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Race Reviews |
Did you run the Newtons Fraction 2010 ?
Let us have your comments about the race - good or bad - we are listening
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Sunday 7/3/2010
| Dear Race Director and Team Thank you very much for a most enjoyable day at the Newton’s Fraction half marathon yesterday. It was a much improved race compared to last year. Plenty of marshals, a lovely clean burger/bacon bun wagon, hot showers and the finish line organisation was superb. I particularly enjoyed the peace and quiet for a few short minutes directly after the race, before crossing the track to return to the melee of supporters and noise. The hot showers were also appreciated; it seemed odd that so many people did not bother to stay afterwards. My club mates and I all showered and then went up to the bar area to warm up and eat before the drive home. Once again many thanks for a great race. Kym Wheeler Corby AC (Transcript from card received - Thanks Kym. ed) Survey respondents 1. Keep up the excellent work - one of the best races I have done. Wed, Mar 10, 2010 8:54 PM Find... Thanks from the toonies for such a well organised race, we all enjoyed the day, even if you will not switch the course allowing me to go down Casthorpe and woolsthorpe hills instead of struggling up them.
Any how well done pass on our congratulations to the rest of the organising team, marshals and drinks station attendents all were excellent. Get a clock next time that you dont have to wind up, that way it may still be going when I cross the finish line. Thanks for the email. Great event – really enjoyed it as a pre-London workout. Will
definitely be back next year
Everyone at Isaac Newton Primary had a fabulous morning on Sunday at the Fun Run. There was
a lovely atmosphere. The event really was superbly organized. Please pass on our thanks to
everyone at GAC. Cheers for the top tip of the pub lunch and ensuring that the mens and
womens showers were still ok for after our extra run.
Hi Thank you for the organization on the half marathon. really enjoyed it. The marshals
were friendly and gave loads of encouragement. The course, though challenging, was very
good, and the weather was ideal. |
| I think i saw a request for
feedback on the race. My biggest message is thankyou! particularly to
the Vaughan Roberts, Bourne Town Harriers |
| To all at Grantham AC.
Had a very good day - 8 minutes off my PB so clearly haven't been
trying hard enough previously! Thanks for your hard work, much
appreciated.
Steve Marshall, Wittering |
| Just to say that I really enjoyed the race
and I shall be back next year. Well done on the organisation. I have
completed feedback to that effect for Runner's World.
Mandy Connor ( |
|
It’s a good well organised run. Thankyou to the marshalls, organisers and all the other bodies involved. Nice to run into a stadium it makes you all feel like winners. Thanks again Mick bird/tony foreman |
|
hi! well
where do I start? I thought the price of the race was excellent compared
to some (nottm half). the route
its self was well planned the only thing I didn't like was the canal for
overtaking not that anyone really held me up. when the NEWTON FRACTION
RACE becomes popular it might be a different story. the
little messages on the side of the road on the hills made me laugh( who
said Mr Chris Aikman, redhill road runner |
|
Please thank all concerned for great race your club ran on Sun. Well marshalled, signed etc.I have no negative comments at all and realy enjoyed the run. One I will do again. P.S I especialy liked the 'extra' signs ,very enjoyable and had I not been struggling for breath on the hill would have had a laugh. Andy Gledhill |
| It was my first time in many
years to run a half marathon, I'm pleased I chose the NEWTONS FRACTION,
easy to find and very well organised. The start/finish venue, a sports
stadium, with a lap and a half at the end to run (never mind
the tiredness, when your name's called out as you 'stagger' past the
grandstand you feel like an Olympic runner) is heart bursting! The
course itself , maybe due to the strong wind on the day, was tough but
very well marshalled, with mile markers and plenty of friendly
drinks stations. The two hills the organisers said were 'lovely'' at 6
and 10 miles were 'challenging' to say the least, but overall, if I'm
still alive next year, I'll be back to give it another go. Thanks to
everyone for a great time. from
david appleyard, messingham |
| I was the last one in really enjoyed it scenery
beautiful will do it next year, thank you to everybody involved great
day.
Jane Lammiman Mablethorpe Running club |
| Many thanks for your mail. Thanks also to
all the marshals and other organisers for making the event possible –
a few people (T-shirt distributor, for example) thanked me for
participating, but I really feel that the thanks should go to the
organising team for making the event possible. Your web site is
really good and the results up very quickly. Î did the first half
marathon back in 87 (some 12 minutes quicker then, I’m sorry to say)
and I have to say that the course for the last three years is
significantly more enjoyable than the route back then and must attract
many more runners. It was a great day – thanks again. If only I
could stop my times spiralling upwards, I would be completely happy!
