My Event Ratings

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

In short: Length?
In full: I did the 5k as I needed that distance for a club competition, but I am not sure it was the full 5k. It was a bit strange that the route on the day was different than that which was sent out with the race packs (and that had been on the website for months before hand), although I have done several Run Liverpool events where the route is different on the day. My Garmin (which is very accurate) measured it as 4.77km. TThe 1, 2 and 3 km markers were spot on but 4 was not.
Date of review: May 10, 2010

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

In short: The usual curate's egg
In full: Agree with many other reviewers re no arch/clock at the end and no food in goody bag (this was probably verging on the dangerous for some people). The end was also a bit on the dangerous side as it was made narrower with spectators hanging over fences on each side and you had to cope with the normal (male) idiots doing their laughable sprint finish. The end was also chaotic, there should be a much larger area for spectators only; all you want to go is have a drink and calm down, instead you've got 20 people shoving pushchairs into your Achilles.

If you've done enough runs in Liverpool you'll also be SICK of running in Sefton Park. These are road races, I want the luxury of running in the road.

iPlodders have now become a real problem too. Impossible to get past people, three abreast in their own little worlds.
Date of review: March 29, 2010

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

In short: Usual organisational blunders
In full: This is a Run Liverpool event and was blighted by the usual scuffles. Namely:

- Nowhere near enough toilets
- People who weren't racing (maninly people with kids) using the toilets. Can't you just wait until the race has started?
- Yet another last minute change to the route (this has happened on the women's 10k and the half-marathon this year) which meant going in and out of the park three times instead of just once and generally not knowing what was happening whilst running.
- My Garmin said the route was 10.54km and other runners seemed to agree that their times weren't right.
Date of review: October 6, 2008

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

In short: A good route but usual organisational irritations
In full: This is the second time I have done this race and would definitely recommend it. It's fun to run through the tunnel and the run along the prom is great (barking dogs and the odd cyclist aside) although it's always disconcerting to be able to see the finish from such a long way off!

Minus points - no where near enough toilets at the start, I have never seen that many people queuing anywhere. As someone else has said people who live in the Pall Mall area will soon - quite rightly - become annoyed with their streets being used as urinals. Also the end is a mess. The immediate area is very cramped made much worse by the fact that everyone's families with pushcahirs and dogs are blocking the way for runners who want to collect their medals, get their chips cut off and go and put on something warm. Make it a runners only area!!!

Plus points - I think this is a fast course and the hill out of the tunnel is fine if you know what you're doing. Also free travel on Merseyrail to and from the course. Also this year about an hour after I had finished I got a text with my time and position, speedy service. A baggage bus takes your stuff over to Wirral and it's quick to retrieve it at the end, better than the usual scuffle waiting at a tent.

Ladies if you don't like running with a lot of men you might want to avoid it. Out of 1838 runners only 483 were women. Personally, I enjoy running past them all when they are walking out of the tunnel, ha ha!
Date of review: June 2, 2008

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

In short: Welcome relief
In full: I usually do events in Liverpool and this run was like a breath of fresh air. Fantastic organisation. Lovely crowds (particular thanks to the man with the garden hose!), lovely marshalls and brilliantly organised water stations. A real pleasure to take part in and the scenery was lovely too. Even a field of cows were interested as we puffed by!
Date of review: May 19, 2008

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

In short: Just not getting any better.
In full: Although a better route than last year (not stuck entirely in the park)this still left a lot to be desired particularly when the route map showed that the final 5K was just a lap around the park on the road and turned out to be another trawl through the park, and around a random road so you had no idea where you were going for the final 2/3K.

Progress at certain points hindered by people walking three abreast across the road. If you want to walk the whole course move over to one side or stay at home.

Didn't enjoy being yelled at by marshalls particularly at the end and the "timings" were a shambles.

Also usual problem of not a big enough runners only area so you had to fight through everyone's husbands/kids/grannies/dogs to get out.

5k should start before or after the 10K.

Interesting to note that about twice as many women did the race for life in Birkenhead Park also held on same day...
Date of review: May 12, 2008

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