My Event Ratings

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

In short: Great prep for First marathon
In full: This was my first 20 miler and was definitely better than doing my normal LSR running around where I live, trying to clock up the miles. Having read previous reviews I was a bit worried about the hills but they were fine in the end and really helped me run slow enough so I didn't burn out! I really wanted to get to the end and think that another 6 miles would be a possibility and.. I did. I came 779th out of 793 but I ran the whole thing and now I feel fantastic! Just sat here in my prize hoodie typing this.
Eveyone was really friendly including all the fast runners and the lovely marshalls. People kept running past saying 'well done ladies' or 'good running girls'. Nothing like a bit of encouragement to motivate you to keep running when you're on 10 and they're on 16! The first lap of 12 miles meets up with the second lap of 8 miles you see, so whilst the fast ones are on the home straight, you're about to start again on your last 8. The fast ones turn off for the finish but I had to keep going. The funniest thing was they only had to look at me to know that I had to go around again. 'How do they know, how do they know?' The good thing about it was that when you get to the end of the 12, you can pop in the portaloo for a wee before beginning your 8.
The very end of the race was quite bizarre becaue you end up running around a housing estate and then through an alleyway or two before ending up on the school field. Still had something left for a little sprint to make sure I came in under 4 hours - awesome!

If you are a beginner and have been doing your marathon training and want to do a 20 miler beforehand, just do it.

You will wonder why you entered at mile 3 and 7, you may even find yourself thinking about slipping off back to your car at mile 12, but just keep chipping away, mile by mile cos when you finish you will feel on top of the world!!
Date of review: March 28, 2010

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