My Event Ratings

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

In short: Well supported and good atmosphere, but a number of areas needing improvement
In full: Having read a number of the other reviews, I agree that the good things were that this was a scenic, fairly challenging half in the beautiful New Forest. The marshalls were great, as was the support - highlights being the jelly babies and the entertaining signs up the second hill.
These events never ever have enough toilets, so unfortunately I expect insufficient toilets as standard now.
The medal was great; the goody bag was poor - the bananas had all gone, so a cereal bar, a bottle of water and some adverts I am not interested in, is poor, especially considering the level of the entry fee.
My most major complaint relates to the fact that we had to queue for half an hour to collect our bags. The system needs to be seriously addressed. We then unfortunately had to wait over half an hour to get out of the main car park...... so on top of the 20 minute wait for the toilet at the start, I felt that I spent most of the event waiting......
Date of review: September 26, 2011

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

In short: Lovely route, beautiful and varied scenery in the New Forest
In full: My first time, and I will recommend to others and do again. Great atmosphere, really friendly marshalls and well organised. Weather was perfect too!

Only minor grumble relates to the use of headphones. There was no comment about not being allowed to use headphones in the literature that came with the running number and I am pretty sure no mention on the website. Five minutes before the start of the race I happened to hear an announcement that said the use of headphones was prohibited - which was surprising as it was an off-road route. Not the end of the world not to run to music, but if that is the rule, then a) make it crystal clear in the literature and on the website, and b) enforce the rule - some people didn't hear or chose to ignore the announcment and still had their headphones. But a very minor grumble - all in all a fantastic event.
Date of review: July 10, 2011

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

In short: Brilliantly organised, great atmosphere, great scenery, challenging!
In full: I agree with all the other comments - great organisation and marshalling; free cakes at the end were fab. Lovely route, with just the right amount of challenging hills - wouldn't want any more though! Fantastic atmosphere.
My first time - I will be back.
Date of review: July 4, 2011

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

In short: Well organised low-key scenic run, great for marathon training
In full: Really well organised event, great value, well marshalled, and lots of water stations.
Nice sized event, really nice atmosphere but quite quiet and low key (which I liked) but the route is not lined with vast numbers of supporters cheering you on if that's your thing.
Really nice route, scenic, and a few slight inclines, but generally pretty flat, and good for marathon training.
Date of review: March 28, 2010

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Over-crowded and poor organisation
In full: Totally agree with the gripes expressed by other runners. This was my third year running this half, and I doubt I will do it again. Would be interested to know how the numbers have changed over the years, but I think the numbers are too high - the route is congested in too many places, the start/finish area is too cramped, NEVER enough portaloos, and the finishing line (when I could eventually get over it) was a joke. As was the amount of time it took to get "processed." A real shame.
Date of review: February 21, 2010

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

In short: Great atmosphere, well organised and scenic race
In full: Really lovely race - can't recommend it enough!
Lovely atmosphere, really friendly event, lots of marshals and very encouraging. So if that doesn't get you round the course, the amazing selection of home-made cakes at the end should do the trick!
Reasonably challenging 10 mile course - but nothing too hairy - generally the first half has a few hills, and generally the second half is more downhill. And all very pretty too!
Will be back for more - and hopefully the same dry conditions next year!....
Date of review: September 6, 2009

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

In short: Challenging half with lots of early hills, great atmosphere and supporters
In full: My first Hastings half - I had been warned about the hills, and they were right - they just seem to keep on coming for well over half the route. But at least the last third of the race is downhill/ flat and you can make up some of the lost time...
The supporters were amazing - the best atmosphere I have ever experienced at a half - and am sure the weather helped that - but fantastic all the same!
Organisation overall was good - reasonable number of portaloos (a refreshing change), well marshalled (if you could see them amongst all the supporters!) and great atmosphere before and after the race. A few negatives - need to get there early to park, and all a bit chaotic post the finishing line, but biggest gripe (and I accept it isn't the most important thing) - was the lack of goody bag. I got a cup of tea which was appreciated but nothing else bar a medal thing - I think early finishers got a bag with a few bits, and some got Lucozade drinks. I don't expect a sack load of goodies but a few basics would be really appreciated - a bottle of water, a banana would be great - and extra luxuries like a cereal bar / energy drink or milkshake would be the cherry on the cake.
Date of review: March 15, 2009

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

In short: Well organised, pretty flat, good atmosphere
In full: My 2nd year, and will be back for more. Overall a well organised race, really nice atmosphere, good supporters and by the seaside!
Good PB potential - overall it is a flat race, the "hill" at mile 11 is not that bad in my opinion... I have seen much worse.
Personally happy with the t-shirt as opposed to a medal, but each to their own!
My one gripe which applies to the majority of races is PLEASE CAN WE HAVE MORE TOILETS!!!! I am sure there were less than last year....
Date of review: February 22, 2009

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

In short: Overall pretty well organised, great atmosphere
In full: Overall, pretty well organised and a really nice atmosphere - great marshalling.
To continue a common theme, the brochure did state there would be glucose drinks at 3 points... Fortunately I had brought my own, but would have been very disappointed had I not and then found them not to be available.
As ever, the more toilets the merrier, and would be happy to have a pound or few added to the entry fee for a meaningful improvement in the number. Personally, I would have really appreciated if there were a few portaloos positioned just beyond the 10 mile point for easy access prior to lap 2.
But a really nice event overall, and great to do the 20 if you are training for a marathon. And if not, then would happily do the 10 miler.
Personally didn't get any Lucozade goodies - guess they had all gone by the time I came through which is a shame - but enjoyed my Goodness Shake.
Date of review: February 15, 2009

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

In short: A great post Christmas/ New Year challenging run
In full: Great organisation, and marshals and supporters who braved the cold conditions - thank you! Pretty route and probably even prettier for the frosty conditions.
Fairly challenging hills, which somehow seem longer and steeper second time round - but nothing too soul destroying.
My first Tadworth 10, would recommend to others and will be back for 2010.
Date of review: January 4, 2009

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