My Event Ratings

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

In short: I'm glad I found this race!
In full: Thanks to the organizers for this race. Very well organized. It is so convenient to have the car park next to the start. Plenty of water and energy bars. Well marshaled, good Medal and nice training log book. No hassle to arrive or to leave. Toilets were good and clean although few more would be better. The course is ok except for a total of 6 miles running around the aerodrome. Well done!
Date of review: March 13, 2011

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

In short: One of those races to remember!
In full: I did this race reluctantly as people would remind me all the time about that famous hill and how difficult it was. Yes, it is hard but it was not too bad, I managed to recover the time lost at the slow climb by coming down very fast. The scenery is quite nice and inspiring which kept me entretained and focused and there is quite a good support from the crowds. I increadibly managed a PB so I was quite pleased. I enjoyed that race so much that I am seriously thinking in entering again this year despite my current unfitness.
Date of review: August 23, 2010

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

In short: Good but lonely race, bad weather and indiferent locals
In full: This has been one of the toughest races I've done. Decent ondulations and gorgeous views, but the weather and the loneliness of the reace, music devices not allowed, and the locals who do not seem interested at all, in fact we were warned that there were lots of problems last year with people peeing in public and that therefore the locals don't like runners. I was feeling down at some point, specially when I could not see anybody behind me. Thanks to one of the race officials passing in his bike who told me that there were still plenty of people behind me. That managed to get me through the last 4 miles. Long walk from the fisnish to the HQ and then the car park. I saw the police several times up and down, I thought they were taking care of us, somebody told me at the end they were watching us in case 'we did not behave' to protect the locals who don't like us! Dissapointing. Still an enjoyable course. One thing, my garming marked 20.3 M at the finish....
Date of review: March 8, 2009

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

In short: Great Event!!
In full: I just don't have anything negative to say except that I had to drive 50 miles this morning to get there.
Excellent event, the scenery is just breathtaking and that made the hill climb more bearable. I must thank Gade valleyriders for such a great event, the marshalling, the route, the refreshments, the fellow runners, the lady driving her green car to cheer us up every few miles. Despite being a training day and not a race the atmosfere was better than lots of races I've been. Excellent value for money. I just regret I cannot join the 20 mile on the 29March as I am doing Reading half Marathon. But well done everyone! If I do the FLM next year you will be on my calendar!
Date of review: February 22, 2009

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

In short: Great scenery but dissapointing organization
In full: I appreciate the Organiser's comments regarding the last minute change in course and parking due to the weather, which saved the race. I still think the organisation was poor. To start with, I did not receive my race pack even though I register 10 days before the race. I don’t think there is excuse for that; there was plenty of time to send it even by last class post. Why do they say that last registration day was 1st Oct, I assumed that date was so people had time to get their race pack by post. I got there and I was given a race number marked with a pen! No t-shirt either. I showed my e-mail registration and they even didn't look at it so anybody could have just turned up last minute without paying and get the tesco paper and marked pen number race. Not impressing. I adhere to previous comments regarding the parking and course, but I understand the challenges that the organisers have had with the weather, so thank you for saving the race from cancellation. It was lovely scenery so that saved the day!
Date of review: October 6, 2008

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

In short: I enjoyed the race and the city of Cardiff!
In full: Lovely race, and the organisation was excellent, very flat so it is good for beginners like me. I've seen some people concerned about the price but I think it was a good value for money, you get to race around nice spots in the city centre, traffic free, good day out for the whole family, my husband and daughter managed to see me departing, at 5km and at the end. And we are all helping a good cause. The medal is nice and the goody bag with the Cardiff guidebook was a nice touch. I will be back with my family next year, my toddler might be just old enough to run the 2K with my husband while I warm up!
Date of review: September 26, 2008

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

In short: I loved it.
In full: This was my first 10K ever, and I could not chose a better race to start my 'running career' ;-)
I wasn't feeling well but the whole atmosphere and organisation helped me to shift to a good mood anyway.
I don't have previous races to compare it to except the 5K I've done for cancer research but I'd probably say it has exceeded my expectations. The marshalls were outstanding, their support to runners and the traffic management was terrific. The organisation and the atmosphere were great too, even my 2 year old daughther was very excited and I could see both my little one and my husband cheering me at the finish when I was arriving, that is priceless. Really a family friendly event. Also good venue, and the 550 people is just perfect for that sort of venue.
The only 2 things tough: I didn't bring any water because I though they promised 2 water stations, so I was getting dehydrated when I've got to the station at 6 kms. Anyway, if only one water station was to be in place it should have been earlier.
The start outside the car park was a bit odd but I guess there is not choice.
Luckely it was sunny and dry although windy which did not help my already very modest PB But me and my family enjoyed this race so much that I cannot wait to do it again next year.
Date of review: August 11, 2008

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