My Event Ratings

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

In short: Good course, organisation to improve for next year.
In full: My second attempt at this event, definitley has PB potential. The stadium setting makes a great location but the queues getting in! Learning from last year, I left early so I wasn't getting stressed whilst having to wait to get into the complex. On another event I did, a coach shuttle service was put on - this could be arranged from the train station to the stadium (a short drive along the bus route) which would certinaly reduce the number of cars trying to get in. Baggage area didn't appear overly generous (this is a football stadium!) and I thought the number of toilets were pretty low given the capacity entrance field. Marshalling was great and generally improved upon over last year but again aggressive drivers were my biggest concern. Being a road race we all have to be that extra bit careful particularly on the second 'country' half of the race. The road closures that were present appeared effective, but the traffic leap-frogging groups of runners along the main Boxted straight road in the final 2-3 miles i think is asking for problems. It encourages drivers to overtake at speed to get past as many runners as possible only to enevitably brake sharply and force their way into the running pack when a vehicle in the opposite direction appears. That being said, some runners need greater road sense as they could help themselves (and others) by keeping to the left. A great finish to the line, altough with the encroaching crowds made for a tight finish. There also needs to be more space after the line for the chips to be removed and collection of goodies etc. A good medal although a date on it would be nice. Traffic leaving the stadium was possibly more difficult than entering! Will look to do this again next year.
Date of review: March 20, 2013

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

In short: Great value, great marshalls, with PB potential.
In full: Despite the poor weather, the whole event was well organised. I understood that a lot of people mugged it off due to the rain which was a shame, but overall it was a good day. Loads of credit goes to the marshalls, who were friendly, smiley, ever helpful and encouraging. One was even singing! Not what I would call a flat course but negotiating the underpasses is much better than being on the road! Nice little medal too - will be back next year!
Date of review: November 6, 2012

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

In short: Reasonably quick and well-organised event, albeit traffic problems.
In full: Overall this was a really good event. My first time in Colchester and a well-organised race starting/finishing at the football stadium made it even better. I ran a PB so really quite happy with that however there were a couple of niggles. Early on in the race (first half or so) marhshalls were really good at closing roads and junctions etc. Later on, impatient drivers were causing difficulties. As a road race, there is an extra level of awareness runners need, to keep themselves safe. That being said, and as I saw posted on here already, if the race organisers feel that junctions merit having marshalls to control the traffic, they need to marshall EFFECTIVELY. Not an easy job I'm sure particularly with 'difficult' drivers but a lot of marshalls appeared quite young. I had a near miss with a car that although initially stationary when I decided to cross the roundabout, wasn't actually looking at me but rather the car that had just been let through and so pulled out (aggressively) in front of me - could have been a very different outcome! Living to run another day, the mile markers didn't feel to be quite right and an additional water station in the last quarter would have been useful. Medal was nice although a date would've been good too. Very popular event and I look forward to running it again next year.
Date of review: March 13, 2012

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

In short: Great value, well-organised and good atmosphere.
In full: This is my second go at the half-marathon event in Stevenage. A well-organised event by the club (as usual) with a great show of support from the large volunteer group. Definately possible for a personal best time over a reasonably level course. Decent scenery away from the roads and good encouragement throughout. Queuing for the toilets in the last 20 mins before the race start could be more of a pain, but that little niggle is more than made up for with a quality little running shoe trophy/memento for this 25th anniversary half-marathon event. Well done Spartans!
Date of review: December 5, 2011

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

In short: Lovely views helped with the forecast bad weather staying away for long periods. Instructions appeared detailed but when read in a large field, quickly became ambiguous. Inevitably, several miles were added which increased the frustration.
In full: Being an Ultramarathon beginner I had high hopes for this event. By the end I did not feel that it was the distance that got the better of me however. Whilst the course instructions appeared detailed, it became clear early on that there was plenty of room for interpretation when faced with tracks through fields, following hedgelines and the like. It would be easy to blame the runners that got lost that they wern't reading the instructions clearly. However whilst many finished without these apparent problems, I got the impression they already knew the course (at least partially) which obviously helped! Sections of the event were held on country lanes (60mph territory) which in the absence of paths had the potential for serious safety concerns. The volunteers were great with their well-stocked checkpoints making for welcome sights! As for suggestions, I think there is a strong need for course markers particularly between checkpoints. There was too much opportunity between them for getting lost. I think it would have only required minimal effort to put down posts, flags, ribbons tied to trees etc especially when the course was followed to write the instructions.
Date of review: July 18, 2011

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