My Event Ratings

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

In short: nice route - organisation could have been better - worst goodie bag i have seen
In full: The route was certainly not "flat" as advertised but some undulating, low hills. having said that it was scenic and generally well marshalled. Missing mile markers were inconvenient, water stops were well organised which is more than be said for the start. 1000 runners following some drummers across a car park, a field, then a residential street slightly shambolic - made worse by the inadequate speaker system at rugby club and start line.
The sunny weather was obviously out of control of the organisers and on a cooler day there was potential for a pb. Numerous annoying emails sent out by organisers were confusing - i also emailed for a postcode for the start and to ask if enteries available on the day - no reply. A decent medal - thank you, and a tech tshirt. But the goodie bag was a carrier bag with a tshirt and some leaflets in - no drinks, snacks etc. Good race let down by poor organising.
Date of review: May 21, 2013

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

In short: For £6it was an absolute bargain - definate PB potential
In full: Not the best course - and a few too many runners for a very narrow out and back route, it became difficult to overtake up and down the old railway track. Having said that....for £6 entry fee, with a medal at the end it was a very fast course, nice and flat as long as you can get a good start in the masses race. Definately one for next year to go for another pb
Date of review: December 18, 2012

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

In short: Great setting and well organised race
In full: The course was muddy but that shouldnt distract from a well organised race in scenic surroundings. The hill at the start is short and nicely spreads the field out. On a dry day this course would be pretty quick - i knocked 5 mins of last years time despite the conditions. Well done Black Pear Joggers on a great event and to Malvern Joggers who were out in force. The atmosphere was very welcoming to club and individual runners and goody bag was pretty good too - with a medal, food and drink all in the great value entry fee.
Date of review: November 21, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Found myself cursing up some of the hills - but now the pain is easing..WHAT A RACE
In full: Only my second marathon - 40 members of Black Pear Joggers joined up to support the first person from our club, Stuart Wild, to complete 100 marathons. Blessed with unusually glorious weather the course was challenging - hard inclines that got steeper, downhills that got faster but overall thoroughly enjoyable and an icon race to complete
Date of review: October 30, 2012

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

In short: Organisation much improved on last year - well done organisers for listening to feedback great race!
In full: Last year all the moans were about the dull dual carriageway section (gone for 2012!) the couple of associated hills (gone for 2012)and crowed start line (ok 18000 people crowds to be expected).
Organisation was much improved but maybe waved starts would help if this event grows any more - there were a couple of bottle necks coming onto / off the barrage - last year this was much later in race where runners had thinned out. But overall this is my favourite half (2nd time ive run) and managed to knock 30 mins off last years time to set new pb. Perfect for first timers.
Maybe bit more direction / signage about parking etc would have helped and better access to pens.
Decent medal - good bags were a bit odd though no snacks except a cough sweet (!), can of non-alcoholic lager (i deserved a pint) and some shampoo (im bald!!) but i always think the bags are a nice to have rather than necessity. A sports drink and a mars bar would have sufficed for me.
Well done Cardiff Black Pear Joggers will be back in force next year!!!
Date of review: October 15, 2012

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

In short: New race - so teething problems expected. definately needs more marshalls and some tricky steep tracks
In full: For a first go it wasnt bad. Marshalls were in short supply. lots of places where you have to double back on yourself and marshalls were having to direct runners going in two differnet directions. Tough course with couple of short sharp slippery hills, one down hill near finish when you are going for a pb was lethal, very muddy narrow track at that point. plenty of scope to tweak the course so you finish on a wide sweeping private road. hopefully next year will iron out a few niggles. not a pb course generally
Date of review: October 7, 2012

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

In short: Organisation was pretty good - but marathon runners seemed to get forgotten - marshalls disappeared or werent paying attention on 2nd lap
In full: Generally good, but as my first marathon only had half marathons to compare it to. i quite like going through the residential bits as there were a few members of public out supporting and handing jelly babies out. Marshalls switched off a bit and let me go the wrong way on lonely second lap but that indiscretion aside generally well organised. Could there be a seperate section on these reviews for "goody bag" ranking? As it was very poor - 2 bits of shortbread and a drink. At least got a cheapo tshirt and what looked like a kids toy medal - but guess this was reflected in relatively low cost of marathon
Date of review: September 5, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Fantastic event - no matter what your level this course tests everyone and is a great team event - the first i have ever done
In full: Great location but what an evil course!!!! The first hill after 0.5k makes you cry and running at midnight through the forest with a head torch is an experience!!! This event has to be experienced at least once - never to be forgotten. I may regret this but.....roll on 2013!
Date of review: August 1, 2012

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

In short: really nice course - except one long long long hill (not too steep though) near the end
In full: Really good course - no avoiding the head wind but better conditions than last year i hear. Long hill around the 10/11 mile mark lasted well over a mile but still got PB was well chuffed. Course well marshalled, no problems with trafic like worcester. Finish straight seemed to drag on (after going round another silly cone...why why why???)but great atmosphere and my first sub 1hr50 half. will be back next year!
Date of review: June 25, 2012

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

In short: A great advert for Worcester....and for BPJ
In full: Great race - not as hilly as i had feared. Some great scenary right on our doorstep....definately spotted some pubs en route i may be frequenting fairly soon!Atmosphere was great - very supportive local crowd especially for our "home" race. Spectators were all round the course cheering everyone on. A few niggles as the roads were open - maybe next year organisers could learn from this and close a couple of roads to avoid the bottle necks but as a first attempt its was generally well organised, and we had nice weather as a bonus. Overall excellent.
Date of review: April 17, 2012

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