Latest Ratings
| 1 to 10 of 36 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 |
2013 Blenheim Fun Run 7K
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Lovely scenic area but couple of areas need improving
In full: Running round Blenheim Palace was always going to give a lovely background & I loved the novelty of 7k rather than the usual 5k or 10k. Plenty of free parking at race HQ.
When I arrived the warm up was well under way & the whole HQ area had a friendly atmosphere to it. One of my gribes was though that there was oly 3 portaloos! No way enough to serve the mass of people. I believe that there might have been some more toilets in a building nearby but I heard that the queues were just as bad.
The race is chip timed but there was no mat at the start line. I'm guessing everyone's chip starts at th same time & then the finishing time is recorded? If that is the case then the chips are pointless & the money should be saved or used elsewhere.
Once we got going the route was very nice. Some inclines but nothing that was a killer. There were a lot of kids running so it seemed a good family event.
My biggest issue was with the finish. About a metre over the finish line there was a wall of runners & while I was there it got worse. I wouldn't be surprised if people weren't able to cross the finish line! The finishing funnel was just too narrow & there were two ladies noting down everyone's race number, regardless of what order people crossed the line! That was one hold up & then the chip removal also seemed to add to the backlog.
Overall though I think this would make a great event for the family & the grounds were truly lovely. Very friendly atmosphere all round.
Date of review: April 28, 2013
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2013 MK Half Marathon & Festival of Running
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not a bad race but 'Festiival' maybe an overstatement
In full: Starts in a good location with lots of parking nearby. The thing is they didn't make the most of the starting location considering its titled as a festival. They could have had a DJ, warm up, stalls etc but there was nothing. If there hadn't been so many runners around, you might not have known that there was a running event going on.
Started out in the centre of MK then moved away from the roads, the route was pleasant but for the amount of runners there wasn't always enough room to run. Later in the race that wasn't so much of a problem but at the start we were bunched to close at times. Also lots of bollards to dodge thoughout the course!
There was a good mix of albilites so this would be a good race for a first time half marathoner, the course did lack supporters for most of the course though. Doesn't bother me but some people like being cheered on.
There were markers at every mile but as some of the course was repeated, you saw the 10 mile marker when you had only completed about 3 miles! Seeing the 10 mile marker the second time round was a much better feeling.
Water stops were every few miles & it was bottled water with sports caps, always a bonus over paper cups in a race.
Close to the finish line there was a short up hill stretch, it is only short but on tired legs it felt a bit cruel!
Coming into the finish there was plenty of support, my major gripe is though that you have to take your own timing chip off. In all of the races I've done, this is NOT common practice! After running 13 miles it would be nice if they could spare some marshals to help us out. I just about got my leg up high enough to take it off, it seemed the better option then bending down (& maybe not getting back up!) to retrieve it. Medal given to you in the bag as well?
Overall, I would probably take part again but would want to try the 10k this time. I would love it if the organisers read these comments & took them on board as if they did it could be a brilliant race.
Date of review: March 10, 2013
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2013 Goring, Woodcote & District 10k Run 2007
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The last 3k will get you!
In full: Really pleasant scenery made even better with the first couple of km downhill. But you know what goes down must go up & that was the last few km of the race. Nothing steep, you could certainly still run up it but it did eat away at your time. It made seeing the finishing line even sweeter though.
Free parking was laid on at the village hall & local school, & the start line was in between the two so you didn't need to walk far.
This wasn't a 'all the frills' kind of race but I think that was nice & gave it it's charm. The route was a perfect setting for a crisp winter's day & we only came across a few cars.
Great race to start the year.
Date of review: January 14, 2013
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2012 Reading O2O 10K
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice riverside run
In full: Another well organised race from Purple Patch.
There was plenty of free parking not too far away from the start & was easy to find.
The race was delayed by about 10 mins but I'm too sure why, apart from that everything else went smoothly.
