My Event Ratings

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

In short: A great new addition
In full: Well done to Burnham Joggers for organising a smooth first running of this race. The course is varied and interesting, the marshals were helpful and encouraging and "race hq" in the local rugby club was an excellent idea.
For those who are interested in goody bags/medals etc, once they get a sponsor on board that will all improve. For a 5 miler, I thought the mars bar and the bottle of water was enough. Getting a mug was a bonus, whatever race it was originally made for!
Date of review: April 2, 2013

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

In short: Another cracking local race
In full: A new race, well organised over a pretty course. I'm sure a lot of pbs would have gone if it wasn't for all that mud. Good parking, good signage, good marshalling, a lively announcer and pretty cheap too.
The only thing that went wrong was my pacing.
Date of review: October 7, 2012

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

In short: Proof that small races are often better.
In full: This is a well organised race for a good local cause. It's cheap and efficient. I found that most of the marshalls were positive (some tried to cheer you on by calling out your race number) and there was a decent amount of local support.

Although the roads aren't closed, there's little traffic and cars were stopped right by the start.

Credit to the (very) minor celebrity starter who stood by the finish line watching everyone come in!

Credit also to the huge portion of cake I got in the tent afterwards. £1.50 for a huge slice and a cup of tea!

Credit to me! The big hill in the first two miles felt a lot easier this year!

The medal was the same as last year but then I don't do these for the medals (I guess they could at least inscribe the year). It doesn't bother me that there's no chip timing as it only takes about 20 seconds for the whole field to get across the line but if they could add it without increasing the cost too much or eating into their funds raised it would be nice.
Date of review: September 16, 2012

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

In short: Too expensive, too many people, lack of organisational nouse
In full: Some stewards were great/encouraging. Crowds were good, especially under Hungerford Bridge.

This is the kind of race that does well despite problems it creates. I've learned my lesson and will stick to smaller, local races (unless I get in the VLM through the ballot...!)

1) Why doesn't the British 10k answer its admin email address? Its website encourages you to email them! Queries about race shirts (and others) went unanswered. It seems odd to put on a race for 25,000-ish people and not to offer a slight wider range of shirt sizes for the "compulsory" shirts. The XL was very trim for a reasonable proportioned (honest) six feet seven inch runner. (and yes, some people did wear their own but that's another story...)
2) The route is fine but it's hard to take it in when you're dodging those ahead. No problem with slower runners (I'm one of them) but try to find a way of staggering the start by ability. If the problem is the location of the start then change the location of the start.
3) There was something anti-climatic about the finish (although the weather didn't help) and the wander back to the baggage bays to find that medals/bags were just lying there to be picked up. Did those who didn't leave bags know that this was how it was to be done?
4) The whole thing was a shameful Nike-fest. Don't mind them being involved but the race was established before their sponsorship and it looks like the price isn't coming down next year.
5) There were other things but I've gone on too long already...

Date of review: July 8, 2012

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