My Event Ratings

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

In short: This is my second review of the race to the one I posted earlier. Please see longer review
In full: I have had time to reflect on this race and having experienced and read many of the competitors comments decided that something needs to be done to improve the 2006 version. I have e-mailed Ken Livingstone, Mayor for London with our concerns with a link to the comments page of Runners World and will contact the Charity Commision with our concerns regarding the entry fee. We all deserve to be treated like respectable human beings and lets hope something positive will come out of all this.
Date of review: July 4, 2005

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Good atmosphere, prestigious but too expensive, no chip timing, too many dead turns en route, sporadic water stations. Not televised !
In full: Its no doubt that this event is a prestigious race in the heart of the city but the entry fee is far too expensive. The organisers attempt to justify this fee in the FAQ`s on their website was found to be complex and confusing and I was none the wiser. The event was not chip timed, they claim it would be too expensive etc. its done for far bigger events and not everyone is timed, unfair to slower runners. A staggered start would help congestion. I thought there were too many "dead turns" (four I counted) which was certainly a "slowing" factor to the race. The drink stations could have been more evenly placed, say every 2K.
Why wasn`t this event televised? considering its status? and the fact that Haile Gebrselassie took part, surely he alone is worth TV coverage. The " goody" bag or should I say "goodless" bag was poor, no energy bars, fruit etc. in it as one would / should expect from a race like this only a T shirt and money off token(s) for radian B. In short the organisers need to take on board (from experience and runners comments)on what it takes to put on a well organised, slick and value for money race. However the plus points was the location and the atmosphere and for that alone despite all my comments I may do it again next year...or?
Date of review: July 3, 2005

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

In short: Surprisingly tough 10K ,more of a cross country than a Road Run. Not sure about the distance being 10K?
In full: I am inclined to agree with the comments made by Justin Parkhurst but would like to add some others. The course could have been better controlled/marshalled to prevent corners being cut but as a fair amount of it was muddy and the paths narrow it was difficult to keep to the course anyway. Because of the narrow paths I did find it hard to pass lapped runners, this was a particular problem esepcially the run in towards the finish. Its a good race for fun runners and most important its for a worthy charitable cause. I will do it again next year but would hope that the comments made are taken on board for future events.
Date of review: February 13, 2005

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