My Event Ratings

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

In short: absolutely smashing
In full: 2nd year and just about perfect. Lovely spot for running though keep an eye on dogs/bikes etc. Very generous with coke/gels/bananas. Interesting, challenging route with some loops and repeated hills. Lot of vehicles about but excellent traffic management by marshalls. As was said earlier, genuinely interested marshalls. I may not do it again but nothing to do with the race, just tough getting there for 0900 by public transport for me and won't drive into London area. All in all I'd say do it.
Date of review: May 21, 2012

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

In short: As good as a club organised marathon gets...
In full: ...decent challenging route, good signage and marshalling, ample drink stops, runners drinks ferried to stops, good communication on event status (unlike Shakespeare the week before), tech T and a medal, not overcrowded - even though they'd included a relay this year...and a refund policy! All in all NDVM is probably the best small full in the south at the moment. Well worth the 200 mile round trip and I'll be back.
Date of review: May 15, 2012

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

In short: As enjoyable as a 26.2 mile runa can ever be!
In full: First time at NFM and enjoyed it so much I bought a T. Interesting, challenging route with a few ups and downs, some trails to break up tarmac monotony, cheerful marshalls, plenty of drink stops and sponges and very efficient bag pick up. Fantastic scenery even on a dull day, ponies and a pig or two to see along the way. 11th FM this year and it's hard to see how the event could be bettered. Could gripe about the bag (btl water and an oat bar) but don't run for the bag so not going to. I bring recovery drinks and post race snacks and nice though choccy bars/bananas are I don't see as essential. Finished 2 mins outside a PB so may well come back next year for another go!
Date of review: September 27, 2011

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

In short: Well enough organised out and back marathon
In full: Race things: Reviews taken on board by organisers. Straightforward tow path route from Hackney Marshes to Lee Valley white water centre and back. Enough drinks stations for most although maybe not enough for those used to big city events. Marshalling was fine. 140 entrants means mostly running solo, being passed or passing others now and then, so probably not ideal for first timer unless running with pals. Start/finish facilities pretty good for the numbers involved with showers available in the changing rooms. Overall a decent value event. The only gripe I have is with whoever was organising the pom pom children at the finish, just approaching the finish working hard for a sub 4 and in the last few yards a group of kids suddenly leap out in front of me, I stopped dead avoiding knocking any of them over and walked over the line. Nobody seemed bothered about the risk of small children being flattened by 13+ stone adult male attempting to sprint for the line after 26 miles!

Non race thing: with all the building work I couldn't find the start. Ended up a few miles west and running. Get to the start with a few minutes to spare, pink in the face, shirt dripping. Sorting out kit/number outside when local comes up to me and asks how I did.....

I would do it again, I prefer club type events with low numbers to big city crowds, Lee Valley tow paths very pleasant and this made a very good LSR. We'll have to see whether 2go continues as beenandgone after 2012. Hope they do, another marathon on the schedule is always welcome.
Date of review: September 14, 2011

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

In short: Superb new addition to calendar
In full: Not as hilly as some but challenging enough with plenty of ascent/descent. Run over a variety of tracks, trails and sand with a few bits of tarmac as well. I found route OK, basically anything other than the NDW isn't the route. Aid stations at 7, 13, 20 mile is less than the norm for roadies but they were adequate for my needs and they were the best stocked I've ever seen. Views at St Marthas worth the climb. Not a criticism but because of the route and terrain they'll never be able to have the mass numbers preferred by some and I'd expect this to really suit those who don't mind running alone for long periods with the occasional chat as you fall in others now and then and stop at aid stations for a feed and a natter. Definately not a PB course - enjoy the views and conviviality at the stations! 8th for me so far in 2011 and only the absolutely stunning LDWA SDW marathon rates higher - and thats only for the scenary. Well done to everybody involved and see you next year.
Date of review: August 15, 2011

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

In short: wish I could say I liked it
In full: Plus: Decent course, momento (beanie hat) and medal.

Minus: arrived 9:30 couldn't park in either of the car parks directed to, parked at Tesco but missed briefing couldn't find start and ended up in group of a dozen or so lost souls who but for a dash would have missed the start. Far from trafic free, plenty of junctions on the initial housing estate loop, quite a bit of traffic around the rural loop and even 2 cars doing a pas de deux at the end blocking my way to the indistinct finish altogether. When I mentioned the troubles at the start I was told that I should have just gone back home, so that's a 200 mile round trip and noone gave a stuff then. Water at 2 stations on the loop, High 5 at one of these for a while but they ran out and at the finish....a plastic cup of water. Most people will have run club marathons for half the price and still been given an energy drink and a banana. Quite astonishing how good some other races are for the price when compared to this effort. I'm going to stop now as don't enjoy being this cross.
Date of review: January 25, 2011

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

In short: Well organised, supported event but....
In full: Good organisation, plentiful water and lucozade (and gels after half way) but really I felt it was a big city half and relay with a full happening at same time. This means avoiding people walking in the first few miles, people running across you to see their mates and several pinch points as a large field negotiates gates and quite narrow paths. The half route was pretty undulating, the second half was flat but was more exposed and was quite breezy along the Trent and around the National Watersport Centre. I ran Kent Coastal this time last year (also breezy and with a half but a smaller field) and will find another full somewhere else in Sep 2011, so unlikely to return to Notts but each to their own.
Date of review: September 14, 2010

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

In short: Another year another series of great Yateley 10k's
In full: These races have been going a while now and really there's nothing that needs changing. decent course mixing urban with rural, undulating enough to keep one interested, 2 drinks stops and a sponge station, medal, choccy bar and water at the finish and best of all result texted to you within an hour and a quarter of finishing. Struggling to think of a better 10k in the south. Well done again Sandhurst Joggers.
Date of review: July 7, 2010

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

In short: new event and just about perfect first time out of box
In full: can't think of much that could have been better. lots of parking, stress free number pick up, decent start area, nice route, drinks a plenty all way round, good support, nice finish. i found the route really nice, yes out and back but vehicle free on a countryside path. I wouldnt change a thing.
Date of review: June 1, 2010

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

In short: Best half in the area by far
In full: Top notch organisation, great marshalling, enthusiastic water/sponge helpers, great goody bag, terrific value all round.

Lovely start/finish area. Route a lot more attractive than you'd think from Bracknell.

Above all this race hasn't got too big for its boots, race entries are kept at a sensible level so it's big enough that you're never alone but small enough that you can run at your pace.

Long may it continue.
Date of review: May 10, 2010

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