My Event Ratings

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

In short: Far too easy.
In full: I'm not one to be interested in goody bags, so the fact that there wasn't one didn't bother me. However, even considering the fact that the organisers understandably prevented us going through shin-splinteringly thick ice, the course was appallingly easy. It was an eyeballs-out dash along 20ft wide sandy vehicle tracks. It was also way short of eight miles. I got the impression that organisers just 'chopped out' the dodgy bits of the course and thought that would do. Why did they not mark a route through the wonderful woodland, (often used for orienteering), instead of using the mind-numbingly boring sandy track all the time ? Two hours work with a load of hazard tape would have done it.
The "London Weekend Warriors" might have enjoyed it and thought it 'tough' but if you're a 'dyed-in-the-wool off-road runner, you'd want your money back !
Thank god for the Long Mynd Valley Fell race the next day. A real 'man's' race.
Yes, it had all the peripheral stuff - bar, burgers, changing tent etc, but for god's sake give us a good course !
Date of review: February 5, 2012

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Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Appalling if you're a dyed in the wool off-roader
In full: Two miles of compacted vehicle track, ten miles of tarmac/concrete. Organiser had failed to check that the army had "cleared" the only available muddy bit, and was told it was O/B, 10 minutes before the start. Mind-numbingly boring course, with only three changes of direction. Marshals at water stations getting in the way. Perfectly useable steep off road hill by the start/finish not used. A completely useless map given out at registration (without the course on it !)Unique trophies though.
If you liked this, then you really haven't done any descent off-road stuff.Or you're a road runner.
I'll get my coat . . . .
Date of review: December 30, 2011

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

In short: Not for gnarly off-road officianados. Too much tarmac. No technical descents.
In full: Ideal longer off-road introductory race for 'roadies'. Organisation good. Well, and politely, marshaled. Wearable T-shirt. Too many stiles early on. Organisers wasted opportunity for some technical woodland descent, by sending people down yet more tarmac. They may of had access restraints of course - or just lack imagination.
Date of review: January 13, 2008

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