My Event Ratings

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

In short: Great atmosphere, Good organisation, Good job - but swim groups !
In full: Ok - done twice this year, once in may and now in sept. Good organisation, friendly atmosphere, good encouragement from the marshalls.
Only point - unlike in May, there were LOADS of people swimming slowly and swimming breastroke slowly.
It meant that despite the no1 person posting a sub 9 min 400m (what was he doing going as the slowest person), there ended up with a large group of very slow people who ended up slowing down those behind and then they had to deal with people getting passed them. This is not ideal for either group !!
Please make sure that people post a proper time or split the first group into several groups; leave a longer time between each of the early swimmers starting. This is the one thing that would put me off doing again.
Other than that a brilliant friendly great event run by my Tri club - good job to all
Date of review: September 24, 2011

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

In short: Great atmosphere, Good organisation, Good job
In full: Will be back to do this again. I also, despite the hills and the heat, got a PB which despite doing not much running or any speed work was a completed shock !!
For the person saying there were no 'KM' markers - they were there at each of the nine KMs - I know cause I checked them all.
Was very much an experienced/club runner feel which for me was fine, but for the poor lady I met for whom this was her first 10k not so sure. Really is suited for more experienced runners. Hope she got on ok though.
Loved the course, agree with other re chip timing - no point doing unless you do it at both ends !! I am using my garmin time which was 7 seconds quicker as I wasnt quite at the front !(sad but it all helps !!)
All in all a great race.
Changes : sell food and coffee somewhere - great to get people gathered together discussing the race. I was also starving and saw no where to buy food. Do chip timing both ends. Provide more toilets.
Dont change - great atmosphere, friendly locals (I had to park in the street and neighbour was very friendly), great marshalls (always thank them), lovely scenic, challenging but not too difficult course. Will defo be back
Date of review: April 11, 2011

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Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%

In short: Lucky with the weather, great organisation, but definately 'hilly' not undualating !!
In full: Good - Lovely feeling to the race, good parking, great atmosphere and fab mince pie at the end with mulled wine.

Not so good - no medal (yes we runners are all really sad and love our medals) - would have this over any other 'goodies' in a bag. Due to running it twice there was a long steepish hill, which after the mud was harder than I was expecting. 'Undualating' was not a fair description. No baggage drop. I was dropped off to do the race and had to ask a nice lady volunteer to agree to look after my bag (which she did). And finally - charging 2.50 per car to use the car park was not acceptable. This is for charity!! Hence i did not pay this and was dropped off to do the race.

Will be back next year depending on where the race is (please go back to Hatfield House - hint hint!!)
Date of review: December 6, 2009

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

In short: Enjoyed for a first half marathon. Shocked to read that people had stuff nicked from unmanned backage area. Not in the spirit of such events.
In full: We arrived early enough to see the entrance that the instructions sent you to closed!!! Luckily my husband wasnt staying so he went and came back later. Within 3 minutes there was a very long queue. really not acceptable to direct everyone a particular way and then close the entrance you sent them to!!! Disgraceful (and we were there an hour before the race!!).
Chaos in side the room where you left the baggage and poor signs everywhere. The outside toilets were madness with a very silly system for waiting!!
-ves: Closing directed to entrance 1 hour before race; people slow to react to collapsed racer at 7 miles; underpasses not very nice; wind a nightmare on return leg
+ves - Good atmosphere, nice marshalls, scenery better than expected (loved the pretty villages); lots of runners around you to keep you moving fast; fab medal; got a pb !!
Date of review: April 13, 2009

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

In short: Freezing but really enjoyable race - great atmosphere
In full: Sat in my car 10 minutes before the race I did wonder what I was doing there on a freezing sunday morning in november with driving rain....but got out the car and to the start line, actually started at the front (first for me!!), and off we went. Took 3 miles for my hands to thaw out and it was so cold that me legs pounded away very quickly - which helped my time. I didnt find the course hard - which based on other comments, is a reflection of my fitness. Setting was lovely and I smashed my PB set 4 weeks agos at the Herts 10k (1hr 1min 13 sec) , by nearly 7 mins (53 mins 55sec).....which was an excellent bonus. The mince pies and hot chocolate at the end were fab - and it was nice that the rain had finally stopped and a good collection of runners gathered around by the mince pie tent chatting - great atmosphere.
Issues - there was no where dry for people to wait before the start of the race. You had to go back to car (which luckily were parked right near the start). There were only 5 portaloos which meant that we nearly missed the start of the race getting in that last minute pit stop!!!
Date of review: November 29, 2008

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

In short: Did this two years ago and how this has improved, better organisation and better course -excellent
In full: The start had a great atmosphere,there was somewhere easy to leave my kit and there were loads of toilets (required for my four visits before the race!!).

The warm up was done before we went to the starting pens, which was a much better idea. Congested to start with but stretched out within a mile or two.

I knew the course well which helped as I was used to the 'hill'. One muddy section near the end where we pretty much had to walk through. Not sure what would have happened here is we had had some rain!!!

Gorgeous day, great course, great organisation and great cause. Fab to have something like this where i live. Looking forward to doing it next year.

Improvements: Could we have more things for little ones to do. It is very difficult for partners and young children to keep entertained for the time between us arriving to race and us finishing. Thanks

Date of review: October 26, 2008

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%

In short: Not inspiring - any suggestions of 10K races that would be
In full: I always enjoy my running especially my 6 mile run on a sunday (from harpenden to edge st albans and back). However, I really did not enjoy this race and oh I had so wanted to. Having a climb to at the end of each lap was a real struggle. Over 50% of the people I saw walked up it as it was as quick, if not quicker than running. To cap it all having negotiated this slope the remaining part of each lap was running across the slope of a hill.... To be honest it is the nearest thing to putting me off running I have ever done. I loved running til Sunday. I nearly gave up after one lap - but had raised some money for Chartiy so continued for the second half. Love to hear other view. Definately would not recommend this for someone doing a first/early 10k looking for inspiration. Organisation was poor/lacking - good cause was the saving grace. There were no distance markers, or half way drink station as promised. The part to the finish of the 10k was unclear and people did a myriad of finishes. And Finally I have never been to a race with fewer people lining the last 2 km. It really is very encouraging to have people cheering and clapping you on as you throw your last bit of energy at it (impossible with that slope even if it had been lined with people clapping!!). Very disappointed - will definately not be doing again. Any tips on 10Ks in Hertfordshire that will inspire me??
Date of review: February 25, 2008

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