My Event Ratings

Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Need to change a lot to make me sign up again
In full: The idea, the name, the distance - all great, I've spent a year waiting for this race since I paid my entry fee.... what a let down.

Wish the clocks went fwd and I missed this run - shoddy from start to finish which spoilt what could have been an amazing event.

Good points - the young marshals were full of encouragement and support throughout... Hard pushed to find a second positive so will have to say the scenery from 8k onwards....

Bad points - unclear indication regarding the travel from finish to start, cost of 'bus service' for runners and spectators (with no checks made for tickets), organisation at the start, incorrect information regarding water stops, no halfway indicator for the 26.2 run, finish was an anti-climax, bags left unsecure for running and spectators to walk around and take whatever they want.... buses - well, the comments from everyone else says all about that, text about time was incorrect and I'm sure that they'll increase the fees for next year - so hopefully they take note of comments and make it a worthwhile run!

Date of review: October 28, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Flat, flat and flat! Great PB potential
In full: A great race, big loop of the country side, passing farms got a bit smelly but it's the countryside - what else do you expect!?
99% flat and definitely a PB course - results available within a few minutes of finishing - well put together...
2 small things I never liked - running round a small enclosed area at the start just to make up the full 13.1 mile distance, and the t-shirt at the end was grey - looks more like a brickies top rather than a running techy t-shirt!
Date of review: May 15, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Not many 20's about - great marathon training
In full: Its the top gear track! I know that bend, that plane - what a great touch! But then you go out of the gate and there's a few challenging hills out there! Its 2 laps of a 10 mile course and the second lap starts by watching the 10 milers finish - then seems to find hills that weren't there the first time round!!
I enjoyed it though - runners for both Brighton and London marathons should look at this or the Cranleigh 21 a week later for a good training run to get you in the mind set for what lies ahead!
Date of review: May 15, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: I done it!! At last!
In full: 4th attempt at a ballot place and I got in! Its not a hard course (he says, its a blooming marathon!) but the number of people put pay to any PB potential I'd say - GPS system picked up an extra mile of running due to the weaving in and out of slower runners that over-estimate their finishing time - but hey, it's the LONDON MARATHON! Biggest one in the world, the fun run, the one that 99% of runners want to do and I have! Would always do it again but wont under-estimate miles 21-25 which really are not my friends!!

Date of review: May 15, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: If hills aren't your friends, at least the marshalls are!
In full: Ok, so we were warned about 3 hills - I think they must have missed the other 5!! It was a pretty tough course but there were long gradual downhills as well as the painful ups!
The marshaling and drink stations were fantastic though and REALLY gave you a boost when it was needed - likewise the guy calling out split times at half way was great (and accurate due to the small field of runners) - and the marshals with number list able to call out your name was an especially nice touch..
I wouldn't do it again but am glad it was attacked a few weeks after the marathon to show me what I had left in my legs!
I did manage a PB but would not recommend for newer runners as it can get to you when the runners split up and you're going up hill alone if you prefer a bit of buzz - equally the last runner came in at 2:30hrs so this should give a benchmark to decide if you will run it or not!
If after the above you still want to challenge yourself - good luck! Lovely scenic course, great team putting it together but a little too hilly for my personal liking!
Date of review: May 15, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: If ever you need an introduction to hill running!!
In full: 3rd year for me and a new PB - its a race of 2 halfs 1-4.5k is more or less flat, then to have almost 1k of climbing followed by 3 of up and down hills before the final run in.... a great race, albeit an early Sunday start (arrive by 7:30am due to road closures!) Really well organised, little touches like medal engraving of name and time at the end (few quid), build a bear and face painting to keep the kids entertained and a mini 2k run too for the young runners!
Great run for local area....
Date of review: June 5, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: The one time I took my missus to BW, and she never shopped!
In full: Well, Im glad they told everyone to be there for 7:30! Was like getting in on Xmas eve, but as a local, I knew a cut around to get from the closed off side to the A2 queue.

What heat! Even for that time of the morning! Really added to the punishing hills on the course - maybe adding a 3km water station could be considered for next year?

The warm up wasn't even noticed for those towards the back of the bottle necked start, but the body shop girls going round with sun cream, face vapourisers, cooling gels and wipes done a great job and were really friendly.....

Mr Mankini - WHY!? Im sure you raised loads for charity, but how's the chaffing this morning? And a bit of a trim next time please!!

Hills were a bugger after 5k, but there's no other way of doing a run in that area without hills - Iv taken it as a positive that I need to do some more hill training though.

Great post race assistance with de-tagging, handing out drinks, medals, goody bags (very nice contents), etc and what a cool touch with the engraving too (shame about the queue there tho!)..

Getting out was also pretty bad, but a few alternative "routes" through the car park got us out well enough.

All in all, a defo 7.5 out of 10 for me - good effort, and great fun.

OH, AND CAN WE START GETTING T-SHIRTS THAT ARE NOT RED FOR RACES PLEASE!
Date of review: June 15, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: So very nearly perfect!
In full: What a day - great organisation from the arrival of the pack through the post - right through to the end..... I'd say this race was 95% perfect, and the rest can be coped with and has been mentioned already (wrongly grouped runners - not BUPAs fault and no water at the finish till you'd been detagged and got your goodie bag.... but who cares? A smashing day out, great for ppl with supports out there (shame the city was closed, roads a bit desolate around fenchurch/cannon street) but couldnt do on a business day!

I did the Nike 10k at Wembley last year, and this made that look novice (minus the actual venue)... better organised and a much more scenic route...

I'm signed up and ready to go next year - what a great event
Date of review: May 27, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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: A hard PB in the outfit, but dont we all run for fun?
In full: Really loved it! A mate dropped out so ran alone, but when you're all dressed the same does it really matter??!

Not really a PB run due to the costume, but the course itself is so if you find another battersea park run, go for it!

Will defo repeat this next year, but wont hold out for the after-race granery bar, leave that for the squirrels! Great little medal tho and supporters seemed to love the Santas running by...
Date of review: December 6, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: My first 10k, could have been better but overall it's a pass!
Date of review: September 5, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator