My Event Ratings

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Race good, but some issues to work on
In full: The race course is an undulating little loop that you run twice. Lots of drinks stations with gels, jelly babies and chocolate - they must have a mountain of these to start with.
The facilities are what let this down for me. At the leisure centre there were 4 ladies cubicals, of which 2 were out of order - that's not necessarily the race's fault, but it did make for even longer than usual queues to the ladies.
The split HQ and start made for an odd build up. Walked from the HQ to the field, then sorted out into time areas, then walked to the start - all felt like we were being shunted from pillar to post.
The option of having your bag transferred to the finish was a good one and that went well. Not sure who thought having the finish over a squishy field was a good idea - but that was really very hard work after 20 miles - the sprint finish got sucked out the soles of my feet into the mud. Ate most of my goodie bag, and the hoodie is an interesting item. Not sure what a respectable 40 yr old is supposed to do with a hoodie though, but it's certainly a change from a T-shirt.
Lots of enthusuastic marshalls and spectator support in the first village, but you're pretty much on your own apart from that. Works as a marathon prep race, but I can't imagine I'd do it without that incentive.
Date of review: March 20, 2012

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

In short: Who put that hill in the way?!
In full: Entered this as part of a build up to my first Marathon and it was a really good race for that purpose - and it's sold as such.
The organiser's weren't helped by the weather, with very stong winds blowing right into you face as you headed up the steep hill. But I suppose I can't blame them for that. 2 laps, and I did get lapped (first time there) but it's long enough that it didn't feel repetetive (although I could have done without that transmitter hill again). I liked the T-shirt collection before, as it meant I got a size that fitted me, rather than an elephant. Facilities pretty good in the school - no queue to the ladies either, which was a bit of a first! The most supportive marshals imaginable. The one who told me, on the first lap, to run my own race, they'd be there as long as we needed them, was just typical. They must have been freezing, but I think every one of them clapped and said something encouraging each time. Not traffic free, but (at the back) that wasn't an issue. Could be argued that the cut off time of 3 hours was a bit tight, but I consider myself a slowcoach & I got round. Would I have entered this if I wasn't heading for a marathon? Possibly not, but it fits right into a marathon build-up and I might feel the need to sort out that PB next year.
Date of review: January 24, 2012

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

In short: This one was worth getting up for!
In full: Difficult to judge the scenery, seeing it was under heavy fog for most of the time! There are a few hills, but they're cheeky short ones, rather than draining long drags. Staffed by some of the most enthusiastic marshals I think I've ever heard. The village we went through twice had turn out in force. The HQ in the sports centre appeared to work well - and the massage offered afterwards has to be the most pleasant 10 minutes imaginable! There was a bit of a T-shirt size error, but that seemed to be supplier, not the club. With the time cut off I'm not sure I'd say it's a beginner's race, but I wouldn't say I was speedy and I still made it home. A lovely race (that may be the stonking PB talking).
Date of review: November 20, 2011

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

In short: A long old run, but a monster PB put a smile on my face
In full: Nicely organised. Lots of nice things that just make the day go that bit more smoothly, like the bag storeage trucks, the parking permit, the map. Great atmosphere in the cathedral square collecting area - although you could dispense with the mass warmup. Clear timing bands and a nice flat course. A bit uneven underfoot and occasional twists to put you off your rythm. Lots of support, not wall to wall, but reasonably constant, even for us snails. Grand goody bag, never was a banana so welcome! Nice medal. Out of small shirts when i finished - i'll have to run quicker next year!
Date of review: October 11, 2011

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