My Event Ratings

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

In short: Always a superb event
Date of review: April 20, 2010

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

In short: Tough but satisfying loop through North Oxfordshire countryside
In full: I love this race, and the support it gets from spectaators and marshals. Some reservatons this year: clear prohibition on earphones in the notes sent to all entrants, but marshals did not enforce (the start is crowded and there is traffic all the way round, so it's very important); nor did marshals enforce "keep left" rule. Some people seemed to be running it as a relay, presumably officially as they had numbers, but instead of getting into position early they drove round the course, adding an unnecessary car to the mix - bad idea on the narrow lanes. medal and lollipop at the end a disappointment, but I prefer to pay a very reasonable entry fee.
Date of review: March 14, 2010

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

In short: Full credit for honesty in the event title
In full: http://petergroves.blogspot.com/2009/10/autumn-almanac.html
Date of review: October 18, 2009

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

In short: Friendly and enoyable race, great value, no gimmicks
In full: http://petergroves.blogspot.com/2009/10/5-miles-out-stewart-horwood-memorial.html
Date of review: October 11, 2009

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

In short: Hard work, nice course, very enjoyable event, no unnecessary frills
Date of review: September 20, 2009

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

In short: Excellent, well-marshalled race, good for a PB
In full: Not the race's fault, but I had a lousy time. That doesn't detract from the organisation, the course, the marshalls, the weather, all of which were great: it just wasn't my day, but I'll be back next year if I possibly can to do it properly!
Date of review: September 6, 2009

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

In short: Hot. Very hot. Seriously hot.
In full: It's 15 years since I last ran this, and it was hot then too. If it weren't for the facts that it's local and part of my club's championship, I could have done without the punishment. I prefer to start well before the heat of the day, in summer! And where was the support? The spectators, mostly, might just as well have been dummies. Thank goodness for the many excellent marshals!
Date of review: June 30, 2009

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

In short: Fast, flat, well-marshalled, good morning out.
In full: Once you get out of the office park, the course isn't bad-looking at all, although the office park does make an excellent running track, just not very scenic. The marshals were great, and in the rain deserved an extra big "thank you". Nothing remarkable about the race, just a good all-round event, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Date of review: April 11, 2009

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

In short: Enjoyable, flat, friendly, well-marshalled and supported rural race
In full: One runner I talked to said it should be classed as "undulating". Was he Dutch? There are some gradients, but gentle ones, and it's as flat a race as you could want. Despite that, the landscape has enough trees to avoid being boring. It's run on good roads (pity runners disregarded instructions to keep to the left, though: some of those corners were pretty treacherous, with high hedges to obscure the view) with light traffic. The marshals - especially considering that White Horse Harriers is not a big club - were numerous and supportive, and the three drink stations (quite enough, and water only is fine by me) had enthusiastic helpers. I don' think there was enough water at the finish, though: the weatehr was warm enough to create a bit of arun on it. There seemed to be plenty of supporters around too, helped by the good weather: I hope Des had a great 77th birthday!

I like the finishers' mugs - a bit different, and more use than another medal - and for me the lower the entry fee, the better: I don't bother much about goody bags. Good value, well-organised, nice course, sold out well in advance. What more to say?
Date of review: April 5, 2009

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

In short: Hard work but well worth the effort.
In full: Great countryside, good support, excellent marshals, smooth organisation, uncrowded start, courteous and friendly fellow competitors, challenging hills, bracing weather. Brilliant event, and fantastic value for money. the only thing I'd add is a clock at the finsh - perhaps I just didn't see it. Shame about the non-appearance of the hot drinks, as we all needed warming up at the end
Date of review: March 9, 2009

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