My Event Ratings

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

In short: Horrible weather; good marshalling; great support
In full: Well done everyone for getting this race organised and keeping it on in spite of the weather. The marshalling was great, friendly and helpful. The support from the locals was brilliant considering the terrible conditions.

The course is good - and in better conditions it will be quite scenic I think. However, the plus point of running on the redways is countered by the fact that you have a lot of small ups and downs in the underpasses. They also get quite narrow in places (especially when waterlogged) so it gets a bit cramped. that may be a problem as the numbers increase.

I didn't have a problem with the start or finish and I was parked close enough to the finish not to bother about the baggage trucks (reading some other comments, I'm glad about that). The goody bag was completely pointless though. If you can't blag anything to put in them, don't bother - just give out the medals and be done with it. I think that a space blanket is a bare minimum. Some sort of nutrition might be nice too a banana or cereal bar perhaps? Fortunately I had all that in the car too.

I'll be back next year if I can. I want to run it in some proper spring weather!
Date of review: May 7, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great race, brilliantly organised
In full: Undulating rather than hilly, but challenging in the wind.
Great organisation, friendly marshalling.
Car parking a long way away from the HQ, but made better by excellent shuttle service.
I had a great day. I'll almost certainly be back next year.
Date of review: January 23, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Great race, well organised, very flat. Nice to be able to run on the circuit
In full: Great race.
Very, very flat, loads of PB potential, shame I wasn't fit enough to take advantage of it! Maybe next year.
Date of review: May 5, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Nice race. Organisational shortcomings.
In full: I did this race last year at the Open University and really enjoyed it. Admittedly that was only my second HM and I've got a bit more serious in the last 12 months.
That said, an hour waiting to pick up my bag made me seriously think about not coming back next year. I'm sure plenty of others will detail the problems better than I (especially as I was near the front of the queue), but I recommend the organisers talk to the Bedford Harriers about how they organise baggage. I hope the well-meaning volunteers didn't get too much flak from those to the back of the queue. If I come back next year, there is no way that I will be leaving my bag.

My only other gripe was at the start. Any chance we could have pace groupings? The first two or three miles were far too congested.
I'm not too sure about the wisdom of starting the 10K just in front of the HM either.

Marshalling was great.
Course reasonably quick 5s slower than my PB (doh!) - the footbridge at the end was a bit of a shock though.
Date of review: March 7, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Very well organised, reasonably flat, great PB potential
Date of review: December 13, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Good fun, friendly race. I'll be back next year - hopefully to knock a few more minutes off my PB!
Date of review: September 1, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator