My Event Ratings

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

In short: Good, well organised time trial, not crowded and mostly flat
In full: An ideal first half marathon due to flat profile.

Pleasnt along canal. Made slightly more difficult this year due to very unusual amounts of rainfall on the previous day, creating large puddles & mud - but still fun.
Date of review: July 15, 2012

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

In short: A good, well organised & friendly event over pleasant but quite hilly countryside
In full: 2nd time I've done this 10k. It's a very pleasant run along winding country lanes. Great atmoshere and well marshalled. Quite hilly. "Up" hills are long and gradual. "Down" hills seemed steeper. Only minus point was distance markers. 6k marker particularly confused me. Assumed I'd got 4k left to go but in reality was only 2 k or less. Lovely downhilll finish.
Date of review: May 14, 2012

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

In short: Pleasant rural location & along quiet lanes, Excellent Organisation & Marshalling. Suits all levels
In full: A good run (for charity) in an excellent country location at a sensible start time. Made better by the spring sunshine. Friendly atmoshere. OK for all levels. Mostly along public country lanes - all well marshalled with regular distance markers and clear warnings for drivers. No massive hills but the most severe is in the college grounds near the end so quite "testing".
Date of review: April 21, 2012

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

In short: 5k - A Pleasant Spring Challenge, 10k - Much Tougher Hills !
In full: Having done the 5k version 3 times before and enjoyed every one, I thought I'd do the 10k, as a challenge. But having run only shorter distances over the winter, the hills were tough and I (like most around me) walked the steeper parts. Great countryside and a well managed event but just prepare yourself well if you choose the 10k version.
Date of review: March 12, 2012

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

In short: Again a good night of fun (if you can run in pitch darkness)
In full: I've done 2009 and 2011 events. Both were good fun, which is everything this run is about. Loads of people with good fancy dress (but not me). A different challenge, running in darkness, (this year with no moonlight either)though the course has obviously been tailored to minimise risks and offers warnings of caution if needed. The scarers seemed fewer than 2009 but just as enthusiastic. They add that extra excitement to the night. A novelty run worth going out for.
Date of review: October 31, 2011

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

In short: Brum Run Gets Better. Good organanisation and enjoyable. Route could include more of leafy Bournville areas. Shame the "hill" comes so late on but at least you know the end is close !
In full: My third Birmingham (home town) run. 2009 was OK. 2010 was spoilt by poor start & finish planning. 2011 - much better. Starting in waves was a good idea to prevent over crowding on the early narrow streets. Route is OK but more could be made of leafy Bournville area instead of the grey city centre side streets near the start and after the park. Supporters gave lots encouragement and were keen though there were many gaps with no one.(might improve in years to come as it becomes more popular). More top ranked runners would elevate the event as would a few celebs. Minus point was expectation that runners could all remove their own timing chips. It needed many more helpers equipped with "cutters".
A long way to go to match the appeal of the Great North Run but a good event to build on.
Date of review: October 31, 2011

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

In short: Friendly, family atmoshpere, no pressure, well organised, on pleasant woodland tracks.
In full: The third successive year my family have done this run. Great atmosphere and very welcoming for begginners who can run or walk and bring the dog too. Good first run of the year. Rain before the start made it muddy in places but never a problem. Makes a nice change from plodding tarmac. Tip - save some energy for the end ! Wicked hill at about 4k slows many runners to a "walk" but a good challenge. Organisation first rate. Arrive in good time to park etc.
Date of review: March 14, 2011

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

In short: Good venue and atmoshpere, first 4 miles too narrow, shambles at start & finish
In full: As a local I look forward to this run and it's well worth doing. BUT there are major lessons to be learned by the organisers:
1) The 9 am start is too early.
2) The first 4 miles are too narrow for the volume of runners.
3)Track narrowed by approx. half,immediately after the start. Bottleneck caused us to stop.
4)Coloured "time expectaion bands" were mostly ignored (runners guilty) and entry not controlled. Many very slow runners started near the front - a disaster with the narrow city streets.
5)Space blankets and de chipping stations were too close to the finish line. Caused crowding and queuing cross the finish - a big batch of runners times were extended by 10 minutes as a result.

It could be great ! If the organisers want it to grow, just learn from the Great North Run - a superbly organised event.
Date of review: October 28, 2010

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

In short: Out of the ordinary !
In full: I fancied the distance, then noticed it started at 11.00 at night, so I had to "give it a go". I had no idea what to expect. Good fun. Not too difficult. Lots of ghoulish surprises through the woods. Much effort went into making it fun and as safe as it could be under moonlight. Well briefed beforehand as to any possible hazards spots - A good night to remember.
Date of review: November 1, 2009

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