Run to the Beat - London's Music Half Marathon 26th September 2010 ...

As at 14th February 2011 I did not receive a reply  to the email OR letter. This years Run To The Beat details still have NOT been announced. Is there a reason for this? or like me were there thousands of very unhappy people ?? It just seems very uncanny and there has to be a reason for this surely?......

Dear Sir Madam,

I'm really sorry but I feel I must offer my feedback on this event as yesterday I took part in my 3rd run to the beat 1/2 marathon. For me it's a local race and part of the course is on the roads that I train on. Considering my location I feel this event is a must for me.

As you know and rather unfortunately for the second time in three years that start of a race has been delayed? !! And with the stewards making this decision on Sunday at 09:00 means everyone who was there from 08:00ish for a 09:45 start have to stand around in the cold for a further hour and a half to warm up for longer and consume more fluids all before the start of the race. This obviously is very awkward because now we are unable to retrieve our bags from the baggage area which contained all important warm clothes and drinking bottles. Thankfully we could get a foil blanket from Asics... It helped but no way ideal.

I agree I don't know the complete situation but as a runner I find it unfair and annoying when out of all the races I've participated in "this" is the only race that gets delayed! Could the race positions not be decided as all runners are chipped and after the race, could results be adjusted on a chip time basis and so the race could go ahead as planned? If the tube will be a problem every year then it must make sense you will have to consider and liaise with the local authorities closing roads and having the race start at a later starting time?

Three years Run To The Beat has been running and I honestly feel this event is not learning from past races. The first year race delayed and baggage area was a shambles upon collection with everyone dripping wet. To those of us may remember in the first year how it was a big thing that this race was to be televised. It never made it onto any TV with a half hearted excuse as to why not? This I felt was a broken promise just to get people interested in your event? Your second year hosting this event I feel was your best year having learnt from your first year, as it ran so much more smoothly! You had Facebook updates daily! Involving more and more people as Facebook and now twitter seem to be the in thing now for communication but this year there was only a handful of updates, probably in the last week only before the event?

This year which I thought would be your best event yet as I told my doubting friends it would be, but alas:- Hardly any stalls / companies offering services A delayed race.

Regardless of predicted finish time, no checks appeared to be carried out on entry's to pens in regards to runners numbers. Even though most people were wrapped in foil I had hoped a steward would still direct runners to their allocated pens rather than runners skipping a few pens so they can run with their friends? Holding anyone up behind them

After the race a we received the usual but rather nice medal, no race goody bag..... But rather strangely you opted for a HELP YOURSELF!!! area of shower gel and oat bars...... problem here is the people who finished first... collected their large asics kit bag then promptly turned around stuffing boxes of the shower gels/oat bars deep pockets full and bags full of this to take home. So I suspect the slower runners who came staggering across the line had very little to choose from as it was whisked away earlier by the faster runners. I'm sure there is a fine line between staging an event and offering runners rewards for their achievements but this is what runners want! Not many of us are bordering on elite status to claim prize money but an appropriate goody bag is often our rewards and one that *is* appreciated. I assure you afterwards runners will talk and this will encourage more people to return if you could supply this?  as 17,000 had entered this race shows we all have an interest in common, 'running' I'm sure here you rely on sponsors to be generous enough to donate goods or leaflets of special offers but if some of it could be of interest to runners I'm sure would be good business.

I entered so long ago for the 2010 race but im sure my entry fee has increased from previous years to £35.... for this, a poorly organised event? When considering the marathon, double the distance with better organisation or Bluewater 10K's shorter event but rewards runners with a huge goody bag. In this day and age I can't see your fee's being value for money or too appealing soon if through word of mouth, runners cant see an attraction to spending months training preparing for their one day of glory putting all there hard work together in one day with nothing in return for their efforts.

Yesterday I looked on the runners world forum and  only 27% said they "would" run this race again... That really is disappointingly low as it should be London's best event especially as training for it can take place in the summer months. This event I feel will soon appeal to newbie's only and not a mixture. I finished the race in 1hr 36 and the club runners I spoke to at the finish swore they would not do this event again! Which I think is really disappointing to hear but I can see why they felt like this? We all do expect more from an event, delaying a race ruining pre race preperation warmup being the biggest issue.

I have looked on your Facebook page and other forums who ran this 1/2 marathon the first time , really loved the experience! For me, my 3rd race here and its appears to be getting worse I'm really sorry to say. Soon I believe you have a selection of good runners you've asked to run for you as an attraction(?), a selection of new runners wanting experience their first half marathon and runners raising money for charity. I'm sure that will easily fill your 17,00 spaces if that makes business sense and it works for you then you have no need to change nothing but as I have said I have run in all three of your events and I am only pointing out what I have noticed comparing it to other races and events

Kind Regards