My Event Ratings

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

In short: Nice low key mid week race
In full: Nice low key race, startig and finishing at Carlisle race course, so plenty of space, plenty of parking and plenty of toilets. I wouldn't describe the course as flat, but equally it's not hilly, sloping is probably the best description.
Not a race if your looking for lots of crowd support, but a nice one to test how the training is going as there is quite a broad field of runners.
Bargain price, so no goody bag or t-shirt, who cares as the proceeds were going to benefit local Cancer charities, the bottle of water at the end was all that was required.
I've ran it 3 years running and I'll be back next year.
Date of review: June 7, 2012

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

In short: A vast improvement on last year
In full: Following the chaos at the finishing area last year, I didn't have high hopes, but I would have to concede the organisers seem both to have taken on board the criticisms and done somethong about it.
The start was good, the baggage trucks worked well and there were plently of toilets. As for the route, well yes the marathon starts in Edinburgh, but one look at the route map before hand should tell you it's a tour of the East Lothian coast.
The support was fantastic, yes there were patches with no support, but since I always try to say thanks to supporters it gave my voice a bit of a rest. The people who'd set up garden hoses deserve particular thanks, they were my lifesavers.
The marshalls and stewards were really supportive; plenty of water stations and the free energy gels were good too.
The finish area worked really, well huge crowd support for the last 100m or so, first aid on hand immediately after the line (thankfully I didn't need it), nice open area for medals and t-shirt collection, plenty of space to sit down if required and no crush to exit the runners only area. Different medals and t-shirts for relay and full marathon runners. Baggage collection was excellent, my bag was handed to me as soon as I walked over (well done to the Scouts manning the trucks).
I even managed to find and use the showers this year, and yes even if it was a cold shower, it was heaven.
Even the queue for the beer tent moved really quickly.
Plenty of space in the re-union area, only minor gripe is that the signs could have been on taller poles as you couldn't see them when the field filled up.
Yes there is a bit of a walk to the bus area, probably about a mile (and up a hill), but I can't see any way round this other than perhaps the organisers highlighting this in their blurb.
Whilst I can understand the comments about starting at 8am, our party travelled by bus and we were up at 5am to make it to Edinburgh for the 10am start, I suspect if the start was 8, we'd give it a miss rather than fork out for accomodation, so its a difficult balance for the organisers to strike.
As to comments about this being a money making event, an event of this size has to be commercial and if you wan't a good, smooth running event of this size, you're going to have to pay for it.
So in summary, I gave this race an appalling review last year, rightly so.
This year I pretty much couldn't fault it, yes the weather made it challenging but organisationally they've pretty much got it sorted, would I do it again YES.
Date of review: May 28, 2012

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

In short: Great location; unique route; well organised, this one should be on your "bucket list"
In full: Very special race; incredible convoy of buses to the start and definite PB potential.
Yes the bus journey took longer than planned, and yes it was a bit tight for time from arriving to the gun going off, but on the plus side it meant less time waiting in the rain.
Like others, I did struggle to find a restuarant in Inverness on Saturday night, note to self - book a table in advance - problem sorted.
I also left it late to book accomodation and struggled to find somewhere, note to self - book your accomodation well in advance - problem sorted too!
I may have been lucky as my bus was at the back of the convoy and therefore nearer the baggage trucks and the start line. Yes there were not enough loos at the start, but have you ever been to a race where there are enough loos to cope with all those nervous bladders?
Yes there is a morale and energy sapping hill at 20 miles, but the first 5 miles are downhill and fast to balance this out.
Given the remote location you can't fault the level of support.
Plenty of drinks stations, although I'd prefer more water than lucozade, that's my only minor grumble.
Nice flat finish; decent goody bag and great T shirt.
For me the key point in any review is whether the writer will be back --- not only will I be back, but this is one I'd recomend to anyone.
Date of review: October 7, 2011

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

In short: Great race; nice route; smooth organisation
In full: The 30th running of this event and it's easy to see why it goes from strength to strength. Good sized field; nice goody bag and technical T shirt, well marshalled and good value.
Slightly different start point this year, to take advantage of the facilities at D & G College (no queues for loos).
Running on quiet country roads South of Dumfries, with a slightly challenging longish hill at 5 miles, good flat finish on the cycle path beside the River Nith, whilst the country road mean few spectators, the marshalls were full of encouragement throughout. Bit of a walk from the finish back to the start and car park, which I like as it lets you stretch off a bit, although there was a bus transfer available I'm not sure if people knew this was available.
This is my local 1/2, but it's exactly the size and type of event I like, friendly, good scenery not too busy, I'll be back next year.
Date of review: September 26, 2011

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

In short: Unique location; stunning scenery; fantastic support; legendary after race party and a trip to the inner Hebrides
In full: 4 hours driving to get to Oban, 2 and a half hours on a ferry, 1 mile hike to get to the campsite all to run a half marathon on a remote Scottish island, was it worth it?
Absolutely and unequivocally yes, yes, yes.
This isn't just a race it's an experience, with a population of 200, virtually the entire island must have been involved in supporting the events one way or another. I did the half marathon, but there was also a 10K a kids fun run and a half marathon for walkers, so every-one was catered for.
Free camping was included in the race fee, and the vast majority of participants took this option, camping right next to the finish line. I've never seen so many water stations on a race, all dressed up in fancy dress, at one station I even had to do a double take as I was offered water or a baked potato!, unique.
The only very minor downside was the surprise that on a flat island, there were an awful lot of ups and downs and the wind added to the challenge, so whilst there were some pretty good times, it's not terrain I would class as easy.
T shirt and a medal for all finishers, bar and food tents also right at the finish line, then to round of the day an outstanding Ceilidh in the evening with a great band and no matter how weary and footsore, everyone was dancing into the wee small hours.
Thoughtfully some of the locals were even selling bacon butties the following morning to aid your post race recovery.
So get your diary out and mark out the weekend for next years race, this really is a MUST DO event.
Date of review: August 23, 2011

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

In short: Great race; great route; fantastic setting; friendly and challenging
In full: A hidden gem of a race, mainly on forest roads and footpaths through the beautiful Mabie Forest in South West Scotland. A pretty tough first mile uphill, then a constant mix of ups and downs throughout, with a nice downhill, curvy trail for the last mile. Very friendly field, well laid out, signposted and marshalled course and a goody bag and a free cuppa at the end too.
This race is a definite fixture on my calendar for next year, and one that deserves a bigger field.
Date of review: June 13, 2011

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