My Event Ratings

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

In short: Iconic, fab experience, far too crowded
In full: I had an awesome day, my first London, second Marathon. As everyone says an iconic event with a very special atmosphere and amazing crowds. The course was extremely crowded for me though(Red start pen 7) - got jostled, pushed, lots of weaving around, too many discarded bottles on the course etc. I am so glad that I have done it, smashed my PB and thoroughly enjoyed it but won't rush back. I think those starting nearer the front would have a better experience but I finished with the bulk of runners and the crowding really prevented a good flowing run. Crowds were incredible, too noisy at times!
Date of review: April 26, 2013

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

In short: Beautiful course, fab marshals
In full: Very enjoyable race thanks to beautiful course, perfect weather and very encouraging and friendly marshals and race volunteers. The motorbike paramedic who kept checking everyone was OK was great too! Testing hills made it a perfect marathon training race. The organisers have asked for all comments so I'd say bottled water would be better and some similar races (eg Ashby 20) offer gels, also didn't feel right to get the t-shirt at the start and no small sizes were left. However this is a great race and I don't mean to be critical, definitely one for next year. Many thanks to all the organisers and volunteers.
Date of review: February 17, 2013

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

In short: Well organised, friendly, beautiful route
In full: Great race, lovely friendly atmosphere, well organised, very supportive marshals and water stations.. Car parks busy but organised. Undulating route, uphill miles 10-11 but that allows a lovely downhill 2 miles at the end. Got a PB too so very pleased. Thank you to the organisers.
Date of review: May 15, 2012

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

In short: Brilliant atmosphere, amazing local support, great organisation, loved it
In full: My first marathon & I loved every minute. Well organised with loads of volunteers (thank you all), start and finish line like clockwork for me, plentiful water and fuel stops. I enjoyed the route, hills weren't too bad and second half totally flat, agree power station section a bit bleak but still great support out there. What really made the race was the brilliant atmosphere from other runners and particularly from spectators. The people of Brighton were really behind the race and provided superb noisy cheering support all round the route. Having my name on my vest was great, hearing so many people cheering me on was emotional and gave a massive boost, I smiled the whole way around. A huge thank you to the organisers, volunteers and spectators.
Date of review: April 16, 2012

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

In short: Fab day- great atmosphere, corrected last year's mistakes, hill in wrong place!
In full: Really great day, superb organisation correcting all the problems from last year. The people of Birmingham were brilliant - all sorts of live music along the route and the cool old lady vicar on the decks was back! Great to have world class athletes and absolute beginners in the same race. The hill at 10-11 mile felt much hard this year and is a tough one. The only thing that was better last year was the medal, shame that neither T-shirt or medal say the words half-marathon. Don't stay at a hotel on Broad St the night before - very noisy car horns until 4am.
Date of review: October 24, 2011

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

In short: Lovely course, well organised and very friendly
In full: Great race, lovely scenic route, slightly undulating, one short steeper hill at about 81/2 km. Very well organised with great facilities for runners and spectators, very friendly atmosphere. Didn't see km markers between 4 & 9pm but might have missed them. Definitely recommend for next year
Date of review: September 18, 2011

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		20%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Should have been a great race but very poor organisation
In full: Too many runners, start very poorly organised and first 4 miles very congested. Very difficult to run a consistent pace and had to constantly weave in and out. Beautiful weather, great support from the people of Birmingham and I enjoyed the bands. The finish was a massive disappointment, had picked up the pace really well to make up for the slow first third of the race and couldn't believe it when I met a wall of stationary runners at the end. Took about 3 mins to shuffle the last 2 metres over the line. Goody bag and medal great. Had been directed to park in a council car park but this had been locked for the race & didn't open until 4pm, well after the roads re-opened - the signs explaining this didn't go up until the morning of the race when many people who'd booked a hotel had parked the night before. Overall a potentially great race let down by poor organisation.
Date of review: October 24, 2010

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