My Event Ratings

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

In short: It's Wales. What else can you say
In full: I love running in Wales. I love Wales. So when I found this race that starts on the Menai Bridge, goes along the coast road to sneak a view of the Victorian Bangor Pier. Around the Castle and then back with stunning views of th Snowdonia mountain range, I just had to sign up.

The course is a bit undulating but still great PB potential. The start on the bridge is a little congested and bottle necks on the narrow roads till the coast road but then you are free.

The goody bag not to write home about, but pre and on the day info was fantastic. Marshals and all volunteers were excellent. The crowds when they were there were good, but apart from that it was a very quiet sunday morning run.

this is one to have in the bucket list and to keep coming back to. It should grow into a great event but for now I feel it is filled with those who are running more than just a charity or one of event. But a great for a first timer.
Date of review: March 3, 2013

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

In short: This is the best Half you will ever run
In full: Another PB on this course and finally got it under the 1:40 mark. A change of course to make sure the congestion on the cycle path didn't happen, but it was still busy for the first 3 miles and only then could you break away. Everything about this race was perfect apart from the change of location to pick up your numbers. If it had been raining then it would have been a very wet cold affair, along with having to queue for your medal and T-Shirt, rather than handing them out at the end like last year when you crossed the line. I feel this was because they did not have medals for the people who entered late so needed to check that those people didn't get one.
Date of review: November 20, 2012

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

In short: Wonderful Run with the most scenic backdrop
In full: I love Snowdonia so this was a dream run. Some good hills, nothing too bad apart from the killer at mile 22 which was quicker to walk up which people did. Bit of trail running on the down hills which if the conditions weren't dry could have been a killer if use to road running.

Everything else was great about this race even those who are on FB and Twitter as the communication and athmosphe between runners and organisers was second to none. There were some issues with water stations on the pass as they were still filling the cups but the rest of the route had the most aid stations of any race I've been apart off.

You can race it or take it slow and enjoy the backdrop of the most beautiful place in the UK. Well worth a go. I broke my PB and this was my second marathon. you don't need to be a marathon runner before hand as long as you train hard and correctly.
Date of review: October 28, 2012

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

In short: Running in on your home turf is always a treat
In full: This was intended as a training run for Snowdon because of the hills but after the Langdale half the week before the hills around Macclesfield seemed to be a little flat. This is a course for experience runners, as they have a very quick cut off time for those who are slower. The roads remained open and with the help of the marshals this was the safest race on open roads I've run. I was holding back as it was a training run but I could have beaten my PB.

Good course, good run, even if the lack of supporters were on the low side.

I would do this again, but don't expect any gimmicks. This is a simple race, with limited organisation that is mainly filled with club and serious runners who just want to race.



Date of review: October 14, 2012

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

In short: Never knew Bangor had some many hills
In full: Loved this, will be returning next year if the race comes back. It would have been nice to be told the roads would be open but the Marshalls did a good job holding traffic back. It's very hilly and today was very hot, but what goes up must come down, do could be a quick race on the down hill parts.

Would have been nice to have more info about parking and bangor, for those who do not know the area.

All in all one to do a again. If this is your first you will enjoy, if your a season pro, take on the challenge and run fast. Today was made harder by the hot weather. But great race
Date of review: May 27, 2012

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

In short: fun, well organised, friendly.
In full: Best organised race I've been too for a long time. Plenty of marshals, well laid out course. Fantastic race for every type of runner. Really enjoyed this race.
Date of review: May 14, 2012

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

In short: Could have been a quick race, if it hadn't been for the Manchester weather
In full: this was my first marathon and i was hoping for a sub 4. However after mile 16, I was soaking wet, tired, cold, face and hand were numb and I wanted to give up. I came in at 4.25 still very happy for my first and the conditions.

The signage and course route were well laid out, but I did start reading the floor for the mile points that were sprayed in paint as I could not see the signs. Some of the water and food stations could have been more clear that they were coming up and what they were containing.

The two big criticism that they need to sort out was the baggage. Just dumped all the bags in a pile with no clue which pile was which, after 4 hours in the cold where you are ready to drop, you do to need to search for your bag , for 20 minutes.

Also there was an area on the course (due to weather) that was cross country. A narrow lane, where you could not over take and the majority was like a river, ankle deep. The other bad bit was a very muddy cobble lane, which was very dangerous .

Apart from that, the people of Manchester did us proud, cheering us on, apart from Mile 14- 19 which was empty as we were running in the open country. The majority of runners were experienced and club runners but it is still worth a marathon newbie or a veteran runner.

But some how I don't think i will be doing this one again.
Date of review: April 29, 2012

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

In short: Could be the Great North Run, in another 5 years.
In full: This was my 4th Half, and I used as for a training run for the Manchester Marathon, but somehow got a PB. It has great crowds to cheer you on, wide open paths and road to over take. This could be the next must do race and has the potential to be the next Great North run, as there was no part of the course that didn't have cheering crowds.

The only issues was the lack of Wave starts, as I was near the front, but still had people who should of been behind me, and the bit around mile 9 where you go under an underpass, slowed the race up, and became bottle necked.

But a great race for all to day, and boy is it fast, until now, I never knew what people meant when they said 'flat fast race' after this i now do.

All in all I would say this is up there in my best races.
Date of review: March 21, 2012

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

In short: Loved it. but did get a new PB
In full: this is fantastic. But i do love North Wales. Good hill to climb, then good hill to speed down. i had done the Conwy Half in 2011 so knew what to expect, but some how got a new PB on this run. I would say they need to do spilt starts. I was luckily enough to be at the front and just managed to squeeze through the small gap at te start that could have been 7 people wide then started the first two miles over taking people.

Despite that, this is a great run, and i left my friend on the start line who also took part as a newbie and she thought it was great. Tough but great. If you are use to running and like hills do it. If you don like hills, then do it for the challenge.
Date of review: February 13, 2012

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

In short: fantastic, loved every minute of it
In full: they need to set people off in stages, as it was a little packed on the cycle path, that spoils your rhythm and pace. the only way to get ahead of the crowd is to get to the start line first. apart from that i loved every minute, and got a PB which was a surprise.
Date of review: December 13, 2011

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