My Event Ratings

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

In short: Professionally run race in a great location
In full: My 7th Marathon and found so a very well organised race on budget. Very well marshalled / loads of water stations and a very good route. Felt that an energy drink / gel would have helped towards the later stages of the race and would debate how well the Marathon / half marathon works having both races set off at the same time. A bit more in the good bag would have been appreciated but nothing should be taken away really from this great run. If it was a local race then I would be eager to do it again.
Date of review: May 6, 2013

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

In short: big race feel round the little town of fleet
In full: I enjoyed this race despite the bad weather. Hillier than expected.
bad points - Water station on a hill at the 11 mile mark and difficult to drop of my bag due to the luggage tents full of people sheltering from the weather. Good points Marshalls were tops given the horrid rain. Good route not too crowded and after the first 5 to 10 minutes overtaking was not a problem. Also the people of Fleet and surrounding villages were very supportive too especially around Crookham.
Date of review: March 17, 2013

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

In short: Large race good for first time marathon training runners and the crank value
In full: I would only recommend this race if you are keen on motor racing (or wanting to visit Silverstone), or for a good fast half marathon run.
Reason for this is that running around Silverstone motor racing circuit is similar to running Dunsfold or runs on Airfields where you are open to the elements, but weather (Wind) permitting there is PB potential. These races do lack atmosphere for large chunks of the race but the tannoy system was put to good use by playing 80's hits. Well organised but parking was challenging!
Date of review: March 14, 2013

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

In short: One for runners after a chance at a PB
In full: One of my favorite races. Very fast course with great views of Windsor and SW London. Easy to get to by car. Can be a bit like a training run if not many other runners are taking part. Very well organised and a great chance to have a midweek run.
Date of review: June 29, 2012

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

In short: organisation - best ever - killer distance and mix terrain - not a race but a challenge just to complete
In full: Despite being a runner I entered this race as a walking challenge having not run more than marathons. A few small hiccups before the day with start times (various start times in groups of 15 minutes throughout the morning). The route was exceptionally well signposted and was very easy to follow and got easier at night with glowing arrows. Marshalls fantastic. In places the course was a complete bog and dangerous in places if caution wasn't used due to the amount of mud (no suprise with the recent downpours).Every 12 or so km's there were drinks stations with food or snacks which were very well stocked and staffed. How would I improve this event - a) if i was to do this again would not want to be asking for charity donations as it will get a bit much doing this on a regular basis, however happy to pay £100ish for entry as that would be VFM.
b)The finish at the race course was okay but would have been nice to have finished by the sea (Brighton Marina) or at the Amex stadium where the facilities maybe better (rail station nearby).
c) Man the road crossing near the racecourse - after 99k senses are not at there sharpest for crossing a very busy complex junction that has no pedestrian lights!

Having said that this was one of the best / if not the best organised event I have taken part in out of over 100 events. 100k - This is a long, long, long way - my feet have never hurt so much for so long - a real sense of achievement!
Date of review: May 15, 2012

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

In short: one for marathon training (16 miler)
In full: This race is ideal for a long training run especially if it is a change of scenery for you. Very pricey for a run on public roads but was well managed on the day. The weather was very kind on the day - maybe a little too warm once the sun had been out for a while. It was really disappointing that the race was not run over the full 16 mile distance - I think it was 600 meters short of the original distance. I am sure that there is a market out there for long training run races like this that are of greater mileage than a half marathon distance. Goody bag was good. Some of the marshalls were enthusiastic and well done to the army cadets. The start was a little congested which was thanks to the number of women who started in the wrong wave - perhaps they didn't realise that this was to avoid overcrowding! I like the idea of starting the race in expected completion time for all, as lots of ladies would have wasted energy getting past slower men and vice versa for the men getting past the slow ladies who started at the front of the mens wave!
Date of review: April 2, 2012

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

In short: well orgainised race that is a tough test - congrats to all in Ashtead!
In full: Simple effective race. Parking and race directions worked very well. Just the right amount of marshalls on this undulating course (three tough hills per lap I counted). Great test for those looking to challenge themselves for a marathon as the ups and downs on the course make it an added test over 20 miles. Plenty of water stations and generous with gels and sugar sweats! The medal is of a very good quality and at the finish the bacon roll and tea went down a treat - I also achieved my target time too so well pleased with the day. Well done Alan, Nicky and all involved - Marshalls great job done!
Date of review: March 18, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Too pricey for a very basic race
In full: If it wasn't for the race location (Lake Dorney) and the Olympic-ness tied to the venue then one I would not have entered. Far too pricey for the minimal marshalling required for a simple 4 lap circuit. Before the race it took over 30 minutes to park up on what should have been a simple task - this resulted in a late start - thank goodness!
Once the race started I could not believe that drinks were been given out within half a mile of the start (and that people were stopping to get drinks!!!). The medal was disappointing too. Having said all that I got a pb for the distance by 3 minutes so believe it or not I was happy. There was a strong cross wind on the day which made for running challenging at times. The marshalls were excellent especially those brave souls out at the west end of the lake in the wind - well done to them.
Date of review: February 20, 2012

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

In short: Great day for a run out in the Surrey Hills - Great Race!
In full: One of my favorite races to do. Easy location to get too and really friendly organisers.
Minute silence was observed at the beginning.
Hilly first 4k but it is all down hill from there. If you hold back a little you should find that this race will give you a negative split. A flatish last 5k following the river mole back to Leatherhead leads to a fast finish. Nice sunny day gave great views coming down the hills into Mickleham. When the race finishes it is still a great race experience as the refreshements are legendary (especially the cakes). Free message and a good t-shirt for all finishes concluded a great race. Good signage and great marshalling / organisation and looking forward to next year's 10th anniversary and all for a good cause too!! Well done Leatherhead fire station and all those involved.
Date of review: November 13, 2011

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

In short: Good race - pb race - but pricey for the regular runner
In full: This is a big city race with great spectator atmostphere. The cost is an issue for a ten miler. Concerns with lack of signage to get runners into position at the start and the race is very crowded in places, having said that the first mile I did was one of the fastest of the ten that I did.
Date of review: October 31, 2011

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