Latest Ratings
| 1 to 10 of 41 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 |
2012 The Farnham Pilgrim Marathon
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Who needs the beach?
In full: Surprisingly sandy course will be my over riding memory of this race, together with the plethora of brilliant marshalls, ample feed stations, excellent marked course & wonderful views. Just one nasty hill to walk up. Cruel to have all the stiles in the second half of the race. A must do marathon.
Date of review: September 21, 2012
|
2011 Trionium Greensand Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Out & Back Challenge
In full: I usually run Beachy Head marathon at this time of year, however, chose to run the Greensand for the first time.
It was not as hilly as I thought, however, the terrain is difficult for speed. Lots of twists, roots, stone & sand.
I am not usually a fan of out & backs, however, the course was interesting enough. Was disappointed that there was only water & jelly babies at each feed station, except the turn when there was a bottle of lucozade. This is unacceptable for a marathon, especially a hard one. Sports drinks, gels & some food eg bananas, chocolate. biscuits should have been available - especially given the price we paid.
Despite the above, the t-shirt & medal were great. Never received a hat. Breakfast was fine (though the food was of the cheap version).
There were less than 180 runners for the marathon & very few slower runners. I normally end up in the first 1/3, however, was in the last 1/3 today. Quality field.
Would I do this race again? Yes. However, this event is not quite as good as Beachy Head yet.
Date of review: October 23, 2011
|
2010 City of Chichester International Challenge
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great Sunday run
In full: Entered on line but until a couple of days before the race was not sure what time it started. Found the organisation web site difficult to understand.
On race day there were no issues pre race. I didn't take the route map during the race - never occurred to me & the lady who gave me my number never recommended that I should.
The route is very twisty, well signed for walkers but not for runners. Clearly the trail markings are set by walkers for walkers. Sorry but a running perspective is needed ie marshals required. The route is great & although it goes over the top of the Downs & back, it is not that too hilly & I ran the whole 25k route.
The directions are difficult to understand at time, why not use different coloured signs once hitting half way rather than two arrows showing opposite directions at Goodwood when completing a loop!
At the end just a cup of water & no food is poor & given the cost with no medal thrown in was poor. Why were runners charged much more than walkers?
The field for the 25k was small. If the organisers want to big this event, it has to make improvements as stated above.
The course route deserves it!
Date of review: July 11, 2011
|
2011 City of Chichester International Challenge
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: July 11, 2011
|
2011 Bewl 15
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: 7th time for me. Need I say more?
In full: Top race with lovely touches as outlined by others.
The race organisers emails pre & post race were also welcomed.
So how can a top race get better?
Just keep doing the same!
How about for one year running the race in reverse?
Date of review: July 3, 2011
|
2011 Salomon South Downs Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Almost perfect!
In full: The Great's:
The course, views, mile markers, organization, drink stations, medal & goody bag.
Grumble's:
No food at any feedstation & no direction or mention of the goody bag/t shirt at the end
How about?
Some music/entertainment at end or at strategic points in the course would be nice?
Date of review: June 11, 2011
|
2011 Brighton Marathon 2011
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Bigger & Better...............hmm
In full: In short: Bigger & Better................hmm
In full: Having run the inaugural Brighton Marathon last year, the organisers must have been overwhelmed as to what a success the event was. However, it is always difficult in the following year to follow what was a brilliant event last time around.
The organisers advertised the event as Bigger & Better this year. However, regretfully I think this was a slight over exageration.
On the plus side the Expo at Brighton Centre was really good & so was the app to follow runners around the course. However the app didn't actually work for 2/3 of the race!
It was pleasing that the race actually started on time this year, however the organisers failed to improve the course - same route as last year. Most of the course is great, however it is pathetic to make the runners climb the incline from Ovingdean to Rottingdean to make up the full distance. This extra loop should be elsewhere in the city.
The much trumpted better atmosphere around Shoreham docks never materialised. In fact it was more souless this year than last. Where was the piped relay music, support or bands.
The crowd support was certainly not 100,000 as anticipated. A shame because the weather was great. If 80,000 turned out last year then I would say that at best there were 70,000. This seems on a par on what others told me afterwards.
