My Event Ratings

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

In short: Good 10 miler providing a challenge
In full: Bright and sunny with a strong wind on the day, lots of big puddles round the country lanes, but overall pretty good weather for the race. Well marshalled by Hadleigh Hares so there is plenty of encouragement on the course which starts with some good climbs up to about the 4 mile point, gently undulating for a couple of miles, drop all the height on mile 7, a short sharp climb at mile 8 and then back into the start finish area at Hadleigh. This is a good race, got everything you want from a 10 miler
Date of review: November 27, 2012

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

In short: Well organised and supported race
In full: Local to me so have run this all 4 years of its running. Again very well organised with lots of marshals and encouragement. Good support from local people all the way round. It is an undulating course so there's a few up hills, but a fair few down as well so overall a challenge but not tough. Goody bag+medal+t-shirt make it a good value race. Will run it again
Date of review: September 24, 2012

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

In short: Flat, that is not a hill at 8 miles people of Norfolk, and friendly race
In full: Have run this twice and it is a very pleasant race. Well organised with good marshalling. Flat course which will definitely give a few a good PB. Quiet country roads so the occasional car & tractor is not a problem but means little support out on the run. However a good welcome back into the finish. Worth a look for anybody.
Date of review: September 3, 2012

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

In short: So local for me it would be rude to miss
In full: I live 400 yards from the start so get the most perfect race prep possible, lay in, leisurely breakfast, potter about aimlessly than walk to venue.

Excellent running weather this year, cool and hardly any breeze. Its a 10 miler with a bit of challenge as you climb away from the venue and again a bit of a hill at about 8 miles, but there are some very quick miles as well as you lose the height gained early.

Well marshalled and organised. Good tshirt this year as well as fruit juice, water and banana at the finish. I know I will be back for more next November.
Date of review: November 22, 2010

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

In short: Add it to your calendar, quite testing, very well organised.
In full: My second run of this one. Again it was well organised and good supportive crowds at various points, bits of the town and some of the villages you run through. Marshalls were very good throughout. As a runner I felt everything was covered just leaving you the race. Which is a tough little half. Ups, downs, plenty of stock miles and a lovely finish of about 350 metres on a running track allowing you to bounce round to the finish. Check next years date because I think its moving to September, then book it.
Date of review: August 29, 2010

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

In short: Tough race in the heat yesterday, but well organised.
In full: I was based at RAF Marham back in the 70s so have run bits of this race before, but can't remember ever running it in the same heat which I fould really sapping in the latter stages. Does have the potential to be a fast race. Great nostalgia for me running past buildings I worked in so many years ago. Plenty of water and sponges provided by the ATC, well organised start, finish and presentations courtesy of the RAF team. If I was picky it would be to ask for a secure baggage tent, but otherwise another one to revisit.
Date of review: July 12, 2010

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

In short: Well organised mass participation race
In full: This is a busy race but generally the organisation is pretty smooth, perhaps a bit more work needed on the baggage areas, but it is catering for a lot of people. Its quite a fast course with just a couple of gradients at the 2 and 7 mile point so pretty fast. The support in the town and the couple of parks the route uses was the best I have seen outside of London marathon. Miles 11 to 13 are the most boring aspect, along straight, featureless dual carriageway, but the finish in the stadium makes you forget it quickly, thousands of familes in there cheering you to the finish. Well done Reading.
Date of review: March 22, 2010

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

In short: Good race, well organised, good and lots of marshalls, and a definite PB potential
In full: The weather was perfect for running, cool, hardly any wind, bit of moisture in the air, and with a course as flat as they come I bet lots of PBs, including one for me. My training has probably not been perfect recently, lots of miles so happy with the endurance, but been lazy on the quicker stuff, so surprised at my race, which says this is one to look at for anybody looking to PB.

Organisation very good, lots and lots of marshalls with plenty of encouragement. Parking was easy, close to race HQ. Chip timed race with good start area and finish. Goody bag was "good" in fact with medal and a t shirt + banana & water at the end.

Well done Great Bentley Running Club. Recommend the race to anybody.
Date of review: February 7, 2010

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

In short: Good course, lacking organisation this year
In full: Fourth year running for me and the best for weather by far, bit of gusty wind in the open country lanes but otherwise great.

The race makes you work hard for the first 4 miles while you gain a bit of height, then flat for a couple of miles before you drop down and lose the height. At mile 8 there is a short sharp hill but not too bad, and then a final generally downward coast back to the start/finish area. Its a good run with a bit of challenge in it.

However agree with some of the other comments, a megaphone at the start is definitely needed, water at mile 7 was a help yourself from containers and no cups apparent, yet there were generally plenty of marshalls, who were all very good, and the momentoe at the end was woeful. If you are going to give a single item I think most runners would just like a medal, not a polyester bag, similar to the cloth bags that most races seem to use as their goody bag at the moment.

I'll still do it again.
Date of review: November 22, 2009

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

In short: On a good day a PB must be on the cards
In full: First time I have run this one, the weather was near perfect for the distance, the course is near perfect for PB, and guessing like me lots of people will have PBd. Fairly good organisation, perhaps a big enough event for them to run a baggage area, but otherwise a good run.
Date of review: May 18, 2009

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