My Event Ratings

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

In short: Just a few tweeks needed to make this race extra-special
In full: This was mostly a great race, and the few points I'm listing are not meant as moans, but pointers so it can be improved upon for next year to make it even better!

- I overheard one of the runners asking a marshall on the course about first aid, and the marshall didn't know where the nearest first aid post was and didn't have a number to call for them

- at a few junctions there wasn't a marshall which was disconcerting when running on my own with no other runners in sight. However, it was very well signposted.

- It was a walk from the car park to the registration (including some steep steps!), and then another walk from registration to the start line.

- At the start of the course which was supposed to have closed roads, we had cars squeezing past us.

- The stretch in the final mile along a footpath (before the last bit of road before the return to the park for the finish) was narrow and crowded with families (with brollies!) and other finished runners all trying to squeeze the other way. I didn't have the legs for weaving at this point, but managed not to crash into anyone.

Huge thank you's to the marshalls & other volunteers for standing out in the rain for so long
Date of review: September 24, 2012

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

In short: Fantastic little race.
In full: I turned up worried that this was going to be a small, fast race and I'd be left at the back. Turns out there was a very broad range of abilities, and lovely atmosphere amongst the runners. Beautiful country lanes, sneaky uphill about 1 mile to go, but lovely flat run in to the finish.
Date of review: July 3, 2012

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

In short: Hills, mud, hills, fog, did I mention the hills? But the T-shirt made it all worthwhile
In full: Living locally, I had a fair idea of how tough this course was going to be. And yes, as expected, the hills were killers especially that last one. Beautiful course, just a shame the fog meant we couldn't appreciate the views from the tops of the hills.

Must say a huge thank you to the marshals. As one of the slower racers, they had already been stood outside for a long time in freezing conditions. However they universally smiling, chatty and encouraging. Thank you.

Great t-shirt at the end - I've worn it with great pride, as its the race t-shirt I think I've worked hardest for.

Thanks Chippenham Harriers!
Date of review: February 2, 2012

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

In short: hot this year, but still beautiful scenery and even found some mud!
In full: Hot day, but beautifully organised. Very friendly but that hill nearly killed me! Special thanks to the brave marshall who placed himself in one field between runners and bulls.

Date of review: October 2, 2011

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

In short: Great atmosphere, great support, great marshalls, great race!
In full: I think most of the other reviewers have already said it all! Great race, superb organisation, friendly and encouraging marshalls, scenic route. Loved it!

However there are just 2 things I would change which would make it absolutely perfect. The tannoy at the sports club and the start - I completely missed the pre-race briefing because I was in the loo queue at the time. Extra speakers by the loos would help. Similarly, at the start line I was at the back and couldn't hear any of the announcements. The first us back-of-the-packers knew about the minutes silence was when we heard the applause from the front to show it had ended!

My second, and completely selfish improvement would be if this could be run just a few weeks later in the year. It would really help my training which comes to a complete standstill over the school summer holidays!

So only very minor points - a highly recommended race!
Date of review: September 16, 2011

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

In short: All a small race should be - plus delicious cakes!
In full: This had all the advantages of a small race, with the organisation of a big race. Friendly marshals and runners, great village hall as race HQ, inside toilets, changing rooms, all great.

The race itself was along lanes and through beautiful woodlands. I even saw a clump of bluebells, despite the season being practically over.

The hills were more challenging than I was expecting, but the 3 water stations meant no chance of dehydrating even with the gasping!

Was lovely to see a great age range as well, with prizes for over 65 lady and over 70 Male. Oh and did I mention how good the cakes were???
Date of review: May 15, 2011

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

In short: Great route, plenty of marshalls, well organised all apart from the goody bag queue
In full: This is a really great race, which for a small town attracts a large number of runners. The start is generally well organised, complete with pre-race mass warm-up. Loved the pace runners this year - thank you guys!

Only moan is the queue to collect the goody bags. The contents were good, nice towel, but the wait was long whilst getting cold & stiff. Thank you for handing out the water as soon as you crossed the line, but maybe pre-packing the goody bags would save such a long wait next year.

Thanks for organising this race though - thoroughly enjoyed it (and took 3 1/2 mins off last years time too!)
Date of review: May 1, 2011

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

In short: Very crowded, but much better organisation than I was expecting
In full: Having never entered a big city race, I thought I ought to do one for the experience. After reading previous year's reviews of Bath I was rather worried as to what it would be like. I was also wondering what I would get for my money, as its not a cheap race by any means.

As it was, I had a great day. Yes there were queues for the loos (but aren't there always?) but nothing worse than at any other race I've been to. At least they were moving quickly.

The walk to the start (I was in the Orange pen) was okay, although it was cold waiting for the 'off' so I was glad I'd taken the organiser's advice and visited Oxfam for a disposable jumper. The streets did look the aftermath of a jumble sale for the first few miles though.

The support from the people of Bath was amazing - I was tired at the end from waving & smiling to everyone who called my name out. Water stations were plentiful, although it was a shame to see so many discarded nearly full bottles of Lucozade. Maybe they should make special small race bottles to hand out?

It was crowded in places on the course, and I have a lovely scrape on my ankle as a result of a runner shoving past me. But I guess that's part and parcel of a big race.

It was a bit of a shuffle at the end to collect medals and goody bags, and was rather a shame to only have the choice of Small or X. Large T-shirts by the time I got through. Surely it wouldn't be too difficult for the organisers to ask on the entry form what size T-shirt you'd like?

Overall, it was a great experience, and the smile on my face captured on my official photo says it all. Oh, and a PB to boot :-)
Date of review: March 17, 2011

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

In short: Beautiful route & scenary, but organisation was well below last year
In full: This was my first race last year, so I thought I'd come back again and see if I could beat my time (and see if the 3 hills had shrunk any).

As before, its a beautiful route to run, and the final 800m down the main drive inspires a super speedy sprint to the line.

Unfortunately, the organisation this year wasn't as slick as last year. Enormous queues at the loos we've come to expect, but only 12 loos for over 600 racers?? I'm sure there was more last year.

Some of the boards covering the cattle grids were warped, meaning you still had to watch were you ran to ensure you didn't trip up.

At the water stop, when I got there , there was a queue for that as well. This was because there was just 1 man there, taking individual cups out, dunking it into a dustbin full of water and then giving it to the runner. being a trusting soul I believe the dustbin, and his hands, were clean...?

Lastly - the medal. I love getting a medal. Last years (my first!) was in the shape of a lion's head, so very special and unique to Longleat. This year's medal is a generic, round medal with runners on the front. Its on a piece of thin plain red ribbon. It does have "Longleat' 10K" and the date engraved on the back, but that's all that makes it a specific momento.

So a beautiful route, I feel proud to have completed such a hilly course (and beaten last year's time), but feel sad that this year's race didn't live up to my memories of last year's.

Will I be back? I don't know.
Date of review: February 6, 2011

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

In short: Flat(ish) course, friendly marshalls, small field
In full: Children ran the Fun Run beforehand, and then there was a long wait before the 10k started - the only organisational snag of the morning, in my opinion. Small field, lots of club runners who all seemed to know each other at the start, but all friendly enough (especially at the back where I was).

Unexpected hill at 5k, but a fast course and I got a new PB so pleased with that.

Thanks for a good way to spend a Sunday morning!
Date of review: November 4, 2010

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