My Event Ratings

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

In short: The race is as good as the weather and the poppies leave a red glow
In full: Organisation as good as ever and finally the word is out with no on the day entries left. The course shows off the Kent country side, the poppies take your breath away, and my least favourite crossing of the orchard was routed differently to avoid the ridges. Aid stations were better stocked with water, jelly babies, sports drink and SIS gels, and the marshals were so helpful that I tried harder than my lace of running (cycling only) preparation told me I ought to. My fifth consecutive NDR30 - I will be back next year
Date of review: July 16, 2008

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

In short: Good well organised race with personalised encouragement from the marshals
In full: the 33m pool meant that the lap counting to make the 600m swim was different to my normal 25m pool training and the lanes felt a bit narrow for 4 to share but there were no problems. The run was very pleasant, mainly on grass, with some woods, and a hill climb near the end of the lap that had to be repeated 4 times. This made my legs stiff for my first real run since FLM 2008 4 weeks ago.
Date of review: May 12, 2008

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

In short: Even more Grizzly than it used to be
In full: Anyone (like me) who thought the Grizzly in September was going to be a soft option compared to March, was soon realising this course is hard. The hills seemed steeper and longer, and the mud was nearly as muddy as March, with the streams nearly as deep. I suffered from the hills despite this being part of my warm up for Beachy Head. Actually recorded my first DNF - but that was a medical issue of very low blood pressure after 15 miles. Thanks to the excellent medical backup for persuading me to take the St Johns route back to Seaton.
Date of review: September 19, 2007

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

In short: hard, hilly but grat views on a clear day
In full: I did the half so it was only half as hilly as people who completed the full course who have my utmost respect - maybe next year or the year after? I knew most of the course from a 6-7 year period of employment at the Norwich Union site some 10 years ago, when a large group of us enjoyed daily lunchtime runs. No danger of getting lost but I can appreciate others may have had problems. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day and devils dyke looked like it was covered in mist from afar. The tracks were as rutted and stony as I remebered, making choice of path difficult. The hills were arduous, and my only mishap was to nearly run into a mountain biker coming in the oppposite direction, whilst I watched the path. Our mutual fault but I wish she had called out, bikes are near to silent. Four feed stations were welcome with water and I felt sufficient marshals were available to direct you. The last climb to Cissbury was hard but achievable, after 25 miles I'm not so sure. The finish was a welcome sight and well equipped.
Date of review: May 14, 2007

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

In short: Mud water and hills - it must be the Grizzly
In full: Entries for the 2006 race were snapped up even faster than last year, only a month for 2000+ entries, and still I made it to the start line for my second Grizzly. Organisation was brilliant again, the course slightly different in the middle, with a section of Weston beach omitted for safety reasons on the day. The weather was cold and wet and still people turned up for this - they must be keen. My time was similar to last year despite running 1.5 miles less on the day, so it must have been hard. Far more water obstacles this year but they did wash the mud off. The scenery is amazing, the marshalls and crowd wonderful, and I can't explain why I want to do it again. This should rate as a marathon, even if it is short of the horizontal distance, some of the climbs more than make up for it.
Date of review: June 27, 2006

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

In short: The best long distance off road summer race in the south
In full: This is the third year in succession I have completed the NDR30 and I suspect I am starting a trend that will be hard to break in the future. I do not understand why this race is not more popular but I'm more than happy with the present set up. Each year the race has been a little better presented than the previous, and it was a well organised and fabtastic race in 2004 to start with. The course scenery is amazing, presuming you like the North Downs. The course directions are faultless. There are numerous marshalls and signs plus hazard warnings with red/white tape and orange dayglo paint on things like exposed tree roots - you really are spoilt. The course is hard, not undulating, just plain hilly, but the sense of achievment at the end is fantastic. The water stations are numerous and had jelly babies as well this year. The finish area is good with runners lazing around looking, well, very tired. Then you summon up the energy to have a free swim and shower at the leisure centre followed by a beer at the bar plus food if you want it. It was such an effort to leave, but I got home in time to see England win 1-0, so everybody had a good day I guess.
Date of review: June 27, 2006

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

In short: Challenging and scenic
In full: Pity the weather was only a few degrees better than last year when it was snowed off. It was difficult to get to the start due to a war games convention at the school next door and cars for this event. However I left about 15 mins before the start and was there 3-5 mins before the horn went. On the course everything was fine, even that hill, except a squeeze through the village at the top where too many parked cars plus an ambulance on course made the runners cut to single file. It was a shame to come back to rural Tunbridge Wells after the Kent countryside.
Date of review: March 13, 2006

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

In short: 30km of wonderful off road with excellent marshal + aid stations
Date of review: September 26, 2005

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