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On 9 Oct 2000, David Missen, from Morgan Cole wrote:
For Morgan Cole it was their Maiden Voyage around Windsor Park in the Building Industry Half Marathon and apprehension was running high for at least half of the team. Comprising some seasoned pro's, some part-timers and some total freshman, our cunning ploy was to confuse the rest of the field, we think! The 3-hour coach journey starting out at 8am from Cardiff on a misty Sunday morning was not ideal race preparation, but then neither was 4 months of late boozy nights. Apparently lager is the ideal energy drink!

Once at Windsor, the team made the 5-mile hike from the coach park to the competitor's village and started to soak up the unique atmosphere of the day. With jokes about Vaseline, Baggy Running Vests, Austin Powers Chest's and nipple plasters, Morgan Cole weren't about to take themselves too seriously.

The starting pistol echoed around Windsor Park and within a flash the likes of Paul Millar, Mike Orton and Allan Wilson were gone, using Olympic inspiration from the previous week. Bringing up the rear was experienced Hugh Price, Jenni Howard and Sarah Davies with 1st timers Marc Evans, Geraint Fowler and Dave Missen. For the 1st timers it was more a question of survival and a look back at all those training hours spent in the pub. Windsor Park is an absolutely beautiful venue for a half marathon and if it hadn't been for all those hills, I just might have looked back on it with fond memories.

Paul Millar had already passed all the significant landmarks way before we had chance to witness such delights. Paul clocked a time of 1 hour 13 minutes narrowly missing out on a prize position, finishing 7th. Mike Orton ran a fantastic time of 1 hour 23 minutes completing in 44th place. Allan Wilson also ran well to finish in 1 hour 44 minutes finishing 632nd.

It was Hugh's motivational words such as "not long to go" at the 7 mile marker and "just look at the view" when Geraint and myself were more concerned about the position of the St John's Ambulance. "The Wall" hit at 11.5 miles and by then my muscles felt like lead, Hugh's response to this was to up the pace in order to finish in under 2 hours. The finishing line was like a desert mirage and took a lot longer to reach than I expected. Marc Evans had crossed it just in front of us at 1 hour 57 minutes and Hugh and I came in together at almost 1 hour 59 minutes. Geraint dipped in behind us at just over 2 hours carrying an ankle injury for the whole race. Sarah Jane Davies and Jenni Howard were both not far behind with a 2 hours 5 minutes and a 2 hours 7 minutes.

We were welcomed back by our hospitality crew with open arms and cans of Guinness. We ceremoniously tore off our nipple plasters and congratulated each other on a very good race for all. The biggest surprise of the day was the fact that we came 2nd in the Business Category, an achievement none of us had set out to conquer. We boarded the bus knowing that expectation was now upon us and that we would have to come back and try to win it next year!

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On 9 Oct 2000, Ian Johnson wrote:
I would like to thank all the organisers and helpers for a great day - in particular, I was very impressed with the smooth running of the event (pardon the pun!). Many thanks are also due to the cadets and the spectators dotted around the course. It's only down to their encouragement that keeps us runners going at times.

It's the first time I have run the Windsor Half Marathon, though I know the area well having been born only a mile away in Old Windsor - the Great Park was my playground as a kid. One thing I had forgotten was how hilly the area is, though the course probably seemed steeper after having just run 7 miles or so.

I disagree with some of the 'critics' suggesting the course should be widened at the start. For one - I doubt if the Queen would welcome the Long Walk being tinkered with. And two - it serves a great purpose for the majority of the fun runners in that it prevents them from setting off too quickly at the start.

Keep up the good work - I'll definitely be returning next year to see if I can better my time.

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On 9 Oct 2000, Julia Dean, from Bath, wrote:
Best bit was the number of loos and seeing the men queueing rather than the women!

On 5 Oct 2000, Mark Gladwell wrote:
This was my first half marathon and was done for utterly selfish reasons!