There may have been more finishers, though allocating 5000 places to charities, who I believe returned half their allocation is a lesson that I trust the event organisers will learn next year. I also understand that at least 2500 runners deferred to next year, so will be interesting to find the number of finishers this year to last.
The medal was great, so was the t-shirt & goody bag. All went like clockwork.
The entertainment around the course also needs to ramped up, by at least 50%. Far too few pubs, clubs &bands performing. By comparison to Edinburgh (similar size), there is only one winner & it is not Brighton for entertainment.
However on such a hot day once again, drink stations should be every mile say from mile 3.
I hope the organisers take on board my comments. I did enjoy the race & all the organisation and nice touches. However, in truth It was not as good as last year.
I sincerely hope that next year it really is bigger & better & a tweak here & a tweak there, will bounce the Brighton Marathon back into the top three marathons of the UK.
As a result sorry if I am being a little hard, I have decided that for this year Brighton is not one of my all time favourite races. As a marathon runner of more than 40 marathons, I feel that I am well qualified to judge.
I look forward to being back next year.
Date of review: April 10, 2011
|
2011 Bexhill Seafront Half- Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Bigger & Better................hmm
In full: Having run the inaugural Brighton Marathon last year, the organisers must have been overwhelmed as to what a success the event was. However, it is always difficult in the following year to follow what was a brilliant event last time around.
The organisers advertised the event as Bigger & Better this year. However, regretfully I think this was a slight over exageration.
On the plus side the Expo at Brighton Centre was really good & so was the app to follow runners around the course. However the app didn't actually work for 2/3 of the race!
It was pleasing that the race actually started on time this year, however the organisers failed to improve the course - same route as last year. Most of the course is great, however it is pathetic to make the runners climb the incline from Ovingdean to Rottingdean to make up the full distance. This extra loop should be elsewhere in the city.
The much trumpted better atmosphere around Shoreham docks never materialised. In fact it was more souless this year than last. Where was the piped relay music, support or bands.
The crowd support was certainly not 100,000 as anticipated. A shame because the weather was great. If 80,000 turned out last year then I would say that at best there were 70,000. This seems on a par on what others told me afterwards.
There may have been more finishers, though allocating 5000 places to charities, who I believe returned half their allocation is a lesson that I trust the event organisers will learn next year. I also understand that at least 2500 runners deferred to next year, so will be interesting to find the number of finishers this year to last.
The medal was great, so was the t-shirt & goody bag. All went like clockwork.
The entertainment around the course also needs to ramped up, by at least 50%. Far too few pubs, clubs &bands performing. By comparison to Edinburgh (similar size), there is only one winner & it is not Brighton for entertainment.
However on such a hot day once again, drink stations should be every mile say from mile 3.
I hope the organisers take on board my comments. I did enjoy the race & all the organisation and nice touches. However, in truth It was not as good as last year.
I sincerely hope that next year it really is bigger & better & a tweak here & a tweak there, will bounce the Brighton Marathon back into the top three marathons of the UK.
As a result sorry if I am being a little hard, I have decided that for this year Brighton is not one of my all time favourite races. As a marathon runner of more than 40 marathons, I feel that I am well qualified to judge.
I look forward to being back next year.
Date of review: April 10, 2011
|
2010 Bexhill Seafront Half- Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 4 Laps of Speed!
In full: A really good half marathon & just about enough of an interesting route not to get too bored given the repetitive laps. Though it rained hard, there was little wind so times I suspect were not really slower. I entered late so applied under a charity place. Bit expensive, but then my fault in not sending my application form in earlier! Great cakes at the end.
Date of review: November 15, 2010
|
2010 British Heart Foundation's White Night Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Something Different
In full: The inaugural Midnight Brighton Half Marathon was a great success for a first time event & sold out before the day. Initially advertised as off road, then road/off road it was frustrating not to know the route or how much was off road in advance, despite emailing the organizers without a reply. In the end the decision to wear road shoes was right. Nearly all pavement.
Little reason to set off in waves as the numbers were not large. Great friendly revelry in town & a really good value event.
Litt
Litt
Date of review: October 31, 2010
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
