Latest Ratings
| 1 to 9 of 9 ratings | Page: 1 |
2012 Hook 10
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Most friendly race I have taken part in
In full: Everything appeared well organised, everyone friendly, and extremely good value. Did not really need chip timing for a small field (about 250 in the 10 mile race) so no big deal that it was not provided.
Only minor thing was having to pick my way past the 6 mile runners at the end, but they were easily avoided.
Lots of decent support from the Hook residents and people on the course, and a decent "big" finish as well with the barriers and support.
Lots of stuff to keep spectators entertained - kids did not want to go home!
Date of review: May 28, 2012
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2012 Frimley Park 10K
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Well organised - and for a good cause
In full: Having a short fun run prior to the 10k made this a really good family event with a lovely atmosphere. And hopefully the hospital has made a shedload of dosh from it!
Despite the hills, I managed to take over 30 seconds off my PB, and the long downhill bits meant I was able to get 2 consecutive sub-4 minute kilometres - another first!
The only thing I would change would be the start - getting people to join from the front means too many "tortoises" at the front getting trampled and bumped, however the wide Portsmouth Road gave plenty of space to overtake.
Excellent medal, but a very sparse goody bag, but I would rather the money go to the baby unit rather than tat.
Date of review: May 6, 2012
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2012 ASICS Fleet pre-London Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Well organised and huge support on the course
In full: Very enjoyable event on a nice warm spring morning. The vocal support down the high street is worth the entry fee alone. And where did all that lot by the Barley Mow come from?!!!
Despite the undulating course, managed a new PB!
Only complaint: No beer tent in Calthorpe Park (yes I know I shouldn't).
Date of review: March 26, 2012
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2011 GRIM 8
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Worth looking forward too
In full: As expected, great fun. Every aspect from the parking, catering, baggage, photos, finish, PA system, marshals, etc, etc extremely well organised (and so it should be for the cost). And above all, the course was good - with plenty of muddy puddles, mud pools and obstacles to remind us this is no ordinary hack through the woods.
My only complaint is that there were too many people pushing their way to the front of the start, only to be walking within 500 yards, then complaining with people barging past them. Otherwise difficult to find fault.
Date of review: December 6, 2011
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2011 Peter Driver Memorial Fleet 10k
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great Two Lap Race
In full: My wife really likes the two lap format and that the race goes down the high street - she can watch me go past, do the shopping, then watch me go past a second time, do some more shopping, then watch me finish!
I also enjoyed the race - good level of support throughout, decent organisation, enthusiastic marshals, good size field but nice wide roads so plenty of opportunity to run at your preferred pace without getting slowed up too much. Only 14 seconds off a PB as well. Chip timing, bananas, drinks, loads of parking, a lead car with a clock on the roof to give a sense of occasion and decent weather.
The only fault I can pick is that the start/finish lines were not that well defined. The mats for the chip timing were about 20 yards short of the "finish" banner, and I was unclear where the start line was so did not know when to set my watch going.
Definitely will do this next year, if it's on.
Date of review: October 24, 2011
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2011 Alton Downland Challenge 10K Trail Race
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well Organised - Great Scenery
In full: Wonderful scenery, and nice and hilly! Efficient and mostly friendly marshalling.
Sadly the famous field had not been freshly ploughed and it was mostly dry underfoot, which annoyed us masochists! However there was a nice stiff breeze to run into at the top of the hill which made up for it somewhat!
Loads of facilities at the start line good for runners and spectators - a good variety of food and drinks. Plenty of free parking on site. No goody bag but what does one expect for £8!
Overall a very enjoyable start to my Sunday, hence the 5* rating.
My only grouse is that this year the road was not closed for the first mile, which meant we were having to run on a very narrow footpath, with little opportunity to overtake.
Date of review: October 10, 2011
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2011 Frimley Park 10K
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: 10k through leafy residential streets on a warm day
In full: This is one of those events where I can list a lot of things that could do with improvement, compared to just a few things that went well, but despite this say overall it was well organised, great value for money and for a very good and deserving cause, and above all, good fun.
The race was great value for money (£12) and for a charitable cause, so I would not expect some of the features offered by more commercially oriented races such as chip timing, goody bags, closed roads managed by the police etc to be in evidence. There are a few minor things that could be sorted, including managing the start better separating the rabbits and tortoises - people joining from the front, and without prominent estimated time boards did result in a few slower ones in the wrong place - however the Portsmouth Road was wide enough to allow me to easily pass slower runners. However not having enough medals for finishers, especially kids in the fun run, is a very big tut-tut (however they did promise to post medals to those who did not get one).
There were a few nice touches as well - for example, free massages. There was a lot of support at the start and finish, and some enthusiastic locals on route (special mention to the chap who had his garden sprinkler on the road for us to run through - double credit if he is on a water meter!). And free parking. And a very informative tannoy.
Overall, the organisation ran well for such an event (they enlisted the local Park Run mob to help) and hopefully it raised a lot of money for a very deserving cause, which ultimately is the reason for race.
Many thanks to all, especially the Rotary club members, the Park Run helpers and the ATC.
Date of review: April 11, 2011
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2011 Asics Fleet Pre-London Half Marathon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Well Organised and Great Support from the Locals
In full: My first half marathon now out of the way. Everything appeared to run smoothly. Baggage drop extremely well organised. The start allowed plenty of opportunity for people to position themselves for their expected race time without much pushing and shoving. Once under way, the support, especially along the High Street was something else (both sides of the road several people deep for a good mile), and being able to pass twice down here was brilliant. After that, it was out into the countryside for another few miles before returning back to Fleet.
My only complaint was that perhaps a few more toilets at the start are required - there were plenty (probably about 60 units) but not quite enough for the demand.
Date of review: March 20, 2011
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2010 Grim Challenge 8
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great and Dirty Fun
In full: A great way to work off some of the Christmas excesses. Plenty of large, deep puddles and plenty of people to cheer you on as you plunged into them. Great atmosphere as running along, with other runners happy to laugh and chat, and give a helping hand or shove to get out of the deeper craters!
My only complaint was that there appeared to be no separation of the hares and tortoises at the start. The first mile or so is fairly narrow, and people walking 3 abreast in the top 1/3 of the field slows the rest down somewhat.
Date of review: March 18, 2011
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