My Event Ratings

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

In short: One of my favourite runs with no gimmicks just a really good course and great organisation.
In full: I did this race for the 3rd year in a row. Each year I have set my best half marathon time for the year and this continued with a very pleaseing 1.31.31 finish.
The course is undulating with only 1 real hill and the last 4 miles are fast (except for the final drag up the hill!). For spectators there is not much and the support is sparse although every supporter on the course is encouraging and I must thank the kids with the free jelly babies at mile 8-9.
Organisation is good and you can tell the event and course has been designed by runners for runners.
Yes there are bigger more flashy events and yes there are more picturesque places but if you want a really good honest run with a good quality field I would highly recommend this race, I'll be back next year for sure.
Date of review: December 10, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: 3rd year in a row and still the one to beat
In full: Not as hot as previous years but still clear, sunny and beautiful as ever. I managed a top 40 finish after going under 2 hours for the first time on this course. A fantastic race with brilliant support all around the course. Great organisation, stunning scenery and a bit extra mud this year. Forget about comparisons with flat road times. This one is for a personal challenge and utter enjoyment.
Date of review: June 26, 2012

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

In short: great course but not worth money
In full: Set a new pb so have happy memories of the run. Lovely setting and fast course but 2 marshals on course, expensive entry considering what you get (or not as is the case) and no support. The event is not even listed on the stanwick lakes website. I will be back but probably as a training run.
Date of review: June 11, 2012

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

In short: hot and too many runners spoilt a good race
In full: Firstly the bad - yes i agree with everyone about the water although i felt there were enough stations (more than in a lot of other races) but use both sides of the road not just 1. Bottles would be good but i know from other events that when discarded these are a menace for other runners! Toilets as always in short supply. Why there weren't portaloos around the stadium perimeter is beyond me. And finally the bag at the end - 1 bottle of water, no tech t shirt and no snack to replenish. Not good enough!

Now for the good. After climbing in the lake district on Friday and running a fell race on Saturday i was expecting the run to be difficult but the course isn't too bad at all. I found the support to be good especially around the 5-8 mile points and at the stadium. The info pack sent out prior to the race was excellent and i had no problems with parking or access in or out of the stadium.

Overall a good event which i would do again although i feel a limit of 5000 runners is needed and attention to detail could be improved.
Date of review: May 28, 2012

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

In short: Small, friendly, muddy and fun!!!
In full: Normally I look at longer events and in previous years I've been concentrating on marathon training and have ignored this event. Big mistake! If you want a break from the road running but don't fancy going all out on something like hellrunner then this is perfect. Friendly crowd, no gimmicks, a well marked course, the perfect balance of ups, downs, water and mud and a decent medal at the end and all for a tenner. Bargain. I shall be back next year to better my time and finishing place of 97th.
Date of review: February 22, 2012

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

In short: Big hill followed by easy course. Lovely park ending. Great organisation
In full: Ok - the bad bit. The hill! Everyone mentions it and rightly so as it's a killer. I am a slow starter and always run the second half of a race quicker than the first so the hill was very tough.
The good - After the main climb there's no other climbs of note for the whole course and except for a tight footpath around half way it's a well designed and runner friendly route. The park setting for the start/finish is lovely with loads of room and a cracking final sprint!
The really good stuff - Really well organised event which is well supported and a goody bage worth collecting unlike some events. And finally a mention to the course commentator who is a legend and worth the entrance fee alone.
I'll be back next year. See you there.
Date of review: July 18, 2011

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

In short: The one thing that stands out on the plus side for the event is the organisation. From the welcome pack to the buses to the prizes it is obviously well thought out and much better than other events - Leicester take note!!!
Date of review: December 15, 2010

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

In short: Good easy course. Well marshalled with only 1 noticable climb in last mile.
In full: Good: Enjoyed the course and found it easy compared to training runs I had completed in preperation. Set a new pb time of 1.51 which pleased me. Chip timing worked well. Marshalls good and encouraging.
Bad: Parking organisation non existant and had to drive across playing fields and public paths due to over officious unhelpful local Police. No T-shirt at end and not enough for spectators to do whilst I was competing.
Overall: Would definately do it again and probably go for full marathon next year. An easy course with pb potential.
Date of review: October 12, 2010

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

In short: My first half marathon!!!
In full: Really tough course. I had been training hard for this since January and knew the course would be tough. I wasn't disappointed! However it is all worth it. The views are spectacular, the support was superb, the organisation was faultless and when i started to feel a little faint with a mile to go the marshall who came to help was brilliant.
I completed the course and had it not been for a 'wobble' towards the end would have done it in a half decent time. I hope to be back next year and recommend it to anyone who is considering any future running of the event.
Date of review: July 19, 2010

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