My Event Ratings

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

In short: Classic cross country, minus the mud!
In full: A beautiful course, on well maintained paths entirely within hainault forest. One nasty uphill section which you have to do twice but unlike usual x-country races there is no congestion, no danger of getting lost and, being july, no mud.

Excellent organisation, especially post race with race HQ being a pub! Perfect "turn up and run" fun.
Date of review: July 26, 2010

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

In short: An undiscovered gem!
In full: First time for me, and i was impressed. Excellent organisation, very reasonable price given chip timing, good support en route. Nice traffic free course, mostly flat but with 1 or 2 inclines to keep you concentrating. Above average T-shirt, plus a flower festival to keep spectators occupied.

A really enjoyable day.
Date of review: May 31, 2010

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

In short: Maybe the fastest half in kent?
In full: Excellent race. Apart from 1 hill in mile 2, it's pancake flat with a nice wide start to avoid early congestion. Definite PB material.

Nice route, almost entirely traffic tree. Superb marshalling with more water & sponge stops than you normally see. Good crowd support at several places en route. Flawless organisation. Really enjoyed it.
Date of review: April 11, 2010

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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		80%

In short: Hard but fair
In full: First time for me, and i won't forget mile 9 in a hurry! Uphill slog through sticky clay deep enough to swallow shoes and probably smaller competitors.

But the rest of the race really isn't as bad as all that. Apart from one short sharp hill, it's very flat. A bit muddy, a bit wet and a bit uneven, but nothing out of the ordinary for cross country. Proper shoes are a must - anyone running in racing flats DESERVES to fall over! - but if you come prepared it's a lovely, enjoyable and scenic race.

Superb organisation and marshalling.
Date of review: January 24, 2010

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

In short: Perfect way to start the year
In full: This race has become a tradition for me over the years, and it never disappoints. Lovely route, flawless organisation, and just the right number of competitors. Love the hat - much better than another T shirt or medal.
Date of review: January 2, 2010

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

In short: Hard!
In full: 5th year in a row for me, so had to run, but not really in shape and this is not a race to attempt when under the weather! After the first 3 miles, the course is almost permanently up and down and although none of the climbs are that hard, cumulatively they take it out of you.


Ignoring the pain though, this is a lovely race. Superb organisation, including chip timing, and pleasant scenery. Plus the best memento I've ever received from a race. Bargain just for that reason.
Date of review: December 28, 2009

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

In short: Superbly organised event
In full: A pretty non-descript route, with too much running alongside main roads, although the hills break it up nicely without being brutal.

But the event is worth doing just for the organisation - superb marshalling, especially from the local police, great PA, excellent car parking, plentiful water stations. It all makes for a trouble free run, well worth doing.
Date of review: July 19, 2009

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

In short: Awesome as always
In full: This remains the highlight of my racing calendar. It is brutally hard - those hills never stop coming at you - but the scenery is unbelievable: poppies were superb this year.

Marshalling is top class and very supportive, and the water stations put many big city marathons to shame - loads of water, jelly babies, gels and fruit on offer.

Free cakes, cheap barbecue, top quality T shirt plus a free swim all make this the best value race around, and the organisation is flawless.

The pain really is all worth it!
Date of review: June 14, 2009

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

In short: Deserves its gold rating
In full: Pretty much a flawless event. Lovely route, with plenty of challenging climbs throughout but a very fast downhill last 3 miles.

Excellent marshalling, a smattering of welcome spectator support and (this year) very considerate drivers on the roads.

Nice medal and slick organisation. There's simply nothing not to like about this race.
Date of review: March 1, 2009

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

In short: One of the best half marathons in the home counties
In full: Earlier start this year made a great race even better. Lovely route, flawless organisation and fantastic marshalling. Five, count 'em, five water stops.

It's a race of 2 halves. First 6 miles is lightning fast downhill, then a one mile uphill slog when wipes you out followed by a couple of minor climbs which you really don't need when your legs have turned to jelly. Certainly a challenging course, but really enjoyable.
Date of review: February 15, 2009

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