My Event Ratings

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

In short: Very rugged, beautiful, small scale and friendly (navigation skills needed)
In full: Absolutely loved the route, 42 miles, ~+2800m, along the gorgeous cliffs of the North Devon coast. I first visited this part of the world 20 years ago and this was a chance to rediscover it.
Very rugged and surprisingly varied course with a lot more ascent than you might think considering you're never really very high up.
A very small event, the atmosphere was quite intimate, relaxed and welcoming. Marshals were as encouraging and tireless as any I've encountered.
Definitely recommended to those wanting a challenge away from the limelights.
Couple of gripes though;
Although I carry what I need on me, others complained that the food stations were very limited in their variety especially in the savoury department.
Signage was inconsistent, frequent arrows where sometimes none were needed and none where the route got complicated and just about everyone got a least a little lost at some point. Again not a big problem, we were given good laminated route cards and were mostly experienced at such things. I'm just pointing it out so that if you're considering this event you should expect to do a little self-navigating, don't get caught out.
Despite what I thought I'd read elsewhere there was no medal (no biggie), the T-shirt was a tech one and the other goodies were foody.
The 2 UTMB points many of us were there to pick up had to be earned (as it should be).
Met some lovely fellow runners too. Good luck to you all in your coming projects.
Date of review: March 19, 2013

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Simply Wonderful!
In full: Let not my own poor performance cloud my opinion of this wonderful event.
The fabulous conditions let us for once truly appreciate the grandness of the beauty of this place, stunning!
Perfectly organised, marshalled and supported throughout with the best public anywhere (Diolch!). I would give a special mention too to their excellent FaceBook page where we were kept well informed, had our queries answered swiftly and were really listened to, an example to others.
If you're wondering whether to do this one day don't let the profile put you off it's more than worth all the effort.
My only sour note is the litterers, sorry there's no excuse, if you can carry it full you can carry it empty. This a beautiful place and that's why we're here if you can't respect that stick to the big city runs and leave the natural places to those of us who care.
Date of review: October 28, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: A great weekend
In full: I did this as pair and us such it's areal challenge; as you get neither the preferential camping that the soloists get (next to the start/finish) nor the extended between-lap breaks of the larger groups which meant either a long trek to the tent or a long time queuing when you should be resting.
Organisation was professional and smooth but the promised "quiet time on the camp-site" from 11:30pm onwards was neither respected by fellow campers or, and this is unforgivable,the organisers with a giant screen blasting out into the night.
The route was a nice challenging one with varying inclines and surfaces; grass, gravel, mud and absolutely no asphalt (yipee!) and lots of very twisty bits. The scenery was a bit dull though but nobody's to blame for that and let's face it's not what this event is about.
Overall a fabulous experience and introduction into the world of ultra-trail running. I learnt a lot of lessons for the future and a lot about my own capacities and limitations. I went further and for longer than ever before and that's what I went there to do.
I would like to tell you how me and my team mate got on but a computer glitch towards the end, a necessary rapid departure and a failure so far to publish on-line results (22 hours later and still waiting...) mean I'm still in the dark as it was close run thing in our last couple of laps between us and couple of other teams...

Date of review: July 30, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: If you love trails, if you love North Wales, if you love a real challenge, if you you love gorgeous scenery, if you love running....
Date of review: June 25, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: If you love trails, if you love North Wales, if you love a real challenge, if you you love gorgeous scenery, if you love running....
Date of review: June 25, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Lovely weather, almost traffic-free, enthusiastic marshals, nice mix of runners.
In full: Thoroughly enjoyable race in perfect conditions.
The climb back in second half is no way near as bad as some would suggest, I guess it depends what you're used to. Great to be away from the traffic for so much. Good support from a relatively sparse public (the Ironbridge itself and Start/finish excepted).
My one gripe is the lack of the promised tent for baggage, a square of open ground sheet isn't enough, those of use who eschew private car use depend on some provision for our affairs and their literature did promise us it.
Date of review: April 1, 2012

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Worth waiting an extra month for.
In full: The postponement due to bad weather was handled better this year and I found overall organisation improved.
Cheap, friendly and fast what more do you need.
Beat my PB by 2 minutes so lots of satisfaction all round.
Lack of date/year on medal is my only criticism and in the end what does that matter.
Bravo Telford.
Date of review: January 23, 2011

Report this rating to the moderator