My Event Ratings

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

In short: Congratulations to the Organisers - this race has a massive future
In full: Am going to summarise this race with bullet points
- 13,000 entrants but no traffic
- Great organisation
- A fantastic venue for supporting (you can choose so many different parts of the course to cheer on)
- Amazing scenary, up and down the mall, across the South bank and then a very pretty route through hyde park
- An inspiring finish line, with a nice long straight to finish
- Excellent focus on charities and an area to get food for runners or spectators

All in all, this I hope will become a race that inspires many people to get fit and take this challenge next year.

Well done Rooyal Parks
Date of review: October 13, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Tough, but enjoyable run, great for training
In full: Wow, I am fairly fit, but be under no estimation this is very tough going. I finished in 2 hours and normally do a half in 1hr30.

Good organisation & nice surroundings.

I found miles 7-10 particularly tough, you really don't have time to catch your breath on the flat sections because of all the tough and steep uphill sections.

Great challenge though and definate sense of achievement.
Date of review: August 7, 2008

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

In short: Demading but thoroughly enjoyable cross country half marathon
In full: I ran this for the first time in 2008, following excellent reviews.

You start in the grounds of a pretty old private school in the depths of Surrey
(good parking, toilets and showers).

The atmosphere is very friendly with about 250 people taking part.

The run starts slowly by winding up through the school, up through a narrow
path between fields and over a few sytes. You then enter a mixture of pretty
woodland and wide open country tracks.

The course is cleverly designed so you pretty much run the same course twice
but in opposite directions.

The course is dominated by long, fairly tough ascents and then sharp downhills,
which makes it a real challenge, all the work you do on the ascents is not
rewarded !

The run culminates in the ascent of the summit of Holmbury Hill (one of the
highest points in South East England).

People talk of adding 15% to your normal time, I would argue it is close to
20%, so a really good workout.

You are applauded through the finish line and there was a nice atmosphere at
the end and a real joint sense of achievement.

Date of review: July 23, 2008

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

In short: Great fun challenging race. Long, gentle-to-steep ascents followed by sharp rocky descents a
In full: I ran this for the first time in 2008, following excellent reviews.

You start in the grounds of a pretty old private school in the depths of Surrey (good parking, toilets and showers).

The atmosphere is very friendly with about 250 people taking part.

The run starts slowly by winding up through the school, up through a narrow path between fields and over a few sytes. You then enter a mixture of pretty woodland and wide open country tracks.

The course is cleverly designed so you pretty much run the same course twice but in opposite directions.

The course is dominated by long, fairly tough ascents and then sharp downhills, which makes it a real challenge, all the work you do on the ascents is not rewarded !

The run culminates in the ascent of the summit of Holmbury Hill (one of the highest points in South East England).

People talk of adding 15% to your normal time, I would argue it is close to 20%, so a really good workout.

You are applauded through the finish line and there was a nice atmosphere at the end and a real sense of achievement.
Date of review: July 21, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: .
In full: Given the excellent reviews, I ran the race for the first time in 2008. As a quick summary this is an excellent, demanding cross country run set in pretty woodlands.

The run is dominated by long gentle to steep uphill runs, and then quick sharp rocky terrain downhills.

You start in the grounds of an old private school, that has plenty of car parking, toilets and showers. The race itself has good markers and enough water stops.

The run starts by winding up through the school, up through some narrow paths between fields and over a few styes. After a mile you are then in woodland and the route cleverly takes you through a mixture of woods and long open paths, with the race culminating in a long mile ascent up to the very summit of Holmbury Hill (one of the highest points in South East England).

Nice friendly atmosphere with massive sense of achievement at the end.
Date of review: July 21, 2008

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