Latest Ratings
| 1 to 10 of 16 ratings | Page: 1 2 |
2012 Old Father Time Vets 5
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: positive start to the year ahead
In full: Great 5 mile race on flat course, only challenge is the weather and the excesses of Christmas! Good way to start the year. Well organised and marshalled, generous gifts afterwards. Retreat to the nearly club for refreshments and presentations.
Date of review: January 2, 2012
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2011 Rutland Water Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: great race on a challenging undulating course
In full: My first marathon. The course is undulating/hilly throughout with some short steeper hill sections. About half the course is rough stony tracks, other half on tarmac. So it's a fair challenge! Fantastic location and great scenery on the majority of it. Exposed around the lake so go prepared if weather is bad. Very well organised, excellent marshals, good local support and friendly fellow runners. I have no regrets at all, but will look for something flatter for by second marathon.
Date of review: November 6, 2011
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2011 Cardiff Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Vibrant city half marathon with PB potential
In full: A well organised race on a course with plenty of PB potential. Others have commented on the course being dull on dual carriageway stretch. This is true but because there's 15,000 runners wide roads have to be used. A return to more scenic route (especially if including parks) could accommodate a mere fraction of that. There's a high volume of participants because race organisers want maximum income from charity fundraisers.
Luckily members of local running club, Les Croupiers, helped out this year, ensuring the course was correct length and the event well organised and properly marshalled. Does need more even spread of water stations though.
The course is NOT hilly - there are some undulating sections meaning it is not dead flat but elevations are steady and mostly slight. The definition of hills in Wales is a LOT different than a couple of slip roads! The course is much better than the Bristol Half.
Date of review: October 21, 2011
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2011 Roman Run 16
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% |
In short: Great race, challenging & hard work!
In full: Steep hill climbs for first 6 to 7 miles as you head up into the Brecon Beacons. Roman Road section is difficult as stony, uneven and slippery. Once back on the road it's undulating with a steeper section in the last mile to finish at Cyfartha Castle. Well marked and marshalled, excellent provision of St Johns Ambulance and Mountain Rescue. Welcome tea & sandwiches, mars bar, biscuits provided afterwards.
It's tough but well worth doing. Not one for beginners though.
Only downside, no trophy and rubbish cotton t-shirt.
Date of review: September 4, 2011
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2011 Brecon Lions 10
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: good especially if you're premium club runner
In full: Good course, properly marshalled. Undulating, worst of hills at 7-8 mile mark - nothing serious for the experienced but challenging otherwise. I was disappointed that a block of slower runners went down on the records as 'unknown' (despite times properly recorded on the day) and the organisers ran out of medals. Also drinks stations ran out of water. Sorry but not good enough!
Date of review: August 11, 2011
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2010 Merthyr Mawr 5K
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: brilliant race
In full: Ran this in 2011, excellent event well attended (and hotly contested) by local club runners. Undulating country lane, run out and back. Arrive in good time as you need to walk a mile from Bridgend Leisure Centre to race start point. Welcome pint in club house afterwards, great atmosphere.
Date of review: June 24, 2011
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2011 Llanelli Watersdie 10k
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: good waterfront fast 10k, PB potential
In full: Entered this race as it's on our club championships this year. Normally wouldn't travel this distance just for 10K. Well organised, plenty of parking and toilets. Chip timing thankfully. Only downside is yet another cheap cotton t-shirt none of us need or want as the memento. Great scenery but it's exposed so expect strong head winds. Toughest undulation comes at 8k then you run back over it again before you show off your downhill sprint to finish line. There's also half and full marathon on this waterfront.
Date of review: June 24, 2011
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2011 Hereford Half-Marathon
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: stressful race due to running on road with busy traffic
In full: The over-riding negative is the TRAFFIC. You're running on road (or sometimes cracked uneven pavements) alongside busy traffic. Very stressful so not recommended to beginnners. Lack of marshalling meant crossing busy roads unaided. Lots of dodging hazards. It is a hilly course throughout, but this should be no problem for the experienced. Finish at the race course on bark chips meant for horses which works against your sprint finish. No memento other than thin cotton t-shirt. No bag drop but leisure centre facilities are good. No warm up as advertised.
Date of review: May 15, 2011
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2011 Cardiff Self-Transcendence 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great value race for all
Date of review: May 14, 2011
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2011 Lifestyle Porthkerry Plod
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: excellent multi terrain race for all
In full: Ran this today in glorious sunshine though recent rain made it wet, muddy and slippery in some places. An excellent multi terrain 5 mile course with two steep hill sections. Despite this, it's suitable for all runners with PB potential for the experienced. Brilliantly organised and marshalled. Good facilities. Only downside is t-shirts in XL size (why?!)
Date of review: May 8, 2011
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