My Event Ratings

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

In short: Fairly flat race but on difficult terrain
In full: Fairly average race: averagely flat, average size field and average PB potential.

The USP of this race is the chance to run around the Clandon Park Estate, but I didn't find that aspect particularly scenic; but then we are spoiled for nice scenery in this part of Surrey. And personally my dodgy ankles would have liked to stay on paths and tracks rather than the extended loop of tussocky and uneven cow-pasture we were presented with! It's this latter point in particular that might make me avoid doing this again.
Date of review: April 30, 2010

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

In short: Challenging 10-miler over the beautiful Surrey Hills
In full: An excellent race, but pretty challenging, with long (although mainly runnable) hills at the start and at the halfway point. The latter gets very steep just before the end and forces most of the field to a walk. The compensation is the great views you get from the tops of course; and the setting of the start and finish amidst the vines of Denbies (the largest vineyard in England) gives a picturesque touch of the continent - well on a sunny day like today anyway.

Most of the race is on wideish trails with a solid, chalky surface so you can hit a good rhythm and pass people without getting stuck in quagmire or having to duck into the nettles every few yards.

A minor downside was that I (and many others armed with GPS watches, judging by the timing of their mile "bleeps") made this course come out about a quarter of a mile short. Which is great for a quick time I suppose if your conscience is OK with that! If they get this right next time it could become a classic.
Date of review: April 11, 2010

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

In short: Very scenic (but hilly) out and back 10k
In full: A new course, date and organiser for this race formerly known as the Dorking Fun Run.

Very nice scenery - if you can appreciate it toiling up the long steepish hill at the start.

Great atmosphere with lots of families and kids spectating after their own 2k and 5k fun runs.

A small criticism about the course: it's an out and back route with a couple of minor bottlenecks at kissing gates. Also once past the top of the hill it's along a fairly narrow and muddy trail which means that dodging the (much faster!) returning runners on the way out and even the slower back-of-packers on your way back can be a bit tricky. Fortunately the field was quite small which meant that these problems weren't as bad as they could well be if this race gets very popular.

Overall a nice race though, with glorious weather adding to the good overall experience. Best do this next year and hope it hasn't got too crowded by then!
Date of review: April 19, 2009

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

In short: Very Scenic but illy out and back
Date of review: April 19, 2009

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

In short: Tough & hilly, but well worth it!
In full: An excellent friendly race, but a pretty hard test for beginners I would imagine with lots of mud, hills and fairly congested narrow paths (enter soon before it gets too popular to overtake at all is my advice). Very friendly and positive marshalling helped us over the tougher bits, but the route is very pretty on the plus side.

Celeb Runner Alert: bumped into Richard Dunwoody before the start when we were getting our numbers. I didn't see him thereafter, however, as he finished well ahead of me, even without a horse!
Date of review: February 22, 2007

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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: Good, well-organised, flattish 10k
In full: Nice race this. My second year of doing it (and a better time than last - which was nice).

Clockwork efficiency of organisation made it feel perhaps a touch cold and unfriendly. But it's a fairly fast course with only one hill to speak of (which you have to do twice though!)

Overall, recommended.
Date of review: June 7, 2006

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

In short: Popular and challenging 10 miler - not too hilly
In full: First let's clear up some confusion: many of the reviews here refer to the Dorking Fun Run, a hilly 10K that takes place at Denbies Vineyard in early May (and is not listed on this site). My review IS for the Dorking 10 - a 10 mile race held in early June.

This was my first run of this 10 mile race that runs through picturesque, rolling countryside. I think it would be a fairly fast course, but the hot weather on the day precluded any PBs I should imagine. It's very popular, but there's lots of parking and not too much "runner congestion" at the start given the large field.

There's decent local support at the start and end (in Brockham) and at Leigh village at halfway, and the marshalling was top notch. On the whole, highly recommended!


Date of review: June 4, 2006

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