My Event Ratings

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

In short: Great race, organisation was superb.
In full: My first mara but didn't do anything to put me off. Parking was a little worrying as none was available when we turned up (early as told to) but plenty of street parking was available.

Plenty of toilets at the start to allow you to "blow off" excess pre race filling. Marshalling was perfection all the way round the course.

The hills were small but sometimes steep (especially at mile 17). Water stations were numerous and the sponge thing worked really well.

Locals obviously happily support the race as so many turned out.

The finish was well managed with nice commentary.

The medal though was carp.

Will do again... (did I just say that?)
Date of review: October 1, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Nice unpolished run in brilliant atmosphere
In full: Have a soft spot for Horndon due to family connections but the start could be better organised and if possible started a little earlier due what are often very hot conditions. The course itself is by its very nature hilly and the first down and back hills is a killer. Once up the hill you complete a two lap round and back before heading off on to the final trail through the local farm. The heat was pretty bad this year but the three available water stations was pretty well placed (Thanks also to all those family who got their hoses out). Not too sure about the need for a single file finishing line but didn't effect me.
Date of review: July 5, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Excellent no nonsense race
In full: Marshalling good, well organised, no problems with traffic blocking movement. Would prefer water bottles at stations however as light plastic cups half filled are mainly spilled as opposed to drunk. The kid with the jelly babies in Blackmore... thanks!

Date of review: March 27, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Lovely day for a well organised run
In full: It was a well attended race, well organised and extremely lucky with weather. Plenty of loos (although the permanent ones are in a distressed state!). The organisers did an as quick warm up to start as possible... arranged to get the faster (sub 60mins) runners off first. The course is described as multiterrain - it is mainly on grass but there was a terrible patch of aggregate which was extremely difficult to run on. The grass is in places extremely unlevel/potholed which requires concentration and makes for a challenging run. The two water stations were well staffed with bottles at the finish and cups at the 5K marker(prefer bottles as can't run with polystrene cup!)It also has two laps not the one lap suggested. Possibly a little longer than 10K (Garmin logged it as 6.29miles). It is certainly not a flat course and is constantly undulating (why do the uphills always seem longer than the downhills?) Fantastically marshalled throughout with good encouragement and plenty of sore hands I imagines as they kept clapping for the whole time I was running (48'37" to be precise).

Plenty of spectators but little for them to do (other than clap and cheer) - been to plenty of "Race for Life"s and always had plenty of stuff to do for spectators... why not here?

A very nice charity race!
Date of review: October 12, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Nice race, easy flat trail, great cause, will run it again
Date of review: September 14, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator