My Event Ratings

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

In short: Good mental preparation for a Spring marathon
In full: I would echo the previous runner's comments. The three lap run is good mental preparation for a Spring marathon as is what is quite an undulating course. A low-key race (especially the start) but most people seemed to be using it as a training run and seemed happy to chatwhich added a bit of life relief. The coach back to the school was appreciated and the driver was very cheery. One minor grumble: I signed up late and assumed I would need to pick up my number on the day. However, my number arrived in the post, which was good. Unfortunately, the organisers had not used the correct postage which meant I had to pay another £1.22 which I didn't appreciate. I thought this had only happened to me but it also happened to at least two of my clubmates so I imagine other runners were affected too.
Date of review: March 18, 2012

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

In short: Better the second time around!
In full: Having done this race last year I was prepared -mentally, if not physically - for the steep uphill start, undulating two lap run through the woods and mad crazy downhill finish. Although a tough race, it is very friendly and the marshalls were all encouraging and supportive. Excellent race organisation, shame about the lack of tea and homemade cakes at the end this year as this is the only race I know where you get your post-race cuppa in a lovely china mug! For me, this is a 'better the devil you know' race which I enjoyed more this year than last, topped off by an impressive results service (immediately after the race and posted on the website in double quick time).

I would definitely do this race again. Well done Stroud AC!
Date of review: August 14, 2011

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

In short: Good training for a Spring marathon
In full: A few of us made the journey from Gloucestershire for this race on the recommendation of a club member who ran it last year and it was well worth the drive. The start was about as low key as it gets and the two laps at the start less than ideal (but entirely understandable from a cost of policing point of view) but the organisation, information on the website, standard of marshalling and technical t-shirt were excellent and the course a good tester for Spring marathon potential. Results were available on the website by the evening, which is always appreciated. So glad that the finish was as it was and that we didn't have to do a lap of the car park at the end! Congratulations on a job well done San Domenico!
Date of review: March 21, 2011

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Muddy good fun
In full: Having rather foolishly done a 15 mile training run the previous day, this was always going to be a tad challenging for me, but the weather cooperated and there didn't seem to be quite as much mud as last year. That said, it is still one of the toughest off-roaders in Gloucestershire but it is flawlessly organised and an absolute bargain. Let's hope that it doesn't go all corporate next year when the organiser, Mike Wood, hands over the reins to Black Sheep Sports.

Incidentally, Mike Wood - the man with the lovely smile - is no mean runner when he pulls his trainers on! See this link to his sub 24 hour run along the entire length of the Cotswold Way last year:

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold/article.asp?PageId=41&ArticleId=60
Date of review: February 9, 2011

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

In short: Dancing on ice!
In full: I was very disappointed when this race was cancelled due to bad weather last year as it's a great way to start the new year.

Overall it's a very well organised and marshalled race and a good way to kick start a spring marathon campaign. The pre-race instructions were clear and covered all necessary points. I was particularly impressed by the provision of portaloos in the car park and at the start as race organisers so often get this important point wrong.

The course is straightforward with a few cheeky inclines. The runners were warned about the icy patches on the course - of which there were many! - at the start but perhaps some of the marshalls could have been more proactive where blackspots were identified, e.g. the treacherous patch of black ice at mile 3.

The woolly hat was a useful momento, but I'm not sure white was the best colour choice (sooooo unforgiving!)

One thing which I do find quite strange about this race is the fact that race HQ is so far from the start. I suppose that it's not really an issue as there's no prizegiving but it would be nice to have somewhere warm to stand and swap race stories over a cup of tea and slice of cake!

Overall a fine effort - well done Gloucester AC.
Date of review: January 10, 2011

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

In short: Good sharpener for your Sunday roast!
In full: The weather was much better than in 2009 and I thoroughly enjoyed the race again but I did find it less well organised than last year. Suggested improvements:
1. Giving numbers out in the hall works well but clearly post the categories A-D, E-J etc on the wall behind the desk, not on the desk itself to ease congestion.
2. Remove benches from the queuing area - they were dangerous.
3. Provide more toilets.
4. Make it clearer where the start is in relation to the school (not everybody knows this).
5. Order sufficient medals.
6. Use some sort of PA system so those of us at the back of the hall could hear the winners' names.

On the plus side, the post-race refreshments were superb as was the choice of momento and the atmosphere was very friendly. With a few refinements this could be a 10 out of 10 race.

Date of review: November 7, 2010

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

In short: Fast and flat but deathly cold!
In full: I thought this was an OK race but - at the risk of being a bit controversial - perhaps a tad over 10K this year? These details are important when you're looking to improve your PB! Solid organisation and a pretty route but more information about practical details such as the cost of parking and toilets should have been provided beforehand, especially as the machines in the village did not give change. Also, the starter needs a megaphone - couldn't hear a word he was saying! Liked the beanies - unusual and useful.
Date of review: February 28, 2010

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

In short: Well organised and friendly 5 miles
In full: First time I have run this race despite being local to Tewkesbury. No gripes, even the weather cooperated on the whole apart from being a tad blustery in places but heck, it is November! Giving numbers out in the gym worked well. As for the course, there are only one or two minor hills crossing the motorway, otherwise it's pancake flat which meant a PB for me. Very well organised and friendly, just the right amount of marshalls. It's obvious that this is a race organised by runners - there was even plenty of loo roll in the ladies, which is quite a rarity! Fab cakes and hot food at the end with a local celebrity dishing out the prizes. Lovely glass momento for all runners - everyone's a winner and a bargain at £6. Top marks Tewkesbury AC - I'll be back next year!
Date of review: November 1, 2009

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

In short: More toilets desperately needed!
In full: Luckily we bumped into friends from our running club at the start who knew the location of some secret loos, otherwise we would have been in the bushes with the other desperate souls! A few portaloos is hopelessly inadequate provision for a race of this size. Otherwise a well organised race, although paper cups would have been so much better as plastic is really hard to drink from when you want to run through the water stations. Having said that, I PB'd so am a happy bunny. Top marks to the crowds for braving the poor weather.
Date of review: October 25, 2009

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

In short: Matchstick Man said it all!
In full: A superbly organised race, could not fault it in any respect. Being sprinkled with fairy dust at the beginning was certainly a first! I used it as a training run for FLM and found the course pretty challenging. Some motorists on the main road were a bit harsh but that was a minuscule fly in the general ointment and says more about their mentality. Everybody involved with the race itself was so friendly and encouraging; there was plenty of water and the sponges, gels and sweeties were extremely welcome. I would definitely do this race again and recommend it to other runners at my club. Huge thanks to everybody involved with the organisation and to Aldi. Your support was much appreciated. P.S. At the end one of the other runners said it would be the best cheese sandwich we'd ever tasted...he wasn't wrong!
Date of review: March 22, 2009

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