My Event Ratings

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

In short: fantastic course with a sting or two in the tail.
In full: Easy breezy organisation and hassle free pre-race made up for the never-ending hill at the start. Thoroughly professional and utterly stress free. Clearly they have done this before, and it shows. Then it was undulating country roads with great views across open fields for the next 11 miles, with the challenge of a couple of really steep ascents and descents to sap your legs and remove any pressure to try for a PB. For the price, I would have expected a better quality T-shirt AND/OR a medal, but this in only a minor grizzle. The bacon butties on sale at the finish were divine. If you haven't already done it, put it on your list.
Date of review: November 8, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Outstanding Half Marathon, probably the best in the South. Impeccable organisation, easy parking, chip timing, magnificent course, friendly natives, fantastic medal, and the best value goody bag I have seen in a long time.
In full: In 1993 I ran my first Half Marathon at Wycombe. 17 years later and with well over 100 Half Marathons completed, I still believe that this is probably the best Half Marathon in the South, possibly in the UK. There is a horribly steep climb in the first couple of miles, which paradoxically means that you can forget your PB and just enjoy the race, which is undulating and pleasant with a surprising amount of greenery and coutryside. The organisation has always been impeccable, car parking is right next to the start, and the M40 junctions at both ends of Wycombe make getting there a doddle. Wycombe also has some of the most runner-friendly inhabitants I have ever encountered, often setting up their own ad hoc water stations, or, in exceptionally hot years, sprinkler stations. Fantastic. In value for money terms, it is hard to beat. This year's goody bag contained a technical T-shirt, top quality medal with a map of the course on it, Mars bar, apple, orange, fruit bar, energy powder, bottle of water, pen, food supplements, and I am almost tempted to say sliding doors and conveyor belt. Unbelievable value for the £15 I paid for my on-the-day entry; even better for those club runners who entered early and paid about £12. With a field of just under 1000, the race manages to have a big event feel about it, but somehow also manages to retain the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of a small event. I have no idea how they do it. I will be comong back to this race every year for the forseeable future.
Date of review: July 19, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator