My Event Ratings

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: Challenging course and cheerful cakes - Fantastic
In full: My third time of running. As faultless as ever. The atmosphere is wonderful, both during the race and while eating delicious cakes and listening to a brass band at the end. Everyone is friendly but there's fierce enough competition for those that want it. Keep something back for the hills - really.
Date of review: July 18, 2011

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

In short: Something for everyone
In full: A single lap undulating course. Roads not closed. Quite challenging underfoot on either road or pavement. Mainly uphills for first 5k, then downs for about 3, then flat. Quite a lot of corners. Very narrow start - anyone with sub-40 aims or higher needs to get near the front. You will quickly be in space to find your pace. Not chip timed. My worst time of my last ten 10ks - about half a minute slower than the average of them. So, not speedy. That was not the point, though. This is a friendly event, well-marshalled, happy runners and spectators, good spirits, inclusive. A community race to support a worthy cause. If you can relax and enjoy the playful course, you'll have a good morning. If driving from outside, allow extra time - I ALWAYS go astray when driving anywhere in this locality!
Date of review: April 11, 2010

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

In short: The organisers should be taken out for a lovely meal!
In full: I agree with the consensus. Wonderfully efficient and pleasant. Wonderful cakes, drinks, sweets, fruit, band, goody-bag, medal, etc. Wonderfully flat then hideously/happily hilly. The only mystery is the distance. The Bewl 15 is advertised as 14.2, but my Garmin also registered 13.52. What to put in my log???? Nevertheless, a lovely race, mainly due to the genuinely nice people organising it. Thank you.
Date of review: July 7, 2008

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

In short: Flat, wonderful marshalls, tough fiddles toward end
In full: First and foremost, the marshals were wonderful. The drink stations were also good, with water in sports bottles especially appreciated. The organisation was very good for a first go, but lots of easy improvements will make things better yet. (Most have already been mentioned. Another would be 'designated' litter areas after the water stations. There were almost no bins on the whole course, making avoiding littering a major challenge.) That'll be a crowded room at the start next year, though, if the numbers increase, as seems likely. The run itself is, with minor exceptions, flat and straight. For a cramp victim, though, things got very tough at 20+ miles. That was where the majority of 'cobbles', sharp inclines to bridges, twisty gates to weave through, and the like were. I was spot on for 3.15 at 20 miles, but considered myself lucky to come in at 3.26 after three bouts of cramp, all brought on by 'deviations' from the straight and flat. The field at the end was pure relief for me! So, PB potential for those who don't cramp, I'd say. Thanks again to the marshals. You were great.
Date of review: November 11, 2007

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: It can never be as good as the first time
In full: I've done a few races over a few decades, including the Flora London Marathon. I have done the Grizzly once and it is a highlight of my LIFE, let alone my running history. I don't want to do it again only because I don't want to risk diluting the memories - despite the sentiments of my favourite sign around the course: "You are NowHere - always." If you can do it, do do it. It is fabulous on so many counts.
Date of review: November 7, 2007

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