Race Reviews 2009

           

Review by: Sue Tanner

In short: A wonderful race

In full: Can I congratulate you on organising a wonderful race. I was very impressed and the marshals, in particular, had to put up with standing out in awful conditions. A big thanks to them. I will certainly enter next year and will be promoting the event at my running club.

Date of review: October 12, 2009

       

Review by: Graham Baker

In short: Extremely well organised as usual

In full: Extremely well organised as usual, with right number and mix of drinks stations and great crew and marshalls. Really enjoyed it even though it managed to rain the whole way through the race, and then stop! Already looking forward to running Swindon once again next year!

     

Review by: Les Millar

In short: Thank you once again for an excellent race

In full: Thank you once again for an excellent race, the organisation is really first rate and it is a pleasure to take part on what is a really challenging course, particularly with the weather this year, not the sunshine we were all expecting. It is really encouraging that spectators still turned out in Wanborough to watch the runners despite how much more comfortable the pub must have been!

The book included in the goody bag is fascinating. Once again thanks for all your efforts. I am already looking forward to 10/10/10

    

Review by: Andrew Ozzie Osborn

In short:

In full: Done it 2 minutes quicker than last year so I'm happy....was all good apart from the rain....more freebies would be kool.

    

Review by: Kenny Campbell

In short: Well organised event

In full: Well organised event, hills not quite as bad as I had been led to believe and despite the weather I ran about ten minutes faster than I expected. Fair play to the marshalls and spectators who braved the elements to provide fantastic support.

     

Review by: Nigel Stone

In short: Superb

In full: Superb, really enjoyed the run with lots of marshalls to ensure I didn't get lost....look forward to 10/10! Less rain next year though, if you please :-)

     

Review by: Kye Honor

In short: Top event

In full: Hi there, I ran the half marathon yesterday and it was the first time for me. Just wanted to say thanks for organising such a top event, there was a really good atmosphere all the way round the course and if felt like the runners were really looked after. I had a really good time and think everyone involved in organising and running the day did a cracking job. Well done!

       

Review by: Peter Gilder

In short: Excellent event

In full: Thank you for an excellent event, shame about the weather but that was not your fault! I do though have concerns about the registration process. Although I whole heartedly agree with having a given charity as the main recipient for the event, I feel that the BHF web site left a lot to be desired:

Thank you again for a good race.

    

Review by: Rob Brown

In short: Wonderful event

In full: Thank you organising such a wonderful event. I really enjoyed myself and had a great run. The event was well organised with adequate facilities and good parking, travel routes well planned with good directional signs for getting there etc. The water stops were just at the right places and I found the route quite exhilarating even if it did go up that hill..! The weather was good for runners, although probably not so good for spectators, but this did not stop lots of them coming out in their coats and umbrellas and cheering us all on at various stages. The support was fantastic. I was even surprised to find the free t-shirt in my goody bag.

Hope you all enjoyed organising it and wishing you a successful event next year!

      

Review by: Kathryn Langdown

In short: Another well-run event

In full: Just wanted to say well done on another well-run event. I took part in the 5 mile race yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well-organised, lots of marshals etc My only feedback was that the online booking was quite confusing. I know this was managed by BHF but perhaps you can feed back to them. Other than that, a job well-done.

      

Review by: Cheryl Parker

In short: Impeccable organisation

In full: Just to say a huge thank you for the impeccable organisation and execution of the Swindon Half this year. Everyone who worked hard on this should be very proud. The route was clearly marked, marshalled, water stops were great, plenty of toilets, and the jelly babies at the end were very welcome! Well done to all involved and thank you again.

     

Review by: Fat Disco

In short: A big thank you to the organisers!!!!!!!!!

In full: First time I have entered this particular half and I must say what a fantastic race it is. Excellent parking, more than ample loos, excellent organisation. A big thank you to the people of swindon for their support on such a miserable day, weatherwise that is! Excellent value for money!!!!!!!

    

Review by: Lee Tucker

In short: Well organised.

In full: Good parking, well organised, nothing to get in the way of just running. Good support, feeding station etc. Faultless

     

Review by: Shaun Carpenter

In short: Excellent Route

In full: Excellent race, good routes, shame about the rain, see you next year. Nice t-shirt and medal.

    

Review by: Stray Celt

In short: Swindonia has a few hills to make it a bit more of a challenge

In full: Well organised, great support under the circumstances. Plenty of marshalls/water/aid stations. Course a tad tight in places, especially 7-9 miles. Well organised at the start and finish, adequate loos, good parking, good on-site activity. Bananas, curly wurlys, water and lucozade at the end, quality medal, naffish t-shirt but can't fault it for vfm and will be back.

