My Event Ratings

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

In short: Enjoyed it, but could be better
In full: I enjoyed this race - 2nd time I've done it - and found the uphill drags demanding in places, but nothing too bad.

Support on Eccleshall Rd was great, its just a shame there wasn't more in the City overall.

My wife ran this race for the first time, and she was just under 2 hrs, and at the end said 'Never again' - I didn't have a problem with the water stations, but she said where she was in the race, she had to wait for water/cups as there wasn't enough set up for the 'middle of the pack runners', on what was a humid day.

I enjoyed finishing in the stadium, but the tee shirt was nothing special, but I've got to say I'd do this event again - as long as the entry price doesn't go up anymore!!
Date of review: May 12, 2011

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

In short: Tough run
In full: Firstly, let me get the record straight. I love running off road, and love it in the Derbyshire hills – The Grindleford Gallop is one of my favourite runs.
In view of this, as part of my training for my autumn marathon, I thought this would be perfect, and was really looking forward to it. I knew there would be hills and was keen to do this.
I ran with mates, and the plan was to run together, and enjoy it in the same way as a Club Sunday run.
However after 2 miles, going down a path that seemed more rocks that path, I turned my ankle. This set the tone for the rest of the run, as most of the trails were uneven, rocky and there was always a chance of turning an ankle (which I did again, at 11mile!). A lot of the trails were single path, so you couldn’t run alongside a mate and chat, and I was led to believe that the scenery was great – unfortunately I didn’t see much of it, as most of the time my eyes were on the path in front trying to find a decent place to place my feet.
Also as soon as you got a rhythm, you hit a stile, or a wall that needed getting over, and this run is too ’stop/start’ to get going. However, got to say, its well marked out so the chance of getting lost is slim.
In my opinion, this run is Ok if you don’t mind doing it with mates, without it being part of a training schedule. However you are training for any distance race, and need to keep going, this is too 'stop start', and the ground underfoot could scupper your training plan.

Date of review: August 15, 2010

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

In short: Great Half marathon - just needs tweaking!
In full: Got my PB on this course last year, so was looking forward to it - unfortunately the heat made me realise that another PB was not on the cards this year!
Loads of Water Stations, water was cold - did a 1/2 recently that only had 4, on the hottest day of the year! - and I thought the volunteers at Newark were very encouraging.

The start however is possibly the worst start to a race that I've experienced - too many parked cars, narrow street, and people being at the front who were slowing down 'faster' runners was a bit annoying.

Also, do the people who were in the cars on the housing estate not know that theres an event taking place? Do they not get any prior notice?. They need a little bit of patience.......

However, for the price to enter, don't think its worth getting too wound up about!

Oh yeah - possibly best 1/2 tee shirts I've had are from Newark!
Date of review: August 12, 2010

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

In short: Heat and injury 'clouded' my enjoyment of the day!
In full: This is my local race, and entered it as I had a very good race last year.

Unfortunately my calf went at 8 mile, so I had to run/walk the last 5 miles. However, the heat might have done me anyway - prior to my calf going, I was getting goosebumps, and shivering, and I have been reliably informed that this is a sympton of heat stroke!

I know that the organisers can't sort the weather, but I thought that given that all forecasts were that it would be the hottest day of the year, there might have been more water stations.
Date of review: June 29, 2010

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

In short: Fantastic day out, but a bit pricey!
In full: Did this as a team of 4, and as we all ran together I really enjoyed this!

Great Organisation, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who fancies doing something different.

Downsides to me were the price, thought it was very expensive, and the t-shirt was not very good. Also, I was ready for something to eat afterwards, and thought we were supposed to receive a meal voucher for hot food, but unfortunately no one I spoke to seemed to know anything about it.

However, the race was a fantastic day out, and downsides apart, I would defintely do this again.
Date of review: May 17, 2010

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

In short: Fantastic Experience - but could do better!
In full: This was my first London Marathon, and I thought the weekend was fantastic.

However, there were one or two things that could be done to make this a more enjoyable experience, in my humble opinion.

1- Stricter control in the start pens - there were way too many people in the wrong pens, causing loads of bottlenecks when the race started, and slowing down people behind them from the very first mile. Bit gutted, as at times it was frustrating to run behind people who should (according to their pen numbers) have been further back. I actually ran 26.61 miles according to my Garmin, by trying to find room to run in!

2 - Headphones. I have never, ever had a problem with other runners wearing headphones. However, the problem here was that it was a very congested race/run, and after informing runners numerous times that I was coming up on their left shoulder etc, and that I was nipping through a gap, it dawned on me that they couldn't hear me, so I had to basically barge my way through.

The atmosphere and crowd were fantastic, and really lifted my spirits (which again makes me question the sense in listening to music as you might miss out on some of the crown interaction!).

The water stops were plentiful, and the weather was perfect.

I will definitely be entering the ballot (if the website doesn't crash again), as I now know that London should not be treated as a race for a time - it should be treated as a massive experience!.
Date of review: April 28, 2010

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

In short: Tough, but enjoyable!
In full: Really tough race, loads of steep hills, that kill any conversation and makes the legs burn!

I ran this as a training race in preperation for a marathon, and enjoyed it more than last year even though my time was slower!
Only downside was the traffic (although it has to be said, its mostly friends/family/coaches of runners who drive from spot to spot to see their runners!)
Date of review: February 15, 2010

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

In short: Flat course, but hard work in the heat!
In full: This was a fast, mainly flat course (albeit a bit boring in places) that was only compromised by the boiling hot day.

Organisation was good - apart from the bottleneck at the start - and I enjoyed finishing in the town square. The t-shirt wasn't too bad either.

There must have been something else happenng that day, as some of the local drivers were very impatient - and at times downright dangerous - and they appeared to be in a hurry to get somewhere and didn't seem to care about runners safety!!!!

Thought it was good that the presentations were held back so some of the steadier runners could watch, as recently I've been to a couple of races where the winners are being presented with their awards whilst a lot of the field are still running.

All in all, apart from the heat, which you can't blame on the organisers, a good day out which was made better as I got a PB.
Date of review: August 12, 2009

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

In short: Flat, fast course
In full: Very fast flat course - only downside was that it was a bit boring going past the same landmarks, and I don't mind hills as that's when I gain my places!.
I know a few people that wanted to do this race, but the 1 hr 45 mins cut off point put them off. If this was extended, I believe more folks would enter.
However, can't complain, very reasonable entry fee, fast course, good standard of runners, and PB for me!!!!!!!

Date of review: June 7, 2009

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

In short: Could do better!!!
In full: This was my first Golden Gate 10k. I thought, as it was chip timed, that I would try to just enjoy it, and start near the rear and see what I could do it in, but didn't realise that loads of runners would be at the front that really should not have been there. When I got going, I literally had to fight my way through the crowds, and the narrow path didn't do me many favours.

The first hill was very, very tough, but what made it harder was the fact loads of peiople were walking, and were hard to pass!!!

Next year, I believe the Organisers need to give some thought to start pens to stop this happening.
Date of review: May 31, 2009

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