Regards
Simon Nicholls |
| Good morning, Would like to
congratulate you on a well run event yesterday. Tough testing course, as
mention on the signs definitely not PB potential, but very scenic and
not in the least dull. Great marshals and organisation at the start and
finish. Thoroughly enjoyed by all those who entered from Cleethorpes AC.
Thanks again,
James Woodhouse. |
|
I really enjoyed it the two hills were a bit nasty but made it more of a challenge! My time was only just over a minute slower than my best! The lap and a half on the track at the end was fun. Also the queue for the t-shirt was good as you got the size you required. Will do it again. David
Smith, |
| Just a note on behalf of the small group from
Werrington Joggers who ran to-day to thank you and all your team for an
excellent event. We know these things take a huge amount of organising
and an awful lot of peoples time, which is given freely so that others
can enjoy the event, therefore please do thank every one concerned.
Despite your concerns that its not a PB course and the two big hills
slow even the fastest down, a couple of our runners did record PB's,
although they were to be fair only running their 2nd and 3rd half
marathons. We also had four runners who ran between 7 and 10
miles immediately before the race and then the race itself and still
record excellent times, as part of their marathon training, so we will
have lot of smiling faces at the club on Tuesday. I hesitate to make
specific comments about the event, but the following would be my
personal observations; I thought running along the tow path was lovely,
easily the best bit, therefore to save it until later would it be worth
thing about running the route the other way round? It would also get the
second hill out of the way early on!! I really wouldn't bother with
goody bags, the time it takes to make them up (I know I've done it!!) is
just not worth it. If you have a chocolate bar or flavoured water bottle
for everyone, just hand them out to runners as they finish straight from
the box. The T shirts are nice, but why not let people collect them
before the run, just mark the number with a cross, it would save that
very long queue of people waiting to collect them (It was all good
natured though, lots of chat as we waited and the lady doing them was so
kind thanking US for coming - please thank her for giving up her Sunday
for us!!). Also just after we left the tow path we ran along a road on
the left hand side into a village, before turning left up the first
hill. There was no path on our side but on the other side there was, I
suspect from a risk point of view we should have been on it!! All minor
points and they shouldn't deflect from an excellent little event, I'm
sure you would like it to grow but personally the "smallness"
made it so friendly - and I will always love finishing on a track, that
alone gives you a real lift, running in front of the main stand. Thanks
again - great run
Tim Cook, Chairman Werrington Joggers |
| A good event and you didn’t fib about the
hills! Thanks to all your helpers along the route, they
certainly gave encouragement when needed and I hope they didn’t
get too wet and cold.
Sally Cox, Lincoln |
| I just wanted to say thank
you for putting on such a good race on yesterday at Grantham - it was
the first time I had done it. It was very well organised, rewarding (got
a really good PB!) and I would thoroughly recommend it to everyone.
Matt Storey |
| I must say we thoroughly enjoyed the course, even
the challenging hills, and will be back next year. A
great event, thank you to all.
Julie Wargent |
| My first encounter with the Gary Norman, Thorney Running Club. |
| Many thanks for the updates/email. I must say
this was a very nice course. I was the chap running with the MDS gear
on, so I did achieve a pb for a half marathon with weight
on! Will definitely have this one on the calendar next year though I'll
have lost the backpack me thinks!!!
An excellent job, well done.
Many Thanks
Craig |
| An excellent run in all respects - it was no
fault of yours as there were plenty of signs out, but one of our runners
did almost get hit by a car on the second hill and sprained an ankle as
he stepped on to the grass verge. The marshals/helpers were especially friendly and
kind - sorry my plastic cups kept missing the bags! I will
certainly recommend it to the rest of the club for next year.
Geoff Howes, Thorney Running Club near |
| Many thanks for this results
service; prompt and efficient, as was virtually everything connected
with the event. You say this is not a PB course, yet I managed to
achieve mine - by over 5 minutes! (Having previously only done the Leeds
half on 3 occasions - mind you, I'm taking it all more seriously now, in
preparation for Malcolm Johnson. |
| I really enjoyed the Charles Knight, West Bridgford, |
| Hi, I'd
like to thank you all for a great half marathon. It was my first
time on the course, and it was a nice challenging run (it brought back
memories of school cross-country runs around the town from years ago)!
