My Event Ratings

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

In short: A tough marathon but so worth it!
In full: A fantastic scenic course in the most beautiful area of England, if you want a real challenge and a day to remember this event has to go on your shopping list.

This year's race started in the rain and it didn't let up until about half way (althought the winner had probably finished by then!). But the weather didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the runners or the marshals, who did a fantastic job.

Some of the terrain was really challenging, very tricky rock-strewn descents, steep climbs, trails that had turned into streams, ankle-deep bogs that you just couldn't avoid.

Great organisation and marshalling, with free electrolyte drink and Kendal Mint Cake at the water stations. Lovely!

A great event despite the weather.
Date of review: July 2, 2012

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

In short: A super race with PB potential
In full: My first time doing this race and I was lucky with the weather, a perfect day for running. The course is pretty flat, only a few slight gradients that are barely enough to slow you down so it is good for a PB. The only problem was the start, with 450 runners crammed into a narrow road and what seemed like quite a few slower runners near the front, so the first 100 metres was more of a shuffle than a run and it was difficult to overtake. Not sure if there's anything the organisers could do about this. Once we got moving properly it was a great race; nice quiet country lanes, very well signed and marshalled, drinks station at half way. The mile markers were spot on according to my Garmin. Excellent tech T shirt that you can actually run in makes this race superb value. (Other race organisers please take note!) And I got the PB that I was hoping for!
Date of review: December 28, 2011

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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		100%

In short: Great support, well organised.
In full: A generally flat course with just a handful of small hills. Water stations superbly organised with helpers shouting encouragement and calling you by name - having names on numbers worked really well. Great support in all the little villages and through the town, loved the grandstand finish. A nice goody bag with proper long sleeved technical running top - London could learn a thing or two! (Who the hell wants a cheap cotton tee shirt that you can't run in?)
Date of review: October 10, 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		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A lovely race, hopefully it will become a regular fixture
In full: Really enjoyed the race, a lovely scenic course and perfect weather for it today.

Mostly off road, which was nice, but the tarmac sections actually came as a welcome relief after the muddy fields over the first half of the course, which I found quite tough going. The stretch through the woods was my favourite bit.

The first couple of hundred metres was narrow track with very limited opportunities to pass, and with some slower runners near the front it was a bit frustrating, so perhaps the organisers need to re-think the start point for next year.

Parking was limited and late arrivals had problems because both the main and overspill car parks were full. Apparently this was because the larger field originally designated as for car parking was out of action because the farmer had put cows in it! Hopefully this will be sorted next year.

Teething troubles aside, it was a great day and I will definitely be back next year. Thanks to the organisers and all the marshals for putting on a superb event.
Date of review: January 9, 2011

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

In short: A real crascker!
In full: Great off-road course with some killer hills and an enthusiastic crowd at the water crossing to cheer everyone who gets a dunking! (Look it up on YouTube for a bit of entertainment.)
Date of review: November 21, 2010

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

In short: Surprisingly hilly, very enjoyable, had a great day!
Date of review: October 20, 2010

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