My Event Ratings

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

In short: Surprisingly pretty and well organised
In full: Really enjoyed this race. Despite being in a largish city there was plenty of parking, no extreme queues at the toilets, and easy to understand directions. The weather was glorious which helped make the views and the scenery look really pretty and the terrain was challenging but didn't impede anyone who had trained hard and was looking for a good time. The only slight gripe I had was I wore off-road trainers as the pre-race notes suggested it would be a mud bath and there would be lots of off-road running. In fact the vast majority was on concrete and the off-road bits would have easily been dealt with in my normal trainers. However this was a small issue that (only) I had so no real complaints.
Date of review: February 21, 2013

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

In short: Awesomely tough but very satisfying
In full: The warnings of how tough this course is are made clear way before you get to the start line, but the hills here really are lung-busters. I pride myself on running (rather than walking) no matter how bad I feel during a half, but I felt no shame in having to walk during some of this event. The race had added spice this year because of all the horrendous weather we've had but in a way that made it even more enjoyable. All the enormous puddles and the crazy mud meant there was plenty to focus on and you almost forgot about the enormity of the challenge. Thankfully it was nice weather while we were actually running which was merciful. The marshals were great, as has been said, and the beer at the end was a nice touch. Would love to come back after a bit of proper hill training and beat my time next year...
Date of review: November 28, 2012

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

In short: Good event but be careful of the heat
In full: It's a half marathon in July so you can't blame the set-up for the heat. If you don't like running in hot weather then don't enter. I enjoyed the challenge and the course itself was surprisingly rural (surprising considering my preconceptions that is). The atmosphere was great (more people come out in the summer) and it was over early enough to get back home, have a big lunch and then sit back and enjoy the World Cup Final.
Date of review: November 19, 2012

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

In short: Hard work but satisfactory
In full: It's hard to rate this because the weather was the overwhelming factor. The wind tunnel and driving rain created a real challenge but it was great to overcome it. Felt like an iron man at the end!
Date of review: November 19, 2012

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

In short: Really nice for a first race
In full: My first ever half and one I hold dearly. It's a very cold time of year to run but you feel warm inside when you complete it. Crowds were great considering the temperature. Certainly a good one for beginners - I've been running ever since!
Date of review: November 19, 2012

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

In short: Great race and brilliant finish
In full: One of my first half marathons and still one of my favourites. I lived in Reading at the time so the roads were all familiar. Reading isn't too exciting but the course makes the best of the town and the finish in the Madejski Stadium is spectacular. I don't understand people complaining that they were "always on a slight incline". That's physically impossible in a race which starts and finishes in the same place. Besides hills are a part of running. If you aren't pushing yourself a bit there's no point..
Date of review: November 19, 2012

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

In short: Busy but fun. One of the best large half marathons I've ran.
In full: Despite the crowds it was one of the quickest half marathon times I've recorded. Great crowds, great scenery and - despite the volume of people - well organised. It's only when you go to a large event that is shambolic that you appreciate when one is well run. You'll always have waiting time at the bigger events but this was kept down to a minimum here.
Date of review: November 19, 2012

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

In short: The delay at the start ruined it.
In full: It wasn't the organisers' fault that there was an October heatwave, nor that lots of runners were delayed in traffic (although I managed to get there from London on time). However the decision to delay the start at the very last minute was frankly irresponsible. In the 30 minutes spent frying with all the other poor souls who had made it on time, I drank all the liquid I had with me and felt ready to drop before I'd even started. As a result of overloading with liquid I also needed a pee as soon as I was able to. The delay also meant that we were running in a very exposed part of the course during the hottest part of the day. This was my ninth half marathon and I've never stopped once until this one - simply because I was over-heating. It's also the only half I've not enjoyed. I take pride in running the full 13.1 miles and I'm pretty sure I'd have been ok without the unnecessary sunstroke session. People shouldn't complain about hills - if you aren't fit enough to run one of these things you shouldn't enter. Or if you need a flat course enter a flat race.
Date of review: November 18, 2012

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

In short: Awesome race, awesome atmosphere
In full: Where do I start? Superb crowds, iconic scenery, brilliantly organised, awe-inspiring. My first and only full marathon so far. You're made to feel like a hero by all the crowds and anyone else in the city who sees you wearing the medal afterwards. It may have hurt like hell but don't regret any of it. A must-do for all wannabe runners.
Date of review: November 18, 2012

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

In short: Enjoyed it, great crowds
In full: Great city to run in with its iconic seafront. I know that getting the length wrong annoyed people but as I was training for London I didn't mind at all, plus they gave everyone readjusted chip times.
Date of review: November 18, 2012

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