My Event Ratings

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

In short: A fast leg stretcher with great PB potential
In full: I did a PB in this race and could imagine going a lot faster. The organizers utilise the widened Anchor road to good effect, the zoning approach is excellent. No complaints about the set up. I'll be doing this one again. Great support from those Great Western Runners not taking part.
Date of review: May 11, 2009

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

In short: The best small hilly half marathon around!!
In full: This is the second Hogweed Hilly I've run and I was a good ten and a half minutes faster than last time. Only 2 mins off my PB. Saying that it is very undulating and with a big hill at 8 miles pacing yourself is must. The attention to detail at the HH is excellent with individually numbered race bags, friendly marshalls and views that help take your mind off the pain. Wrll done the Trotters this is a great event.
Date of review: March 22, 2009

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

In short: “The true man wants two things: danger and play."
In full: You get them in this. I saw two serious accident on this course so Mr Mouse's cavalier reference to mortal danger shouldn't be disregarded! Rather than rehash other people's reviews my tips are:
Head gear – a swim cap is a great way of handling the total immersion obstacles like the Water Tunnel.
Gloves – I found the neoprene Tough Guy mitts both warm, light and extremely robust. Highly recommended.
Full body cover is a must for us less than tough guys.
At the end of the Behemouth you can slide down the diagonal poles if you don’t fancy another parrallel rope section (where I saw faller - hope she's OK).
Date of review: February 4, 2009

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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		80%

In short: My fourth and muddiest Slaughterford. Still a gem
In full: The mudiest mud lanes I've experienced took their toll.
Still a fantastic local event for me and Mrs RP. Puts iron in your legs (temporarily manifest as jelly!!).
Date of review: January 25, 2009

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

In short: Great race, well organised great views. Lots of lovely mud.
In full: Follow me follow, down to the hollow and there we shall wallow in glorious....
It's about 13.7km in distance and is by far the muddiest run I've ever done. Luckily the overnight rain and gales weren't enough to turn it into the Somme, but the slippery surface mud ensured you had to keep your wits about you when crossing angled slopes. Some of the mud lanes did look as though a fleet of tractors had passed through them. I love this kind of race as I can generally cope fairly well with the conditions. Spare a thought however for Mrs Racing P, as she considered it more of an ordeal and was not impressed by the cheeky little stream run they tack on at the end. The one downside is the 10 stiles, however as a chap with an amazing moustache said, if you want to avoid the queues get there sooner. All in an excellent race though.
Date of review: January 18, 2009

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

In short: My third Bristol Half in a row and definitely the best
In full: 2006 was a fiasco and lots of improvements were made in 2007 which made the course faster and less bunched up. This year the organisers almost nearly got it perfect. Really liked the staggered start and much improved goody bag. Only real bugbear was the near impossible walk/obstacle course back to the baggage store. Support in the centre was excellent - and I really needed it to get me round the last 3 miles! (Mrs RP)
Date of review: September 25, 2008

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

In short: Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink!
In full: As others have said, many congratulations to the organisers for carrying on despite the flooding at Upton and to 500 runners for turning up to run the revised 12 mile distance despite a poor weather forecast. Overall this was a very well organised and enjoyable event - good parking, plenty of loos, excellent marshalls, smooth baggage storage and friendly support on the course from both locals and other runners. I'd definitely encourage people to run it to support the cause but really having no water at all at 3 out of 5 water stations for us lot nearer the back was pretty unbelievable. Thank goodness it rained when it did or I think the St John's Ambulance brigade might well have been rather busier than they were. I was very envious of those carrying their own supply of fluid - something I would probably do myself if running this one again. (Mrs Racing P.)
Date of review: July 5, 2007

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

In short: Why such a small field? This one is a gem.
In full: You get used to running in wonderful countryside in this part of the world but this particular 12k seemed to have it all - woods, heath land, a hill fort and views that made the climbs well worth while. Running past a trig point added a certain sense of achievement. The marshalls were all extremely upbeat - possibly helped by the sunshine. And finishing at a pub always helps morale too.
Date of review: May 11, 2007

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

In short: Fastish out and back scenic course.
In full: Based at the sports centre the organisers had arranged the start on the shinty pitch (wet and muddy with the persistent drizzle). A simple placard signified the start point just before the stand and after an inaudible briefing we suddenly set off (no gun or klaxon). The field was a serious one, lots of club runners and few if any charity shirts.
The start of the course winds it's way around the backstreets of Fort William eventually popping out onto the A830. From here its an out and back run with some lovely views although the low cloud made for limited visibility on this occasion. My Garmin clocked 415metres of ascent.
The water stations were frequent, handing out those nice small bottles with sports tops that are easy to carry and drink out of without sloshing water all over yourself. There were a good number of Lucozade stations as well - something I always think is a good counterpoint to all that water. Jelly baby man on the mountain bike was a useful innovation too, given the roads weren't closed off he was certainly risking a lot to keep runners sugared up.

The support was better than I'd expected and the small numbers of people scattered along the course generated a huge amount of support and positive energy - the cheer from supporters on the grandstand was a nice reward at the finish. Respect points to the mad local who had a sound system blaring at the bottom of his land and the young lass who was using her bedroom stereo to belt out some motivational tunes. Hope their neighbours understand it was in a good cause.
This was a very informal affair - turn up, collect your number and run. No frills but a fast course with great PB potential. I lopped 27mins off my previous time.
Post race treat - Crannog Seafood Restaurant. Fast service great food.
Date of review: April 26, 2007

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

In short: Great course, friendly atmosphere and impressive organisation
In full: If the organisers keep this up it will become a cult classic.
Terrain - Several steep sections, though the mud - especially on the deep churned narrow paths, is the key terrain feature. Even the flat farmers fields offer little grip. I was glad of my studded Walsh trainers, Mrs Racing P swears by her Innov 8 flyrocs. Some poor souls ran in road flats and must have expended twice as much energy keeping balanced.
Race tips - get your field position right fairly early as bunching occurs at a narrow deeply muddy path early on. Those trying to barge these sections don't get very far, waste energy and earn the derision of other runners.
Drinks - two water stations, a third would have helped, for us sweat monsters a case for a lightly filled camelback could have been made.
Marshalls - some of the most encouraging I've met, even the locals where out in force one banging pans to cheer us on.
Changing - two tents one male the other female though no showers. Remember to bring lots of plastic bags for kit, shoes and to stand on as the tent is on grass (I only had 1).
Parking - very efficient in a farmers yard, no muddy wheel spins and very easy to exit when the event finished. A 10 minute walk to the event start.
Loos - 7 portaloos the queue was long but moved quickly.
Pre and post race raffles, an awesome array of cakes (buy yours before the race as they go quick) plus a cracking medal that says "Roughed and Tumbled 2007" make this an event to remember.
Improvements - the organisers obviously learned from last year's comments about the bags and made bag storage/retrieval incredibly slick. Don't increase the field size.
Date of review: January 15, 2007

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