The route was really nice, running along side the river for a chunk of it.
Date of review: October 8, 2012
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2012 Abbots Langley Tough Ten 10K
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great little local race
In full: Charming local race with a good set up. The only downside with the organisation was the 25 min delay at the start. We were told it was only going to be 10 mins about 20 mins before we lined up & we were left waiting longer & longer at the start line & we all got a bit cold. I understand something might have happened to a runner from an earlier race so if that was the case then I'm glad the organisers were taking the appropriate action.
The course was a bit narrow at times so made overtaking a bit hard. We also had to run on the road for parts but the organisers had put plenty of signs up to warn drivers so personally I felt quite save.
The hill at the end wasn't too bad, it lasted about 1k but wasn't too steep. Just at a cruel part in the race so save some energy for that!
Was able to get parked ok & there were plenty of marshals around to help direct you to parking.
There was a really friendly atmosphere with this race & had a 'local race' charm to it.
Date of review: October 7, 2012
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2012 Stopsley Striders Ladies 5K
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: The park was nice to run around but I'm not personally a fan of lapped races.
The field of runners was very small but it had a nice friendly feel to it, the marshals were friendly & all in all it had a nice set up.
Parking seemed fine. At the end you got a medal & a goody bag with food & water. It wasnt was a bug bucks race but I think that's what gave it it's charm.
Date of review: July 16, 2012
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2012 St Georges Day 10K
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Not a bad location but glad I opted for the 5k as laps bore me!
Only a small group of runners & there weren't any thrills with fancy start lines, chips timing, goody bags etc but I got a cool medal which is more important to me!
Entry was an reasonable cost for a 5k (I've seen worse!) but then the £3 for parking on top was a bit steep. Not sure if we were pre-warned by the organisers so glad I carry change on me.
The water station was a bit of a joke & I felt sorry for those doing the longer distances.
Overall the race was stripped back to a very simple form but sometimes that can be a refreshing change from the all singing all dancing events.
Date of review: April 24, 2012
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2011 Aylesbury Boxing Day 5k Road Race
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: Great little 5k to burn up some of that Christmas day food!
Route was a couple of laps around Aylesbury so the scenery wasn't too picturesque but the atmosphere in the town was good. Lots of turns & a few cobbled street sections so may not be a PB course but there wasnt a huge field of runners so it didn't get too crowded.
Bargain price & a brilliant medal plus a handy location make this a great little race.
Date of review: January 1, 2012
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2011 Dirt Half Marathon Challenge
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Race HQ was at a local school & there seemed to be enough free parking to accomodate everyone. You had to collect your number on the day but when I got there, there wasn't any queues.
The route started out as quite flat along the canal towpath which was fine. Being a slower runner, I positioned myself towards the back so I wasn't blocking up the path for the faster runners. Parts of the path were wide enough to over-take although if you are a faster runner still best to get near the front.
After 5-6 miles, there is a long climb up hill but was worth it as shortly afterwards we were able to run through some beatiful woodland.
Unfortunately we weren't there too long before we started working our way back to the canal towpath for the last 3 miles.
Overall the race was fine, I was doing it off the back of an injury though so I didn't enjoy it as much as I probably could.
Date of review: November 28, 2011
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2011 RNLI Reindeer Run 10K
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: Easy to get too & plenty of free parking extremely close to the start line.
I did the 5k & thought that it worked out to be quite expensive. However, the t-shirt, antlers & flashing nose meant that it wasn't a total rip off!
The route was lovely although, if I had done the 10k I probably would have got bored of seeing everything twice.
There didn't seem to be a huge field of runners (certainly for the 5k at least) so it seemed like a great race for beginners as there was no ultra-competitive element.
Seemed to be quite well organised although as the 5k was lining up to start, there were still a few 10k runners coming in & it all seemed to be a bit of a muddle!
Overall a great little season wind-down race.
Date of review: November 28, 2011
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