My Event Ratings

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

In short: Perivale 5 - Sunny Spells Predicted
In full: First time I've run this race. very well organised and marshalled excellently so thankyou for that. although a lot of the course is on pavement, because there was a lot of club runners there was a lot of sensible running whereby the slower runners all moved over to one side enabling the faster ones to overtake without jostling or barging for position. The course was so flat and fast and running with club runners of a higher ability meant I smashed 6 minutes off my best training run time.

Only thing I would say is that if you were a complete novice to running the Clubby feel to this may put beginners off. I hope not but maybe the organisers should contemplate making this race a Perivale Santa Slog/Dash with a prize for the best dressed santa/elf or reindeer. you can still run fast in a santa suit but it would put beginners at ease to see a mix of serious and fun runners and add to the atmosphere.

well done though and the weather was beautiful
Date of review: December 3, 2012

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

In short: Expensive but well organised
In full: Ealing's 1st Half Marathon was a very well organised event. Although there were a couple of testing parts of the course, overall it was a very quick course with a great atmosphere.

One downside is that at £34 it makes this dearer than the London Bupa 10K and the London Marathon and as good as it was it is definately not in the same league as the London Marathon or Bupa 10K
Date of review: October 1, 2012

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

In short: PB Material when its not so hot
In full: Very well organised from start to finish. The course is super fast, very flat with huge crowds along the route to cheer you on. think London Marathon but without the need to run 23 miles to get to the Embankment crowds.

Medal was good, same as last year as was the design of the T-shirt. Not much else in the goody bag though.

Did think that the price was a bit on the steep side. This kind of price is usually reserved for the Big longer events like the London marathon.

Overall though i would say this is definately one of my favourite races of the year
Date of review: May 28, 2012

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Hottest day of the year - No water until the finish
In full: I'm writing this article from a spectator point of view. My wife ran this race and it turned out to be the hottest day of the year. We were advised to get there an hour before the race. Unfortunately Old Deer Park has no shelter from the midday heat. I am a seasoned marathon runner and was worried about my wife becoming dehydrated so went off to get her some water. Only to be told by one of the helpers that they can only give water out at the finish.

I tried to explain that at the finish would be to late if the runners were already dehydrated to which he replied after taking a swig from a bottle he had pinched off the massive pallet, "Sorry mate ain't my water that's what we've been told and that's what we do".

I was so angry and all these bottles of water were just sitting there in the midday heat with no cover over them to shade them. Lovely nice warm water to drink at the finish I'm sure the runners will love that.

There were also no water sations around the route which I know for 5K races is the norm but the temperature wasn't normal and a couple of the helpers did eventually cart over one small box of water to distribute nice warm cooling hot water to the runners who really appreciated this so much they through it on the floor in disgust. I don't blame them.

Sadly I saw one girl who wasn't that old collapse with what I can only imagine to be heat exhaustion and that is pretty much why I'm writing this article.

Good charity, organisation of race absolute crap and please bring your own water to the start, I really don't want to see anyone in distress again, please be careful
Date of review: June 28, 2010

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

In short: Excellent Grass Roots club organised race.
In full: This is the first year that I have done this race and wasn't quite sure what to expect. The course was very well marshalled, the marshalls were very friendly and supportive and it was great to run on grass as well as pavement. most of my runs over the last couple of years have been in the big mass participation events like London Marathon 2010, Bupa 10K 2009 etc.

I had forgotten how satisfying these smaller events can be and I will definately be back next year to run and have another Hot Dog from the BBQ after the race which were very tasty.

Well done to the organisers.
Date of review: May 17, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Just gets better each time
In full: My 7th London and hopefully not my last. Only gripe i have is a stretch of road on Docklands that was only 2 lanes wide and some bright spark decided to close off the right hand lane so one bloke with a broom could sweep a 400 metre stretch of road clean. This was done at the peak time and created a bottleneck that eventually ground to a halt.

I had friends and relatives along the route and I know from talking to them that one of the water stations was located in a most absurd way. They roped off the whole pavement forcing spectators onto the course who were trying to get by. All the other water stations leave part of the pavement to allow spectators to pass by without hindering the runners.

Finally to all those runners who think it funny to take 2 sips from their drink bottle and then lob it up in the air in the direction of the spectators, shame on you, these people are trying to support you and being hit by a virtually full bottle is not funny its just plain stupid, have some respect.
Date of review: April 17, 2008

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

In short: Proud to be a Londoner
In full: Because of the terrorist threat my wife didn't come up to cheer me on as she usually does. I wasn't sure if I would go myself, but I'm glad I did. there was a real sense of community spirit, we are in this together, here we are do your worst but we will win not you attitude was displayed by all.

I've never seen that amount of spectators along the embankment for a race other than the London Marathon and it made me feel very proud to be British and even prouder to be a Londoner.

Race wise, it took me 15 minutes to get over the start line then a lot of weaving in and out for the whole 10K. so what thats why we all wear stop watches. After all I personally only race against myself and the clock.

The post race goodie bag was pants but we did get a pretty good t-shirt come with the race numbers and the medal was quite nice.

Stick it in your diary for next year and pay no attention to the poor reviews, if its atmosphere you want or you're contemplating your fisrt 10K this is the one to do.
Date of review: July 2, 2007

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

In short: We North want a rematch
In full: How much did the South have to pay to bribe the judges or was the computer used to gather all the data manufactured south of the river. I'm not a sore loser but I want a rematch.

Brilliant day, great organisation, well done to everyone (Yes that includes the South runners too I suppose)

At Least our green T-shirts were better than their Tango coloured ones.

Thank you Nike
Date of review: October 9, 2006

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

In short: Hard, Tough, Steep, but Brilliant
In full: I done this race 3 years ago and it was great then and is just as good this time round. I like the new date in the calendar and the reason for the 3 year gap was because it clashed with so many other races when it was held in September, so well done to the organisers for moving it to October.

Nice long sleeve sweatshirt at the finish and if anyone wants to see their finishing times then go to the following web address,
http://www.runnerswebuk.com/results/2006/harrow_p1.html

Hope to do it again next year
Date of review: October 9, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

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

In short: Fast, Flat course apart for last 1 KM which is all uphill to the finish. PB potential = Yes
In full: Very hot day, however very enjoyable. Running round the beautiful scenery in Hyde park. Although I have to say that one drink station after 5KM was not really enough for such a hot day and also where the drink station was located, with no shelter from the sun meant that the drink I did pick up was very warm and not very refreshing.

The organization was very friendly and enthusiastic and the medal at the finish was very nicely made as well.

Recommend taking a picnic for after the race, Hyde park is so lovely shame to not make the most of it.
Date of review: June 12, 2006

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