My Event Ratings

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

In short: Marshalls and Hoodie make the pain worthwhile
In full: The only thing that lets this race down is the parking, and we can't blame the organisers for that! The best pre-London race by far.
Date of review: March 30, 2010

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

In short: Legend, but too much stop start twist turn bump not enough run
In full: Like so many others, first time marathon. I was waiting to get an entry: If I only ever did one it was going to be this one. Left with more elation than disappointment, but want to make some comments in the hope they're read. Atmosphere and support, just amazing. Loo marshalls at the start, bet you drew the short straws when they handed out duties, but you're appreciated. Roads simply too narrow in places for the numbers. Anyone else at the blue start think you were robbed two minutes? Please print in big letters in next years newsletters: 1. If you stop to walk, that's okay, but pull over to the side. 2. If you must wear an i-pod or mp3 please look from side to side. 3. Please start in a realistic time zone. The last one especially p'd me off - I run a constant speed. I tried to run a constant speed. I hit my predicted time zone. So why did I spend the first half trying to weave around people who were running so much slower than me (and walking from mile 8)???? I'm not putting anyone down for walking, or those who run faster as they go along, but if I get another entry I'm going to predict my time at least 3 zones up. (Which is was I suspect a lot of others did.) I even passed a power-walker just after the start. (Nothing against power walkers, but there's just no way you're going to finish ahead of me.)
Date of review: April 27, 2009

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

In short: NIce race, shame about the pud!
In full: Hey, you did listen and order better weather! Despite the views of opencasting, this was a great run. And the uphill run in could be the signature of the race - keep the course for next year? But for us vets the pud was a bit cheap?
Date of review: November 17, 2008

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

In short: a mixed bag
In full: Nuff said about the start. 8 water stations, but not where really needed (miles 9-11). Finish brilliantly placed, but chaotic to find water and T-shirt afterwards. That said, it's easy to be critical, and overall good race, friendly and good value for money. Race widow thought the town centre good too, so that's a bonus!
Date of review: August 13, 2008

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

In short: Fun in a strange way
In full: Have to say that this is a special race. Well signed on arrival, hall tea and cakes for the sheltering 'runners widows', well signed along the way, thought had gone into the three water stations and the shower (but we'd all already had one!). . oh, and a little jaunt uphill after 5k just to keep us on our toes!!
Date of review: July 1, 2008

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

In short: A mixed bag
In full: It's easy to criticise what must be such a huge task to organise such a big event, but reading other reviews some things were definitely awry, and if anyone wants a medal please message me and I'll send it to you - if I'd know they'd run out I'd never have picked one up. . . all you who ran for the first time, whatever time, deserve it more than me. Here's my gripe list, but I do mean it as constructive criticism - it was a good race overall, but some things were definitely lacking: The start was a farce - I couldn't get anywhere near either my correct zone or the toilets which were on the wrong side. Then there's the street furniture and road hazards - with this many people running you've just got to get warnings in place. Wokingham did it. I nearly fell down a 1ft + drop where the drum band were under the underpass, nearly lost my manhood on some town centre bollards that really should have been taped off, and nearly fell over someone who tripped on a rope linking some unattended cones on a corner which had obviously been moved by a succession of people running into them without a marshall in sight. Finally into the stadium - couldn't you have rounded off that corner? And why was the time board not visible? Answer a: it was too low. Answer b: there were stupid people stood in front of it. Answer c: both.
Date of review: March 2, 2008

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

In short: Brill "Pud", Average "Race"
In full: If I was cold and wet through then a big thank you to the marshalls, especially those who cheered us on despite, is well deserved. Didn't like the new route at all, and that had nothing to do with the hills (faster, flatter course? my a**e!) or the weather.
Date of review: November 26, 2007

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

In short: Nice glass shame about the route
In full: C'mon, Shipley Park has some brill routes, so why did you opt for the (now defunct) American Adventure car park? I know, you wanted to test us on that hill. Twice.
Date of review: July 31, 2007

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

In short: Well worth the travel
In full: Enjoyed this one, though must admit the weather played it's part. Hills not as bad as billed, but grateful of two water stations at just the right points.
Date of review: July 31, 2007

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

In short: One for the calendar!
In full: Really good run, this. Okay, so maybe the sunlight on the sea coloured my judgement - can imagine this would be grim in bad weather. Beach, grass and path ... no roads. Yes, the tide was out, but my feet were soaked by the first 6 mins of splashing! Great fun! Will remember that 6 mins into my next boring road race. Organisation simple, but couldn't be faulted. BTW how far was it? Never mind. It doesn't matter.
Date of review: May 21, 2007

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