Serpie Planner - event reports
Gloucester 50k (25 Jan 2009)
poorly organised race that just about pulls it off, but you don't get much for the £25 entry. I understand it was much worse last year, with people accidentally doing extra laps and general confusion. The marathon is held at the same time and starts at 11am, then when the marathon runners catch up to where the ultra starts, the ultra gun goes off (9m38s into the marathon race - a bit odd). Then there are 4 laps of the country roads (3 for the marathon) along an undulating course which isn't too slow. And the finish is over a mile from the sports centre with the medals, T-shirt etc, so many people didn't end up with a medal and just left from the finish since the bags had been delivered there. A second time marathoner could have organised it better, so it's a bit disappointing that very experienced organisers make so many simple mistaken choices.
Recommended if you don't mind a bit of hassle and want to clock a 50k time. Not really recommended if you want to run the marathon since there are many others to choose from.
Report by Ian Sharman.