The marshalling was excellent and a great finish in the stadium.
And thanks for those additional hill signs - I needed something to laugh
about! All in all a good, efficiently organised event, but I have
two minor niggles - the lack of bag storage wasn't ideal for someone who
had no vehicle to store it in during the race, and the queue for the
T-shirts at the end was a slightly frustrating end to an otherwise
excellent event. See you next year.
Stuart Soltysiak |
|
Fantastic event well done to all. I was really impressed with the amount of water stops on the course and the marshals, it is an idea build up race for FLM. Please let me know if you have any spare ‘L’ T-Shirts as I was an entry on the day, I will pay for P&P if required the medium is a little too small. Please pass on my thanks to all. Mark Harney, |
| Great venue,
marshalling, route. Definitely back next year , a few scores to settle
with the hills! Thanks
Tony Millett, Norwich Road Runners |
| Thanks for a great race, really well
organised apart from the lack of a system at the first drink
station on the canal, & only having a solo T-shirt distributor
at the end of the race, luckily standing was inside but I did hear moans
about the waiting time, these are only minor points which certainly
didn't effect my overall enjoyment of the event. Really liked the signs
on the hills, which made me smile rather than grimace, first rate
marshalling & signs. I
was also impressed with registration, the pre event & follow up
emails, everyone should be very proud.
I’ll be back to tackle the course again next year, but can
someone ensure the wind machine is turned off!!!
Well Done!!
Sarah Priestley, EVRC |
| Ran the Grantham 1/2 Ian McCrae, Werrington Joggers |
| Thanks for organising a good marathon yesterday -
I thought that the marshalling and water stations were very well done
and the signing especially up the hills was brill - who did say that
Lincs was flat??! As this was only my 2nd half marathon I actually did a
PB taking off 6 minutes from the previous 1!! Just one thing you might
consider changing - what about ordering nicer weather for next year?!
Anne McCrae, Werrington Joggers |
| Hi all, I would like to pass on my thanks to all who helped out on Sunday. Was one of the best marshalled races I have ever participated in and the route itself was very enjoyable, albeit a bit hilly. Loved the signs dotted about around the course, someone has a sense of humour! All in all a brilliant race and I will definitely be back in the near future to do it again. Aaron Scott, Woodbridge Shufflers |
| Hi Just to say that I enjoyed the race. I had the impression that you were maybe a bit short of marshalls (no marshall on the turn up to the hill towards Belvoir castle; Ted Butcher, the race referee telling runners to keep to the outside when going on to the track), but from the runner's point of view, it was not a major problem. Loved the hills - is Grantham AC twinned with Kym Wheeler, Corby AC |
| Thanks
for all the info. Really very impressed with the marshalling and an
impeccable job with the organisation overall - can you pass on thanks to
all concerned. Particularly enjoyed the roadside signs: especially as I
did manage to get a PB - I knocked 15 minutes off! I'll leave you some
feedback on Runner's World. I really have no idea what happened to me,
except I enjoyed the course very much :-)
|
| Hi Please pass on my
thanks to everyone that helped out yesterday, it was a vey well
organised event and some of the bigger events could learn a thing or two
from yours. It is the first time I've run the Claire Close, Wetherby |
| well done, lots of
hard work has gone into this. Grab a beer and relax now!! Hopefully
see you in years to come!
Matt Ilse |
| An overall great
day, congrats to all the helpers and enthusiastic support - I will do it
again to improve my time. Could the T - Shirt be put in the goody bag to
avoid the cues, or given out at the start of the race. I personally
would have liked a final drink station at 11 miles. Regards
Mark Tucker, Grantham AC |
|
Hi Having completed the Newtons Fraction Half Marathon for the first time today, I would lke to give a big thanks to Grantham AC and everyone involved in organising and staging this race. A great deal of time and effort has gone into this event and I will certainly try to do it again. A superb venue, refreshments, showers, excellent facilities for spectators. Very well marshalled, well signed, lots of drinks stations - good entry and results facilities. A very acceptable goody bag and attractive tee shirt - good value for money. The course is challenging with 2 tough 12% gradients at 6miles and 10miles but these make the course interesting as well as the stretch on the canal bank. A great race. M Casey |
| Nice gentle run in
the country it ain't , some nice hills to test you legs with long
straights to test the stamina. Great finish on the track to pick you up
at the end. Still managed to PB for two years running so it's not that
hard.
