Latest Ratings
| 1 to 10 of 13 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
2012 Salomon South Downs Marathon
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Second time running this and will be back next year again!
In full: I ran the marathon last year and the half this year and have loved both races. The half is a tough race but with fantastic scenery and great marshalling and organisation. The only problem this year was a 10 minute wait to cross a style at approx 3 miles but I was glad of the breather really as had just gone up a very very steep hill! Well worth travelling from London for and a 'proper' goody bag at the end with Goodness Shakes milkshake and nice medal. Highly recommended!
Date of review: June 13, 2012
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2012 Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series: Stage 1 - Dorset (Marathon, Half, 10K)
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A challenge but an event to make you smile (afterwards!)
In full: As always with Endurancelife events, this was a great day out. Fantastic atmosphere and friendly helpful organisers and I came away immediately wanting to sign up to the next. The course was expectedly tough and there were some technical sections where the terrain was tricky but the camraderie during these races is something rarely seen during a clubby road race. The terrain and windy conditions means there is no chance of a pb - I think the average half marathon time is 2hrs 20 mins - but the scenery is amazing and the air so fresh. Showers at the end would have been nice as many travel a long way to the coastal races but apart from that no other grumbles!
Date of review: January 24, 2012
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2011 Rotary Club of Kenilworth Two Castles 10K
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Tough race, not enough capacity for runners at the start, but great atmosphere.
In full: This was my 3rd time running and I always forget how tough it is - consistently undulating and overall uphill as the finish is higher than the start. The start was very congested as the 3000+ runners had to line up in a castle tunnel which meant 3 minutes to cross the line (and we were middle to front of the pack), this eased by about 2 miles and there was plenty of space after this due to roads having been closed. The race is a friendly one and has a really good atmosphere about it. The climb up to the finish was hard work for the legs but I was on a definite high after this race. A good mix of club runners and beginners.
Date of review: June 13, 2011
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2011 Shakespeare Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race but with some organisational problems at the start which could be ironed out
In full: I am local but this is the first year I ran this race. The course was really nice and some challenging inclines to keep it interesting. The stretch of Greenway at the end was enjoyable and was a nice break from the road pounding...
Marshalls were great and there were lots of water and toilet stops on the way round. The start however was a little problematic, with spectators in amongst the competitors causing a lot of congestion. It took me two minutes to cross the mat and the first two miles were pretty slow dodging slower runners - because the field is quite big for such a small start area organising runners into expected finish times would have helped as would keeping specatators away from the start line. Aside from that it was very enjoyable and I will be returning!
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 Bedford Harriers Oakley 12 & 20
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hilly, challenging course but great atmosphere and excellent for marathon training
In full: First time at Oakley and it didn't disappoint. Not so good points: busy at the start - long queues for toilets and baggage and most of the parking was over half a mile away and not particuarly organised, not really a pb course because of the constantly varying terrain.
Good points: lovely countryside, fantastic marshalling (and lots of them), really good atmosphere full of friendly runners, challenging so good marathon prep. I was pretty much destroyed at the end but had a really good day out overall!
Date of review: March 27, 2011
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2011 Berkhamsted Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: One to do again and again
In full: This was my second time running and I had forgotten quite how relentless those hills were. Saying that the first half is harder than the second half and the last 2-3 miles were pretty quick so I made up some of the time I had lost on the hills. Some more toilets for the females and a little more in the goody bag would make it perfect !
Date of review: March 7, 2011
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2010 Bedford Harriers Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Enjoyable if a little congested at the start
In full: I enjoyed this race - the scenery and organisation were good although the start was too busy and my first mile was very slow. Almost broke my ankle on a stray rock in the first mile but can't really blame Bedford for that! They ran out of XS and S sized rugby shirts which was annoying as lots of people who ordered a S ended up with M or L (not ideal for smaller girls!) but have to say it is a nice shirt and far better than tshirts for this time of year :-) I would definitely do it again as long as it doesn't get any bigger/busier. The course was very pleasant and second half was easier than the first although I didn't find any part of that hilly. It was a bit too cold to have many spectators out cheering us on which of course always makes a difference to atmosphere but all in all a nice race...now I feel deserving of my christmas pud.
Date of review: December 13, 2010
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2010 St Neots Riverside Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Pleasant route and gently undulating, great marshalling.
In full: It was pretty windy today which made it tough to pb due to long open stretches running into wind. As for the hills/undulations there was nothing that I felt was too steep to slow me down, but similarly found it difficult to gain time on the gentle downhill at the end (probably because I wasn't really fit enough for this today!). Really enjoyed the race, I've seen better scenery which is why i only gave it a 3, but overall nice course and great marshalls. Something extra at the water station (jelly babies?) would give it a nice touch. Only real gripe is the fact that I had to stick with medium top at the end and it's a unisex medium which swamps me!!! Definitely be back next year :-)
Date of review: November 21, 2010
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2010 Salomon South Downs Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A must-do trail race. Excellent!
In full: Great organisation start and finish and all aid stations. Only recommendation for next year is to push the rubbish bags a bit further from the station as not enough time to drink enough before getting to the bins. I loved this race and the organisers did a great job all round. Beautiful scenery but very tough hills! Will be back next year for sure. Having three waves worked really well too.
Date of review: June 12, 2010
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2010 Virgin London Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Run it for the atmosphere not a pb!
In full: You have to do it to say you have "run London"! Just don't go there expecting to run a pb or a strict 26.2 miles. I ran an extra 1/2 mile with all the overtaking, but quickly learned that this isn't a fast course. The hardest thing to deal with was groups of runners as it was hard to overtake, and people should not moving to the side if they are walking. The support was amazing though and will definitely run it again only next time I will go for the enjoyment and use another race to get that pb!
Date of review: April 30, 2010
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