Where Gosport, Hampshire
When November 16, 2008
First Man James Baker 1:08:47
First Woman Alice Braham 1:15:39
Last Finisher 3:17:08
No. of Finishers 1,235

The promise of a fast, flat half-marathon attracted more than 1,000 runners to this popular race in the Hampshire town of Gosport. The PB potential was even tempting enough to prompt me to have a crack at my half-marathon best - set more than two years ago.

Some also came for the view - the race was reputed to have glorious views of the Isle of Wight across the Solent - but it turned out that a change to the route from previous years removed the scenic treat in favour of a more easy-to-police course, although a short seafront stretch did remain towards the end of the race.

In near-perfect overcast conditions and a light breeze, runners made the five-minute walk to the start from Bay House School, which served as an excellent headquarters for the race, thanks to its plentiful facilities, refreshments and baggage drop.

For runners starting near the front of the pack, a fast getaway was guaranteed. Further back it was a different story as runners found the start to be a little disorganised, especially when they were channelled onto a narrow pavement after a short distance. The congestion soon thinned out, though, as the route wound through the quiet roads of a housing estate.

Even after competitors turned onto the service roads of an airfield, the scenery was instantly forgettable. If you're interested in running as fast as you can, this is no bad thing in a race, but if you're looking for crowd support and ambience, the Gosport Half lacks punch. While it might not have been memorable, it wasn't boring either if you looked beyond the easy, smooth surface underfoot. There were gliders taking off, the odd helicopter landing, an old hovercraft graveyard and Gosport High Street to liven up the view - and even a brief glimpse of the Isle of Wight.

Great marshalling, however, does make this race stand out. Despite myriad twists and turns, brilliant signposting ensured that runners knew well in advance exactly which way to turn. Marshals were also placed at strategic intervals to reassure everyone they were heading the right way. A good mix of abilities ensured the race felt busy but rarely crowded.

The only slight inclines on the whole route were towards the end of the race between miles 12 and 13, and a cruel rise up to the finish. There's a good case for introducing chip timing at such a popular race, but the marshals, timekeepers and medal bearers coped well with the crowds of runners being funnelled through the finish.

Hanging around afterwards to watch friends complete their race, there was talk that the course was less interesting than in previous years, and some even felt it was slower, but I left satisfied - and with a new PB - and I bet I wasn't alone.