My Event Ratings

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

In short: Ideal warm-up for a spring marathon but basic and pricey.
In full: I have no problems with the course, its fast, flat, has no real traffic problems and plenty of marshals and police (becoming a rare sight at races these days) out on the course. The multiple laps don't bother me and I wasn't even worried about the missing mile markers as my Garmin was ticking off the miles for me.
Thought the marshals were supportive, although the second water station seemed a bit under-staffed on the first 2 laps.
The down-side was the facilities or rather the lack of them. I've attended X-country events with better facilities. OK so it starts in a field, then pitch a few tents/marquees and supply more than 8 filthy toilets. By its very geography, most runners will have travelled a long way and will be needing to use the toilets before the start.
Second time I've run this event and its a great one to prepare for a spring marathon.

Will I be back next year? Only if I decide to run another marathon. I suspect the organisers know this and therefore know there will always be plenty of runners even if the facilities and value for money are poor.
Date of review: March 30, 2010

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

In short: A tough and challenging course, plenty of ups and downs with a killer hill at 7-8 miles. Organisers did a fantastic job of making it run smoothly in awful weather conditions. Not too much traffic on the route.
Date of review: March 2, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In full: Great course across outstanding countryside. They said it would be tough and no one was expected to go under the hour and no one did! Plenty of ups and downs, dips and ruts and such a range of different ground surfaces. Friendly marshals, who did a great job over a long and exposed course and were very supportive. Chocolate and beer at the finish and a decent T-shirt thrown in as well. Great value, great challenge and great relaxed atmosphere. Top marks. If you like a change from tarmac, this is one not to be missed.
Date of review: September 15, 2009

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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		40%

In short: Fantastic! Imagine tough and you're still nowhere near it!
In full: Organisation is amazing.These guys organise a 30k course better than most race organiser manage to deal with a 10k.
The course is very demanding, the weather was hot and this was the longest event I'd ever attempted. However, the event was great, fantastic organisation, great scenery, great friendly spirit of entrants and plenty of support from marshals and spectators make this event one of the very best. The sense of achievement on completing it has to be experienced to be truly understood.
Date of review: June 27, 2007

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

In short: You need to be insane!! Very tough but what a feeling to complete the course!
In full: My first full off-roader and it looks like I started with one of the toughest. Definitely not for the faint hearted, its tough and definitely dangerous in places. It took an enormous amount of concentration to keep picking the best ground and avoid slipping and falling. Think I'd start a bit nearer the front next time as there were early bottle-necks around gateways and swamps and some areas of the course are narrow and difficult to over-take on. The hills are enormous and more of a climb than a run. I'm glad I invested in proper off-road shoes, the people in road shoes really looked to be struggling. Well organised and great spirit out there. I took a big fall in the Gully and several runners were quick to call out to check if I was ok and this type of support was in evidence all around the course. When people slipped, fell or struggled, other runners were quick to support them. Unique event and I'd definitely do this or something similar again.
Date of review: February 26, 2007

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

In short: Well organised & very supportive marshals. Definite PB potential. Very happy runner today, smashed my own PB.
Date of review: November 19, 2006

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

In short: Very well organised. Course is challenging, especially in the heat.
In full: I'm a local but have never run this event before. Wasn't too keen with the start, it was a bit crowded trying to do 2 laps of the running track. The heat was exhausting and like a lot of other runners, I set off a bit too fast and paid the price! The long uphill drag of Rabbits Road sucks the energy from your legs and from then on I was struggling a bit. Still ran ok but had to work really hard to hold it together, especially after the long hill at 9-10 miles. Partly disappointed with my time as I felt I could have run so much better but then again I was only 30 seconds outside my PB and this is the first half marathon I've attempted this year! Thought the organisation, marshalling and policing was excellant. Keyring gift thing was a bit disappointing, especially considering it was the 30th anniversary of the event.
Date of review: July 24, 2006

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

In short: Well organised, challenging event.
In full: My first ever half marathon in 2003, I was back again this year and be there next year. A lot hillier than many imagine, the stretch from 8-10 miles breaks so many people. Have never run as well as I have hoped to so I'll be back to do better next year. This remains the one I want to beat!
Date of review: September 22, 2004

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

In short: Really enjoyed this one, got a small friendly feel about it. Organisation was good, scenery is lovely, marshalling good. Lot of semi-serious runners, not too many beginners or 'fun runners'
Date of review: August 24, 2004

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

In short: My first half marathonm in fact, my first road race in about 17 years! Nowhere near as flat as many would think. Some long uphill drags, a pretty tough event. Not enough toilets near the start!
Date of review: August 24, 2004

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