My Event Ratings

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

In short: Challenging first half, but second 5 miles are pure speed,
Date of review: April 12, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Real mean do wear pink!
In full: I honestly can't remember when I enjoyed a race as much

Organisation was terrific, a marshall on every corner it seemed; apparently there were over 300 and they even managed to organise perfect blue skies.

I've heard a lot about the Grizzly from club mates but as an ultra runner I thought they were exagerating how tough it was. They weren't. It really was tough, but that is what made it for me; I mean, no point driving 200 miles for a glorified cros-country is there? This race really is in a class of its own, now I want to go back next year and do it again in bad weather (I suspect I may have a few issues).

Gripes, not really, they had problems with timing, but that's not a big deal in this sort of race. I wasn't convinced about this year's pink T-shirt, but its starting to grow on me. "Real men can wear pink"

I see the organisers are thinking of chip timing next year. My advice to them is don't (look at what happened at the Sussex beacon half)its not a PB race so chips are not essential. I can also see chips disappearing in bogs etc. Just keep doing what you've been doing and the organisers will do just fine.

I can't recommend this race highly enough
Date of review: March 9, 2010

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

In short: over priced and after 20 years still too many organisational problems
In full: Organisers had a tough job, cliff falls led the Council to close part of the route and plan B had to go into place, which wasn't without some problems, especially runners mixing with traffic near the SeaLife centre, but from what I saw the marshalls did eventually get a grip

Biggest probllem was the finish. I had to queue for 5 minutes to cross the line, by which time all the gains I'd made in the last 2 miles were lost. I was particularly irritated to be overtaken in the queue by somoene who had been 400 yards behind me

Its an expensive race for a half marathon and the fact there were no goody bags(left) and medal was a bit too dinky this year.

I've had enough of this race. last year they didn't have enough water and I had a run in with a marshall over the fact that 1/3 cup wouldn't really suffice; still at least the torrential rain got rid of that problem this year.




Date of review: February 22, 2010

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

In short: Not bad, just a few tweaks needed
In full: Its a good race, but its pricey. I don't mind the expense if the organization is spot on and there are a few nice touches to make it feel special. With this in mind...

(i) Portaloos: Far too few for a race with 6000 participants. You need to get more installed and make urinals more obvious. Too many men were queuing/blocking unnecessarily.

(ii) Water: i was consistently given 1/3 of a cup which was useless to me and many others, especially those that take gels. I had to ask for refills/extra cups. FLM has 250 or 300ml bottles which are perfect.

(iii) double loop back at end was a real soul destroyer for some folks. Suggest you look again at the course.



.







Date of review: February 23, 2009

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

In short: Best year yet...well done Dil
Date of review: December 26, 2008

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

In short: Puts a spring day in your step
In full: A race this big (3200+) takes a lot of organisation and I think on the whole they do quite well.

That said, £14.00 for club and £16.00 for other runners is a bit steep, although you do get chip timing and free entry for you and your family to the castle all day.

The run is flat and fast and is definitely a PC course. Only things to watch out for are:
The sub40min, sub50min and sub60min start markers are far too close together for a field of this size, this can mean that if you're after a PB you end up fighting against the field for the first 1k or so.

Watch out for the last 300 metres, which are on cobbles, not a big problem, but you just need to be aware.

I didn't enjoy the scenery as much this year as in the past. The pretty stuff seemed much jammed into the last 3k and I missed the usual run down the entire length of Bailgate just prior to the castle finish.

That said, the organisers seem to have a knack for choosing warm, sunny spring days.

I will probably return for my 5th Lincoln again next year.








Date of review: March 25, 2007

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

In short: Mildly undulating, a little tough between 6 and 8, then an easy run to the finish
In full: A challenging, if not over taxing course, very well marshalled, would definitely considere again next year. minor gripe is that this is the 3rd race in a month i've run when you can't hear the gun. Id there a gunpowder shortage?

Date of review: December 13, 2006

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

In short: Best 5k in the 3 Counties
In full: Real party atmosphere, BBQ, music, equipment stalls and most importantly beer! Excellent organisation, slight bottleneck at the start as you loop around the campus, but soon spreads out. Oh and I'm told that the sun shines every year.
Date of review: June 1, 2006

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

In short: Well organised making excellent use of the redways
In full: I had been a bit worried about this one. It seemed a little pricey and didn't seem to be offering anything particularly for the money, although it is a charity fund raiser.

In fact, organisation was impressive. An MC got us all geared up with a masss warm up, then it was off to the start at 10AM and away we went. Marshalling was absolutely brilliant, no gaps or possibility of a wrong turn and lots of words of encouragement.

Water stops and sponges were at just the right places and there were no stupid half litre bottles on offer just cups (when i've seen bottles handed out in the past, runners just take two sips and throw them away, creating littter and hazards. God also added in lots of water in the second half, if inly he'd remembered to turn off the rain again when I finished.

If I wanted to improve this race for next year I'd add timing chips and some isotonic drinks at the water stops, but apart from that it was great

Date of review: July 24, 2005

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

In short: I've run this now 4 times and keep coming back for more. Yes there are hills but they just give you soemthing ti run at!
In full: Anywhere near the Somerset/Dorset border must be beautiful and the scenery aroud here certainly is. It all just adds to the event and the 'undulating' course always makes me feel I've achieved something worthwhile. Top Race
Date of review: May 12, 2005

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