My Event Ratings

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

In short: OK location but poorly organised (esp. at the start)
In full: Start was a shambles...
- The PA man was reeling off names of presumably late people he was desperately trying to direct to the running chips, rather than organising the masses of runners to the appropriate point early enough, and on time for 9:15am start. You really can't concentrate on late individuals in such a big event. Stick to the big picture! Further, and this may seem picky, but on a cold morning people have timed their warm-ups for an on-time start... hanging around an extra 10mins means cooling down = bad!
- The tape which cordened-off the start line was not unattached until very literally the last 5 seconds, when some unlucky man had to grab it frantically then dash across the front of the whole field at the very last moment... rather him than me!
- The no iPods rule was a waste of time. At the start I spotted 5 people in my immediate vacinity wearing them, and was duly carved up by one girl clearly blissfully unaware of my presence as she weaved around just in front of me!
- No starting time zones... for me this is the worst offence... It doesn't take much... but it reduces the number of delusional way-slow runners who start at the front, blocking things up such that it then encourages a scary number of psycho weaving nutters who seemingly don't give a stuff about who they elbow or jostle to get past and get going.
Other than that everything was peachy! :)
Date of review: November 22, 2010

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

In short: Superb half marathon, although somewhat punishing!
In full: This was my first time at Marlow, and I am instantly won over. What a race. Stunning scenery and very good organisation. Hills... aaarghhh... horrible... especially those at ~ mile 8 and again at 11... ouch! Down was as hard as up! Final run-in to the finish was 1 mile+ of blissful gradual downhill running... best and fastest ever HM finish. Very well done Marlow Striders... if I can I will be back.
Date of review: November 7, 2010

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

In short: Well worth the early start... fast, flat, expensive cars to ogle afterwards!
Date of review: March 28, 2010

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

In short: Beautiful day, location and run. Organisation, esp. at end not great.
In full: Love running in Bushy Park. Great location for a 10k, and a lovely day for it. Went OK, but organisation seemed haphazard. Why no clear marker/indication for the Start line? Why was the 2k/7k lady standing at more like 1.5k/6.5k? Why no clear finish line? Not prepared for handing out medals/T-shirts at the end, so lots of people milling about not quite sure what was happening. Other than that everything was peachy! ;)
Date of review: March 7, 2010

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

In short: Wet but wonderful! Glad I didn't need the toilets though!
In full: The weather was not clement! Made it difficult for the organisers to get everyone in place and away on time I think. I did notice the loo queues though. Diabolical. Not enough. When the horn went large numbers of people were still filtering to the start area.. I guess they might be pretty miffed. Once out on the course though, the marshalling was excellent... lots of drinks stations, clear mile markers, and a fast pretty much flat course. Pockets of good support out on the course, including a few cow-bells... inspired no doubt by the winter Olympics... liked that! Good finish, inspiring a do-or-die sprint at the end, and a medal... to keep Muttley happy! :)
Still a great race, still very fast, still wanna beat my PB on it, but needing a little polishing around the edges methinks!
Date of review: February 21, 2010

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

In short: Well organised, fast-ish 10k, despite squelchy conditions.
Date of review: November 15, 2009

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

In short: Superb organisation, nice course, superb conditions, pb :)
In full: Can't fault this race! Congratulations to the organisers. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Date of review: October 24, 2009

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

In short: Fast well organised race... recommended to PB hunters
In full: Turned up hoping for a cool, still, sunny day. 2 out of 3 aint bad. Breezy headwind on the upwards 2km leg didn't feel too bad for the 1st 2 laps. But on the 3rd I was fighting and by the 4th it was hurting! Got my PB.. hurrah... and only short of target by ~45s. Nearly!

I only have praise for the organisation. Given the field wasn't too large, the 4 lap course, plus the inter-mixed aquathlon people, meant there was always someone ahead to chase after, and always someone behind to try to avoid being caught by. i.e. Great for the motivation! So I didn't mind the "confusing" nature. All I needed to do was keep count of the laps! ;)
Date of review: September 5, 2009

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

In short: Very well run, scenic, fast race. Well done!
In full: First time I've seen drinks attendants actually bringing drinks to people at the end. Nice touch!
Date of review: May 24, 2009

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

In short: Very well organised, fast, flat course. Nice one!
Date of review: March 29, 2009

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