My Event Ratings

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

In short: A bit like switching the London Marathon to croydon and not telling anyone
In full: Why on earth did they call it the Edinburgh Marathon? You can't help but be inspired when you walk around the city - but we saw scant landmarks during a 26 mile run out to the middle of nowhere, including going twice through an unmemorable hick town.

The heat was unforgiveable but I gather it was the same last year - so why not use a course that provided some cover?

I've run lots of races but I've never been so exposed to the elements as this one - very, very little shade.

That said it felt like an achievement to keep my time under four-and-a-half hours. As to the buses at the end - forget it. I walked about four miles and got a train which got us into the city in ten minutes.

What was also shameful was how public transport all had to be paid for - that after paying a £50 entrance fee to a very average race.
Date of review: May 25, 2010

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

In short: Glorious scenery and crowds but very over-crowded
In full: I have to echo the sentiments of others and say that there are just too many in the race. Despite bettering my time of last year it was disappointing to see that I had run 26.8 miles due to having to steer round so many people. If anyone wants to set a PB London is definitely not the venue - that said the crowds are magnificent year after year. Well done to Virgin also - organisationw as supreme and the T-shirt and medal were a class above last year's offering.
Date of review: April 26, 2010

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

In short: Well organised - especially as they let me sign up on the day.
In full: I have been suffering with shin splints and they returned with gusto five miles in - that said I got used to it and felt pretty good after 13 miles up to the finish.

I can't recall being overtaken so much since I took up running two years ago but the splints probably the biggest factor in that.

People may knock the £25 entry but for me it was good value as the alternative was a boring training run on my own. There were also a lot of marshals and full credit to the organisers for that.
Date of review: April 11, 2010

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

In short: Huge thank you to the Maidenhead club and all the marshals
In full: Hi - like a few others I breathed a sigh of relief when we finally left the grounds of Nortel for a very plesant run through the countryside. I had been unsure about racing as was hobbling two days ago but clocked an excellent time. Fab marshals and organisation - couldn't fault anything.
Date of review: April 2, 2010

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

In short: Great marshalling and a hassle-free event
In full: First time in the Finchley 20 and very pleased I entered. Great prep for London and friendly marshals are a key part of what running events like this are all about.
Date of review: March 29, 2010

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

In short: Gorgeous multi-terrain run along the river - my home race.
Date of review: March 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		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: They say in football that the crowd can be a 12th man - in the London Marathon its more like 12,000! Truly humbled b y the support.
In full: My first ever marathon and it exceeded all my expectations. Only took up running a year ago with the avowed intention of starting the London Marathon and found the whole day inspiring. Burst into tears when I crossed the finish line and even then one of the volunteers found time to come up and see if I was OK - I was running the race in memory of my late brother - Sunday was for you buddy!
Agree with everyone about the heat and one of the most vivid memories was running through the showers then feeling bone dry two minutes later. Despite the heat and the tough miles 19-22 I hit my target of finishing in under 4.5 hours and even got to see my family near the end.
Well done to all the volunteers and the thousands who came out in their tens of thousands to support us. Several times post 19 miles I thought about pulling up only to have someone shout out my name (great tip about putting the name on the shirt) and propelling me on.
God willing I will be back next year to break four hours!
Date of review: April 27, 2009

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

In short: Top class event from top to bottom.
In full: Ok I am a Purple Patch runner so undoubtedly biased. However, considering it was the first ever-running of the race could the organisation have been any better?
I've never seen so many marshals and every one was urging the runners on - a real lift when the sun really shone three-quarters of the way round.
Plenty of water stops and the combination of a medal and a T-shirt as part of the entry price is an example for others to follow.
And in contrast to some events where the beneficaries are private individuals who don't deserve a penny (you know who you are!) this went to a fantastic charity.
All round a great day - I ran my fastest half and didn't even mind my running partner caning me by three minutes!
Ps the crowd who stood cheering outside the pub (twice!) and the band deserved medals themselves.
Date of review: March 22, 2009

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

In short: Big congrats to the marshals - enjoyable first 20
In full: My first 20 miler so I cruised round to make sure I made the trip. Huge Thank You to all the marshals who encouraged us twice round the 10 mile course.
I will definitely be back.
Date of review: February 15, 2009

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

In short: Excellent post-Christmas wake-up call for those of us doing London Marathon - big hand for marshals for braving the cold (at least we were running to keep warm).
In full: Hi - got to Watford and entered the car park only to find that was a waste of time (too full!). Managed to find off street parking and got the the HQ in good time only to lose my running gloves.
Race itself was a good test and my only disappointment was that my second half didn't match my first but for all that a pleasing time and I will be back next year.Incidentally, Gatorade (during race and after), crunchy snack, and T-shirt is nothing to whinge about - puts a few other races to shame.
Date of review: February 2, 2009

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