storage- great idea- but you needed more helpers there, I've seen more hands at events with a field a fraction of this size.
4. The PA system was rather quiet, located at the finish didn't help runners at the start (part way down the boardwalk)- couldnt hear a thing. After the race you didnt hear much from him either, maybe he was just shy?
5. Race start delayed- without informing runners, many got chilled at the start line.
6. Actual race start- who knew it had started? only realised when there was a shuffle forward, then the usual scrum.
Supposed to have been started by Matthew Pinsent- was he there? Who knows.
7. Race course: you cannot help the location(too small for a 10k), 3 laps of Regents Park with some extremely narrow paths, is not ideal for this number of runners, far too congested = alot of dodging/sideways running. Part way through the 2nd lap there were some openings, as field thinned out a little, but even still alot of weaving called for.
You have chip timing, so use wave starts, you know it makes sense.
Felt really sorry for the Kenyan runners and the super speedies amongst the field.
8. Marshalls- one of the most miserable bunch I've ever come across, lacked interest, looked bored, I know they're probably volunteers but, really if its that awful chose another Sunday pasttime! Is it that hard to raise a smile?
No officals to help runners remove timing chips at the finish.
9. Water station- come on guys, that's not a water station. Too congested, too small and inadequate, those dispensing not experienced in providing water in races, got in the way, was rather entertaining seeing some of the collisions actually.
No Water offered at the finish/after - only the ghastly "energy" drink! I know they were sponsors but water is not a competitor of a sports drink.
10. Goody bags- Quoted on RW events page as "fantastic", perhaps they should look up the meaning of the word in a dictionary before next time. Honestly, other than the raisins(post-race sugary munch!), was it worth it?
11. Organisers: Bakerloo line closure: whilst outside your control, how about checking details and informing people beforehand? Communication is really important, and we'd all have appreciated it.

Conclusion: Organisers, please guys improve on these points, this could really be a brilliant race for so many, iron out some of the problems and you've the makings of a excellent event here.

Date of review: October 30, 2006

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

In short: Brilliant, you smile all day: Great cause, great for London, loved by all: toursits, cabbies, in fact everyone watching this amazing spectacle
In full: Definitely not a race, no PB's to be had in a gorilla suit, but who cares? Loads of gorillas running around the city's landmarks.
Kudos to all those who made an extra special effort "dressing up" their gorilla outfit... and the last word must go to the Marshalls - they were excellent, thank you for going that extra mile
Date of review: October 3, 2006

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

In short: Great race and decent weather
In full: Great race, great cause. Special touches- really made it worthwhile- i.e. even the hilly bits. Good one for Kent, one to look forward to next year.
Date of review: September 25, 2006

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

In short: Nice run, my first one after many, many years away from running.
In full: Great cause: Cancer research, good atmosphere, though bit sad (Reasons for many runners: in memory of loved ones lost to cancer). Good supporters/crowds around. And after many years away from runing, nice to enter a race where you could actually run if you wanted to, not held back by "fun-runners"/ walkers. Able to get through the field easily. Had I trained properly could have run a decent time as well.
Date of review: September 25, 2006

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

In short: Great charity event, definitely not PB material despite it being a flat course (why:walkers starting near the front(?!!!) not following race rules...
In full: Its a "fun run" for all abilities, which is great but some running etiquette would not go amiss: if you're not a decent runner please don't start at the front and then stop dead in front of a runner- very frustrasting weaving and bobbing around just to run at your own pace. That said it was a really good day out, excellent support from charities and all supporters all the way around the course. V Enjoyable. Could do with a few more porta-loos too.
Date of review: September 4, 2006

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