My Event Ratings

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

In short: Love it, done 3 times and will keep coming back!
Date of review: November 14, 2010

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

In short: Great prep race for FLM
In full: This was a very enjoyable and well organised race. The water every 3 miles was great, especially as it got quite hot, I dont take on water often but by mile 15 I took a little at all but the last stand - I even got a bit sunburnt!

I wont deny this was a tough 20 really as it was pretty hilly, almost all the way round you were going up or coming down, however, I am pleased about this now I have done it as I figure this hard 20 will make the flat FLM feel a lot easier (does easy and 26.2 miles work?!?)

Thank you to all the marshalls who were very good and nicely spaced throughout.
Date of review: April 6, 2009

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

In short: Well organised but not very pretty
In full: This is the second time I have run Reading and I cannot fault the organisation or the support from the bands / crowds who are there almost all the way round.

The worst thing about this race is there are areas that are quite ugly and the last mile is horrid as you have to run up and back a mile right near the finish which for me is always a mental killer.

I agree with the person who said that some of the roads were a bit small for the growing number of entrants, there were several occasions where I lost time waiting for the congestion to ease and the first 2 miles was hard as it was slow - it seems a lot of people start in the wrong pens, my first mile was my slowest by quite a long way.
Date of review: April 2, 2009

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

In short: A very good race, scenic course and some challenging hills.
In full: This was a very nice race, the route was good and the hills challenging but not so bad as to completely wipe you out.

The sweatshop had a great stand which I unfortunately didnt get a chance to visit properly but several friends said it was good.

The T shirt given away was great, it was nice to have a proper training t shirtm very nice it is too!

Marshalls all very nice, I liked the fact they had a couple on bikes keeping an eye on everyone. The only thing I would say for next year is perhaps a couple of people might be needed to keep an eye on the traffic after the race and parking in some residents streets as I saw 2 buses get stuck in roads that were over parked and they didnt move in the whole 15 mins I was there.

Overall, great race, well worth the entry fee, I came all the way from Slough and would do it again!
Date of review: February 16, 2009

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

In short: Challenging!
In full: This was a very good all rounder with some nice flat bits...yes just some! Most was pretty hilly, its two laps and Id say that there are two tough hills (so thats four total with two laps)

I am not very good on hills to be honest but I think this race was good training for me and a good start to my marathon training (which is officially supposed to kick off today).

Overall a lovely race fairly well organised but a little lacking in the fun spirit - it would be nicer if perhaps there were a couple more marshalls at begining and end. I dont mean to moan as the marshalls that were there were great, especially the guy playing the radio near the start of the uphill to the racecourse and the sweet little boy handing out sweets.
Date of review: January 5, 2009

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

In short: Great race, excellent Fuller's glass at finish!
Date of review: November 21, 2008

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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		80%

In short: Great race, pretty hilly but not too tough. Not exactly PB potential but snot too slow
In full: This was a very scenic race. It was fairly hilly but they were not killers. The hills were quite long and consistent which made them easier, in my opinon, than the shorter really steep ones.

I liked it and would def do again. The only slight problem was the congestion at te start and the fact that if you started at the back you would lose some time off your official time but it depends how important that is to you.
Date of review: November 20, 2008

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

In short: Pretty but hilly!
In full: This was a very good race. The route was scenic and the marshalls were great, really friendly and very well organised. This race is one to enjoy really and, if your like me and find going uphill a bit tough, not one to try to get a PB at. I was 5 mins out of my average time nd 10 mins off my PB. Hills are very tough at mile 8 and 10, a fair few people walked at various points and actually seemed to be going faster than me!

A very nivce race overall and great for hill training!
Date of review: November 3, 2008

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

In short: MUDDY AND HILLY BUT DAMN GOOD FUN!
In full: I had been racing the day before and had heard this one was tough so was looking forward to a nice scenic slow run - and boy do you need to take it slow over some of the muddy bits!

It was a thoroughly enjoayable race but unless you have some good studs and can control yourself over mud (sadly I cannot and have no studs!) you are never going to get a 10 mile PB.

My favourite and worst part was the bog, i was not impressed at being stuck in mud to my knees at first but soon discovered that it was a real laugh and that this was a race for fun and not for taking to seriously.

The free cake at the end was a real treat after all that hard work. To sum up, I loved this race, I would say to anyone go for it but be careful and prepare for some tough hills!!

Date of review: September 16, 2008

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

In short: Very nice route lovely town, very tough hills! Very well organised and plenty of water stations
Date of review: June 11, 2007

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