   

Review by: Nick Matthews

In short: One of the best organised halfs in the country.

In full: I have run Swindon for the last 5 years. Every year the event is better organised. Bigger races like Bristol and Bath could learn a lot from the swindon Team. Well done swindon
      

Review by: jeanser

In full: I've been doing this race for the last 4 years and it's never rained, but at least it wasn't windy. I think the atmosphere is getting better every year, and what great spectators staying out in that rain, goody bag could be a bit better not even a bar of chocolate. well done Swindon
        

Review by: Mud Snorkeller

In short: Great fun; very well organised; hills hurt less than I remember.

In full: It's all been said below: very well organised; well marked; big thanks to supporters and marshalls who came out in dreadful weather; would be scenic but for rain and cloud!

Wasn't looking forward to the hills I remembered from 2 years ago, but didn't seem too bad this year. Either better training (unlikely) or the details lost in battling the constant rain - which I can't complain about as I got a PB. Well done Swindon; I'll be back.
    

Review by: Simon boast

In short: Another excently organised run

In full: The organisation is second to none and this is an excellent run. Even with the wet weather there was a lot of support on the course. Thanks to the organisers and marshals Just one improvement suggestion would be smaller water bottles
       

Review by: Barry B

In short: Second time and enjoyed it.

In full: A good well organised half marathon thru' the countryside around Swindon, a few hills but nothing too tough. I enjoyed the weather and preferred it to last year's warm day. Be back next year.

       

Review by: Slowginger

In short: Some interesting hills, but well worth doing.

In full: A great run that takes you out into the countryside - with some reasonable hills. Shame about the weather, very wet! Looking forward to doing it again next year.
        

Review by: George C

In short: A good race to do. Quite hilly, up's and down's. Worth doing. Got 1.32, just 3 minutes short of PB!

           

Review by: Addil Ghafar

In short: Very well organised - will be back next year.

In full: I signed up to this tentativley - being slightly worried about the much talked about dreaded hills, but the atmosphere was such that you didn't really notice it. Good atmosphere with some great support along the way (despite the horrendous weather). Very well organised kit tents/starting etc etc. Relatively good goodie bag at the end with a nice free t-shirt. Could have done with foil at the end to wrap up in, considering the awful weather. Looking forward to next year.
              

Review by: kim bishop 2

In short: A tough course with long hills specially the ones at the end. Ouch
        

Review by: Puffin1

In short: A great race that would have had wonderful scenery if it were not for the rain and low cloud this year.

In full: Rather hilly so it's not going to be a PB race. However, it is well organised and a lovely route that mainly takes you out of town and over the hills to the south of Swindon, the hill up to mile 12 is tough but other than that it has enough hills to make it interesting. Large enough to have excellent crowd support throughout most, and I'm sure if the weather had been kinder then there would have been more around the rural parts today. Very well organised with ample free parking and no waiting around at the end and enough loos no to have to queue. I'll be there next year!!

          

Review by: John Brant

In full: It was my first ever fun run and I loved it (5 miles). But well done anyway on a great event. Here's hoping for better weather next year.

           

Review by: Steve West

In full: Best one ever (except for the weather). Seemed to be more going on at the start and along the route. Very well organised with tremendous marshals and first aiders. Best time ever. I will be back next year!

     

Review by: David Smith

In full: You asked for feedback on the swindon half marathon. I thought it was a really well organised event. I did not run a pb but despite the continuous drenching rain I enjoyed it immensely. The route was surprisingly lovely around some pretty villages and rural land. It was well marked and marshalled, and the drinks stations were where I wanted them to be! I will be back again and hopefully might try to shave a few minutes off my time. Thanks to the people of swindon for a warm welcome as I plodded by! And thanks to the organisers for a memorable run.
          

Review by: Ray Burcham

In short: Just like to say what an excellent, well organised event this is.

In full: Fifth or sixth time I have completed it - each time I am struck by how it is by far the best organised and one of the most friendly events I have entered - far, far better than Reading, Bath or indeed any of the other 15 courses. OK it's hilly - but the organisation and the scenery more than make up for it. Not sure I would want it too be much bigger - many more people might bring logistical problems.

Thanks again. Almost worth living in Swindon for! (I can say that having lived there for 30 yrs)

       

Review by: Ian Larrard

In full: Just a quick note to say thank you from the running fraternity in Swindon (if I can speak for them) for the massive effort the team put in to make yesterday’s races fantastic. I know the amount of hard work that everybody puts in and equally I know that many of the runners also appreciate that, and don’t just take it for granted. Only heard great things from runners and interestingly with it not being hot there seemed to be fewer little niggles than for example last year. Heard lots about race on BBC Wiltshire Radio this morning and Swindon Advertiser coverage is great.