My Event Ratings

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

In short: Optime
In full: I did the Expert one-day event and had a brilliant time. First time running more than 30 miles.

- Loads of information emailed out before the race, and plenty of warning that there would be long road sections.

- Participants should understand that it would be impossible to run directly next to Hadrian's Wall for the whole distance as it is a heritage site and therefore protected from too much access, and parts of the wall are inaccessible because they are National Trust or Enlgish Heritage owned sites. Bits of wall that we saw were great, and running along all those dead straight Roman roads gave an idea of what the Roman army probably felt like.

- Weather was awful in the morning, but some of the watery bits were a relief for hot feet. I had good socks and no blisters though.

- Marshalls were very well spaced out, with surprise water and haribo stations en route. Very encouraging throughout, particularly when they were standing in rain and gales.

- I don't think any of the signs had been tampered with when we were running, but a more detailed map would have been useful anyway. Not least to remember after the event what I saw where!

- Checkpoints were excellently well stocked with food and well manned, but I would have liked something similar directly at the finish. Some bananas, Snickers bars, squash drinks, crisps....

- Finish was very quiet when we arrived at 11.30pm, but the staff were very awake and it made for a more personal finish rather than the usual scrum for water, photo and baggage.

- Great encouraging signs during the last stage of 7 miles. Everyone was friendly to each other on the route, but I think it must have been very hard to run on your own. Well done to those who did!
Date of review: June 27, 2012

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

In short: Great race, very well marshalled and sign posted on route. No chance of getting lost, even though the majority of the route on foot paths, bridleways and fields. My first trail race, and painful but exhilarating!
Date of review: March 6, 2011

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