Alan Godbold, Loughton |
| HELLOOOOOOO very
well organised right from getting into the stadium to finishing the run,
my only down point would be that on a worse day with either heavy wind
or rain maybe a marquee on the pitch to keep people warm and seated, i
guess a minor point and too big a point to cover it... also for next
year could you stop the wind and the rain!! plus lowering the hills...
Andy Hall, Werrington Joggers |
| Thanks for your
email. One gripe from today - don't remember it being as bad last
year .... huge queues to get the t-shirt .... I was cold and tired and
shivering and the last thing I wanted was to queue for 20 mins or so to
get my t-shirt. Surely you could have had more than one person
dishing them out? At least I had the chocolate bar to nibble on
.... otherwise, in spite of the hills, it's a good route and a run I
enjoy. See you next year ....
Elizabeth Dixon, Bourne |
| Thank you to all at
Grantham AC for organising and marshalling the run today…..it really
does help us slow ones at the back to get the cheery encouragement! I
particularly appreciated the whit who made the ‘Remember Lincolnshire
is flat’ sign. As a new runner this was my first event and my comments
are….. Easy to
register and pre-race info. good…..I particularly liked the email sent
out a few days before and for that matter today’s after the event.
Arriving on the day, as it was my first race, I did not really know what
to do or where to go…either a note in the pre-race info. or someone to
meet and greet would have been helpful for me As you ask….I was under
whelmed by the goodie bag…mine had a bottle of flavoured water and a
leaflet about joining Grantham AC…..now I expect that that is partly
my fault for taking quite so long to run the course! Love the
t-shirt’s quote! I was disappointed that there was no medal….I know
these things probably cost loads but it was such an achievement for me I
would have liked something to parade around to people….but again
that’s probably because I’m new to this game!
All in all a good event that I enjoyed…..well apart from those
hills! Thanks again for all the hard work put in.
Heidi Haxeltine, Stamford |
| My first running
race since junior school so my 1.49.33 is a PB. Very well organised out
on the course, well done the stewards. Signage and route clear,
appreciated the humour on the hill signs. The100 yard marker on the
final hill spurred me on to the top. Would have been nice to have just
done one lap in the stadium, instead of 600 metres. Brilliant place to
start and finish though some toilet facilities being out of order was a
let down. Could have organised the t-shirt distribution better, e.g.
could have been done on track with goodie bags, but that is a minor
thing. Overall a very positive experience and from my original intention
of this being a one off I may well be persuaded to do it again. Thanks
Martin Criddle |
| A
huge thanks for organising such a fantastic NF Half Marathon today. I've
run countless halfs over the past 20 years plus 16 full marathons. It
had everything...perfect marshalling, a challenging scenic course, and a
decent T-Shirt + goody bag! What more could a runner want? Even the
changeable weather conditions didn't dampen my enthusiasm during the
race. For me, this event ranks right up there with some of the more
famous and prestigous halfs such as the Great North Run and Hastings. Was so glad too I'd put in some quality hill training earlier in the month! I've taken today's race as a warm up to the Boston Marathon on 20 April( Brian Stevens |
| Could I please just
say a huge thank you to you and all the other assistants who helped to
make today such a great occasion. I thoroughly enjoyed the run and
the country side and could tell that you had all put in so much effort.
So once again, thank you so much to everybody. Best regards.
Matthew Kefford |
| Thanks for prompt
update! This race was tough but bloody brilliant! I have only just
started running the half marathon distance for fitness for london in
april and am well pleased to have knocked nearly 6 mins off my pb. (dispite
the hills! Whose idea was it to put a hill at ten mile point! You
burgers you! Many thanks
Tristan Weavers |
| Enjoyed my first
Newton Fraction half despite the wind & rate, ohhh and the two
killer hills! Good run with very friendly marshals. Really was well
organised event & everyone was in good spirits. Good ending in the
stadium especially with Chariots of Fire playing! Will be back next year
hopefully the weather will be more forgiving. Thanks
Matt Dale |
| Really enjoyed the
run your right no PB but very close, I loved the hills must be weird but
like a challenge, live in the wolds. Will be back next year without a
doubt, your marshalls were great and the finish was excellent. thanks
for a fun day out.
Phil Walter |