My Event Ratings

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

In short: Well Organised, a Bit Early in the Year!
In full: Ran this race during 2012. Very well organised, a train is specially put on to transport people to this, and you are directed from the station to the event. Baggage is guarded by soldiers, organised starting positions, plenty of portaloos. Two laps of the city, and despite what some may say, it's not flat, there are a few hills! Great support on the way round, the 131 Commando Regiment who were also running persuaded me to try harder. The little hill after the bridge over the river turned my legs to jelly after ten miles, but people persuaded me to carry on. The final stretch is covered by three video cameras, so give the final 100 yards everything you have left! Medal presentation at the end, you can purchase a plaque with your name and time to add to it. Only fault with this race, too early in the year!!! I don't like taking long distance training runs in January and February in the snow and ice! Not only that it's too dark in the evenings for the mid week races! Did this the once, enjoyed it but have no plans to do it again, as I didn't enjoy training for it.
Date of review: March 12, 2013

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

In short: Best Race I've Ever Run!
In full: Ran this race twice now. Perfect time of the year, mid October meaning your training takes place in August and September. If you are part of Shin Splints Running Group, you are provided with some great training for this event. Race starts at 11am so plenty of time to take the train and bus, also plenty of free parking. Baggage is kept undercover and guarded, returned to you the moment you arrive back after the race. Organised start positions, faster runners at the front. A little hilly on the way round, but hills are not too steep. Frequent water stations around the course, photographs taken mostly near start and finish. After crossing the finish, you have a well done and a medal placed around your neck - you don't get that at all races! Great support from the people of Swindon and the surrounding villages on the way round. Goody bag and t-shirt provided. Recommend this to anyone who wants to run a half marathon for the first time. Race has now been taken over by British Heart Foundation, hopefully they will do just as good a job at organising it as their predecessors.
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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

In short: Great Place to Run, a Little Late in the Year!
In full: Recommend travelling to this race early, arriving at around 7am and parking on the common, you are only a minute's walk from the start! Clarence Pier is a great place to go to before and after the race, the hotel can provide toast and fruit juice before the run, and a little bar on the front provides milk shakes for afterwards. Three tier starting race, so even the slowest runner could start at the front (of the green zone) if they wanted. You get to see parts of Portsmouth Dockyards you wouldn't normally. Final part of the race is along the front, a short video is made of your finish, make sure you stick to the left or right hand side to be visible! Once the race is over, head to the Wimpy on Clarence, get something to eat and more importantly, drink and enjoy the view of the huge traffic jams to get out of there. Once it clears, you can head to your car and drive off. Wouldn't recommend race transfers we never saw the buses that were supposed to provide it or any signs to them, besides it's cheaper to park on the common. Great race but a little late in the year, the sea breeze was a little strong, especially when you are in the green zone and have a long wait to start. Also disappointed with Channel 5 in that they seem to think that the elite runners are the only people worth providing coverage of.
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Not Quite What I Expected
In full: Wanted to run this one more than any other, as it's the greatest Half in the world. Had some fantastic support from the people of Newcastle, I've never seen such a friendly crowd. What let it down though, was the overnight accomodation, we were directed to the wrong building for the sleepover, a last minute change of venue meant we had no where to park, they kept the lights on all night for health and safety making it hard to sleep, and they closed the sports centre at 5pm on the day of the race, making it difficult to retrieve our belongings in time. The company that provided the sleepover were also supposed to provide us with transport to the city but we were unable to locate the bus that we'd paid for, and when I phoned them the next day they simply blamed us for not looking harder. A near riot at the baggage buses meant that the police had to be brought in to control the very angry crowd after their bags were taken off the buses and thrown into a big pile in a tent. The BBC only really cared about the elite runners, so don't tell your relatives to look out for you on the box, they'll be wasting their time. Hotel accomodation is usually booked up before the ballot. Recommend parking in South Shields, sleep in your car, take a bus to the start the next day and leave your baggage in the boot, one person I know did that, it worked out well. Not a race I will be running again, but thanks to the people of Newcastle for your support.
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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

In short: Very Poor Organisation for a Race That Takes Place in Our Capital
In full: Good points are, you get to race in London, past some great sights, and you receive a great medal. Bad points are, it takes place before the trains are running, so you have to drive, no toilets, no starting point organisation, bags are thrown in the middle of the street in the pouring rain, announcer loved his voice so much that he started the race 10 minutes late, water was handed out with the lid still on (try not stepping on any), other runners stopping to posed for photos right in front of you, video cameras at finish didn't cover all angles, marshalls didn't keep the finish line clear, access to t-shirts and goody bags was badly organised at the end. Hopefully they will organise it a little better in 2013, but so far the most badly organsied race I've ever run.
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Not Enough Parking and Too Early in the Day
In full: If you are planning to run this, forget taking the train, as the race starts at 9:30, before the trains run on a Sunday, surprising for a city that dislikes cars. Car parks fill up rapidly at 8am, and in 2012 they hiked the parking prices from £1:20 to £5. Race has a two tier start, they provide changing rooms, baggage is indoors, protected by soldiers. Long wait to get to the start line so don't hydrate too early! Nice run under Brunel's bridge. Very nice medal, no t-shirt. Photographs are taken but no videos of your finish. After the race, getting your car out of the car park is a nightmare as there are no police available to direct the traffic out of the town.
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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

In short: Tough Hills at a Tough Time of the Year
In full: Ran this race twice now. Main point is the two hills you have to climb are steep, and the hardest you need to climb twice. First circuit the announcer introduces you as you cross the finish line for the first time. Lack of Portaloos this time. Best race photographers I've ever seen, their photos are sharp, colourful and clear, despite it being a dark time of the year. Great medal, excellent goody bag. One fault, it takes place in February, and if you can't get there due to snow, there's no refund for you!
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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

In short: Another Great Starting Race
In full: Ran this race three times now. Takes place in the summer, uphill for the first half then you turn around and run down again. Beware of runners going in the opposite direction after crossing the M4, and don't go down the hill too fast as you may not be able to make the turn at the bottom. Also the little hill after the final bridge can slow you down for the final stretch. All in all a well organised race
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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

In short: A Great First Race
In full: My first ever race, some great support from the people of Chiseldon on the way round, which is very welcome considering there are some steep hills on the course. Don't speed up during the final stretch it's further than you think. The whole race was cancelled in 2012 at short notice, beware
Date of review: March 11, 2013

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