My Event Ratings

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

In short: Back again and loved it
In full: This race is SO well organised- the BEST from my experience, it is such an achievement to complete it and I beat my time last year by 9 mins in the 1/2!!!!!!!!

Great:
medal,
t-shirt,
choice of energy drinks,
water in sports-cap bottles (great touch!), MUCH better than cups!
jelly babies,
christmas cake,
supportive marshals,
encouraging lap marshals/ time-keepers,
scenery!

I have friends who race who say 'I couldn't do laps- too boring.' BUT you have the advantage of only having to go 1 mile before refreshments/ removing the extra layer and not having to take it round with you/ getting the support of your family at every lap/ knowing what is coming and counting those dreaded hills down/ picking up the dropped drink so you are hands-free for a mile or 2!

Do not knock it before you try it- you will find yourself coming back for more! I did!

Also this race supports Teach Africa, I've just checked out the website and there are ULTRAs on there- maybe one day......




Date of review: October 26, 2009

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

In short: Very hilly and challenging
In full: Great day, well organised. Impressed that you got bottles of water instead of pouring water up your nose when trying to drink and run! Great medal but the goody bag was a bit sparse- drink and mars bar. It would have been kinder to the environment to not use the plastic bag and use paper bag instead (just a suggestion). I would have loved the chance to buy a t-shirt as a momento as was a great day.

Only my 2nd HM and got a PB beating my other time by 20 mins! Tho the other was cross-country. Must make a note in my diary to try a flatter HM!

It was quite a distance for me to travel but will seriously consider it next year.

A note for the organisers- signs for the car park would be handy lots of us newbies had to ask directions.
Date of review: March 1, 2009

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

In short: Satisfyingly challenging
In full: This race made me fully aware of the elements. This year has been wetter than most. The elements were EARTH, WIND, WATER and MUD!
Excellent organisation and the marshals were EVERYWHERE- no chance of taking a wrong turning. Water-stations perfectly placed.

This was my first race at this distance only having done 15 miles on the road once 5 months ago. It was hard work but has given me great resolve. Now I can do this, I think I can do anything!

Perfect to test your stamina for the marathons that are coming up. I recommend you add it to your pre-marathon race list.

Perfect organisation, great venue, great views, great atmosphere.

Hope to see you there next year.
Date of review: January 26, 2009

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

In short: I recommend this one for 1st timers, not perfect for a PB, BUT will leave you with a positive experience and a PB that can be beaten.
In full: This was my first ever half marathon and had NO idea what to expect. Once I had registered I contacted the organiser, Steve, and asked loads of 'first-timers' questions including appropriate footwear for the conditions. He was extremely helpful and so I was much more prepared on the day.

Oh boy was it challenging or what? The route was clearly marked out and was true to the distance. There are 2 hills, equally spaced to allow for a recovery on the down hills and a level part in the middle. The marshals tracked your laps and the photographer gave you lots of opportunities for a decent picture as a memento as you were caught on each lap so 13-14 pictures! I thought the mile lap was going to make it harder to keep going but when we all have our greatest fans (family) with us then it is great for them to cheer us every mile- less chance of them getting bored too. Also they can look after your drink for a mile and have gels/ jelly babies ready for the next lap. They can also take your extra top for just in case. I think that made the world of difference to me as normally you are lucky to see them once especially if you are caught in the crowd!

I was buzzing, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere was great and the organisers could not be faulted. It rained but was not too cold, it made it more refreshing. I would recommend it to first-timers because there are 3 different distances being done on the same day. There is no fear of coming last as there will be people doing the marathon so the pressure is off. Also there is no way of getting lost, there are plenty of marshals and there is very quickly a clear footpath to follow. There were energy drinks, jelly babies, fruit-cake, water and masses of encouragement.

There were not many entrants and so I got a trophy- never to happen again in my lifetime and that helped make it so so special. I will most certainly be there again this year and the next.

Just one thing, you need some change for the car-park.
Date of review: January 7, 2009

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