My Event Ratings

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

In short: Brilliant atmosphere & brilliant sunshine gave me a brilliant pb
In full: 10000 runners assembling in Green Park set the atmosphere. Then down to the start where the scale of this race becomes clear. I was lucky enough to start near the head of the throng. The course has a few tight bends at the beginning, through Trafalgar Square and onto Embankment, which slowed us slightly, but once past these bottlenecks, it was a great run past St Pauls, into the City, through Leadenhall Market. Relieved that the hills weren't long enough to wreck my pace. Then back down to the return leg on Embankment where I needed to dig in deep. Big Ben signals the final stretch and turning into the Mall, where the Marathon finish will be in a few weeks, was a fantastic feeling - flags, cheering crowds, and best of all, the finish line. It was impossible not to be inspired. Great organisation, in the same race as Mo Farah,loads of free stuff and a lovely park to relax in after and chat with endorphined-up athletes. Yes, it costs more than a club event, but you can't beat the feeling of being part of a big event like this.
Date of review: May 28, 2012

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

In short: Great mix of runners, good atmos, enjoyable route
In full: Second year I've done this run and the story is the same - every kind of runner from the whippets up front to the totally whipped at the back. Good atmosphere, all the runners, marshalls and organisers were positive and supportive.
The route is lovely, lots of boats, trees and ducks, which I find infinitely preferable to suburban streets. Underfoot is just what you expect on the towpath in November, so don't do it if you don't like your trainers getting muddy. I like the route because it's mostly pancake flat, with 6 or 8 short steep rises around the locks. The best bit of advice I read this year was to keep a bit in reserve for the long incline up from the canal through Cassiobury Park to the finish.
The organisers did a fine job, though calls last year for more toilets weren't heeded this year. Handy Moves once again demonstrated their idiosyncratic approach to baggage handling - maybe they need a bit of hands on management from Purple Patch.
My one 'runners, they're never satisfied' comment is that some of the water stations were positioned just above the locks. This meant picking up water whilst gasping from the short steep rise and then spending precious seconds choking.
Thanks to everyone who put the event on, looking forward to next year.
Date of review: November 18, 2010

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

In short: Fast, flat and a few yards from my house - what could be better?
In full: The one race I can walk to from my front door - why haven't I done it before?
Great organisation, despite having to make a few little last minute changes to the course due to flooding. Thanks, to all involved.
Just one suggestion - why not advertise the race locally and encourage a few more unattached runners along?
Date of review: February 12, 2010

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

In short: Lovely run, doubtful organisation
In full: I loved the run along the towpath. Although I accept the conditions may not to be everyone's liking, they were just what I'd expect from the canal path in November.
Scenery lovely, runners friendly, marshalls and water stations great, weather better than it might have been.
Just a shame that the organisation from the obviously committed and friendly Purple people was a bit gappy. they must have known how many runners were turning up, so they should shoulder some of the blame for the lack of toilets and terrible baggage check-in system.
The real shame was, having run a great race and really enjoyed the camaraderie at the end, we all got very chilled waiting for the van filled with our fleeces. There was no communication about the delay from the organisers and I was left feeling very let-down. Which was a shame.
Date of review: November 9, 2009

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