My Event Ratings

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

In short: One of my favourite races of all time - I can't fault it.
In full: Extremely good organisation and facilities, fantastic marshals, lovely course. Highly recommended. Second year I've done it, this year bringing along a friend who'd never run a half marathon. We both loved it and would do it again!
Date of review: November 7, 2010

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Brilliant off road course and scenery - poor race organisation.
In full: My friend (a beginner runner who has never run 10 miles before but who had trained in earnest and was excited at the prospect) and I (an experienced runner) entered this race for the first time. On arriving at registration we collected our numbers and joined a very long queue for the toilet-only one for the entire field of runners. This resulted in us being late for the start of the race and we found ourselves about 5 minutes behind the last runner and the marshal following them. We approached the first marshal who did not hide her anxiety and worry about this fact-not very encouraging and very disheartening. Furthermore when we approached the marshal at the point the 3.5 mile route changes direction from the 10 mile route, we did not see the two signs nor did the marshal check which race we were running. We continued on the 3.5 mile route and ended up just before finish. When we explained to a nearby marshal what had happened and asked the way back to the 10 mile route he told us not to bother. This was not an option for us and we eventually found the way back ourselves. We passed most runners returning to the finish and the water stations were packed away. We ran most of the run feeling very disappointed, angry and anxious that we were very behind. This was utterly soul destroying and made the rest of the run mentally very difficult. My friend cried. When we arrived at the finish (we couldn’t believe the sign was still up) everything else had been packed away and we had to tell the finishers our times from our own watches and ask for a medal. We were badly let down.

*if the race organisers read this we are runners 99 and 130 and we would like our entry fees returned.
* this could have been prevented by:
1. providing more toilets.
2. not assuming the last runner in front of the 'last runner marshal' is actually the last runner.
3. providing marshals who are encouraging and helpful.
4. printing the distance on everyone's race bibs.
5. ensuring the marshal at the change in route is checking people are on the correct route.
Date of review: September 20, 2010

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

In short: Lovely scenic course with a couple of challenging hills
In full: Shame about the torrential rain!
Date of review: November 2, 2009

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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		40%

In short: Very enjoyable and encouraging marshals
Date of review: April 1, 2007

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

In short: Good atmos, OK course, poor changing facilities, start too late.
Date of review: March 5, 2007

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