My Event Ratings

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

In short: Good clubby race with stunning scenery
In full: Enjoyable race, well organised with a friendly atmosphere. A clubby race, but wasn't made to feel out of place as a unattached runner, with lots of words of encouragement from the faster guys.
Described as flat/undulating, but some of the hills are very long, but some nice downhill stretches to make up time. Scenery was outstanding. Nice Mug as memento at the finish. Very good organisation, marshalling and water stations.
Date of review: March 7, 2013

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Not just any run, but hardest thing I have ever done.
In full: Anyone that entered the event must have been committed, as the price was somewhat on the high side (£170 Early Bird).
The communication from the start was very good, with an excellent event web page.
The organisation of the event itself was very good, and there were no problems regarding the route, as it was very well marshalled and marked. However it may be an idea to give each runner a route booklet at registration to allow them to follow on the hoof.
I won't say much about the route, it was Hadrian's wall country and therefore hilly but scenic, the real difficulty with this run was the sheer distance.
The overnight stop for relay and challengers was spot on, but a better meal option than soup and rolls (Remember the Price) a pot of pasta would have gone down a treat.
Pit stops had everything that was needed, but should have had better, and identifiable camelback filling points. Too many runners filling up from the juice area, stopping anyone else getting a drink.
Now for the finish, which is where a lot of events let themselves down. I would say 8 out of 10, everything was there and easy to get to, but after 69 mile it would have been nice for someone to put the medal round my neck, and although I am not a medal grabber, the medal for this event does not reflect the enormity of what was achieved or the entry fee, very very poor quality.
But overall I am pleased I did this, the organisation was spot on, and would I do it again? Good God NO, but that's because I do not want to put myself through that again ever, but would I recommend it yes, its an experience.
Date of review: June 25, 2012

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

In short: A real test of mental and physical strength
In full: A race packed full of positives, with only minor grumbles. The organisation and running of the event was excellent. A special thanks has to go to all the volunteers, who were helpful, encouraging and friendly at all times.
The medal and goody bag was the best I have ever received, and it was very nice to have my medal placed around my neck with a smile and a well done. All to often it is out of a box or still wrapped in the goody bag.
What can be said about the course Beautiful yes, easy No. This a real tester and definitely not for the faint hearted.
Now for the grumbles, a hill profile needs to be placed on the web page for future events, so people can prepare for the pain ahead. Also it would be useful for a google type map to be place on the web-page with exact distances of water stops.
As I said small grumbles, above all a great race, great organisation, great marshals, great spectators, great location and great weather(NOT)
Date of review: October 10, 2011

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

In short: Well organised, and enjoyable
In full: Having experience of how not to do it (EMF) I now have the experience of how to do it. A very well run event. Too many plus points to rattle through so here are the highlights.
Support was great,with crowds along every mile of the route. Lots very generously offering food, drinks sweets ect (Thank You)
atmosphere was fantastic, Red Arrows top notch(as always)and the organisation of mass participation event was from the outside looking in excellent.
Only a couple of minor criticisms: T-shirts were not so good, should be moving towards a Tech T in this day and age, or a better design.
Also some very poor runners etiquette out there, got pushed, barged and hit by a bottle more than once. This is too be expected with so many first timers out there.

Date of review: September 20, 2011

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

In short: Finish line Fiasco spoiled otherwise good race
In full: Unfortunately the event was ruined by the organisation that took place after the runners crossed the finish line.
Water and medals should have been available on crossing the finish line, not some quarter of a mile hobble later. Then runners were subject to long queue for a goody bag, with no tee shirts for most as the large and extra large had run out,(not acceptable as we had our sizes on our numbers) which were apparently given to the half marathon finishers. Then we had to fight through the crowds to the reunion area, before a 25 minuet walk for a bus, not ideal after a marathon
However up until that point, I enjoyed the event. Good organisation at the start area, excellent marshalling, and water points.
If the organisers could get a grip of the finish, this has the potential to be a great event.
Date of review: May 23, 2011

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

In short: A great race taken too far
In full: Overall a very good race, with some excellent and not so excellent points. First the not so excellent:
The course was too long by .3ish of a mile, but the organisers took it on the chin and timings were adjusted accordingly. But it did ruin many a pacing plan. However I personally thought the rest of the event was excellent, very good communication, good start and finish organisation, one of the better goodie bags I have received for a while, and a nice fast route, with a decent atmosphere. I will certainly be booking my place for next year, where I am certain the route will be double and treble checked and will 100% measure 13.1
Date of review: April 14, 2011

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