This June I had an operation to remove prostate cancer and am now free of the disease. This run was a statement to prove to myself and others that I am now 100% fit and healthy. My thanks to all the organisers and helpers, especially the young cadets whose encouragement at points around the route was very welcome.

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On 5 Oct 2000, Simon Hewitt wrote:
Thanks for a great day. This was my first 1/2 marathon, and only my second competitive running event, and was a great introduction with a beautiful course and friendly organisation. Some possible improvements, echoing from other reviews:

1. Wider start area please, I spent the first 3 miles or so overtaking, often on the grass.
2. Bottles at drink stations would be nice, but I appreciate they may cost more. However the sponges were great.
3. Extra drink station would be good, I was quite thirsty at times.

But overall excellent. The hills add a bit of variety! I will definitely be back, and maybe try to organise a company team. Thanks again.

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On 5 Oct 2000, Stella Dalrymple wrote:
I ran the first half marathon in 1997, and then I really enjoyed it and made a promise to myself that this will always be a yearly event in my calendar. Although I do forget how hilly the course is, but still this is what makes Windsor very interesting and challenging.

I was really impressed with this year's organisation in regard to the car parking, the Medal was much appreciative as I was able to wear it round my neck with great pleasure as a sign of my achievement than the ceramic coaster which has been given out in the past.

Congratulations to the organising team for another superb and successful Windsor Half Marathon and also thank you to all the spectators who helped motivate the runners with their cheering.

See you all again next year.

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On 5 Oct 2000, Melanie Cooper wrote:
Thank you for a great day - although my body has only just recovered!

This is the second Windsor half marathon that I have done, the previous, 2 years ago and what an improvement, this time I was a lot fitter and had actually trained for this race, the Marshall's around the course were cheery and were very encouraging especially to the tail-enders and a medal at the end made me feel like I had actually achieved something.

Although I had a great time, I agree with others, that more drinking stations are required for the slower runners, but when I reached the 7.5 and 10 mile stations they had run out of sponges and cups looked limited (and looking at the results there were still another 1000 runner behind me).

Another point was that things of interest seemed very limited to those supporters and family that came along, 20 minute queues for children's rides and food and the queues for toilets I've been told, weren't much better, meant that children became bored and fewer supporters came along, would it not be an idea to add a few stalls and rides to encourage more people to watch the race?

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On 5 Oct 2000, Tamsin Gilbert wrote:
I wanted to express my thanks to the ATC who were dotted along the course. Some of them were very cheery and motivating, even forcing a smile out of the most hardened runners!

They really kept me going and made me laugh.

There were also some keen young children who were collecting the used sponges from the side of the track and handing them out to unsuspecting runners coming behind!

Very resourceful, but I politely declined their offers!

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On 5 Oct 2000, Billy Quinn wrote:
I would like to thank all of the organising committee for another outstanding race, having taken part for 10 years it gets better with every year; as a past organiser I know the time and effort that goes into making the day a success, so keep up the great work.

The obvious difference this year after the race was the smiles that were on everyones faces - people were really enjoying themselves - what a difference good weather make to the day.

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On 4 Oct 2000, Simon Rimmer wrote:
This is always on my calendar to run the Windsor half marathon the first Sunday of October. I have completed 12 of these Windsor halves and I can tell you, they don't get any easier. I would have done 17 but I lived near Toronto, Canada for the 1992-1997 races. Only one person I know has done 18 out of 19 possible.

Each year it's nice to see things different for the good, but this year I missed the free Mars bar which I have had on and off in past Windsors. Apart from the warm weather, I was able to break a personal best but only by 3 seconds thanks to joining the Datchet Dashers - I was determined to break my record for Windsor going back to 1984 and I did it!

Apart from the weather and the hills - there is not much you can do about that - I agree to a suggestion that another drink station should be provided say at the 2.5, 5, 7.5 and the 10 meaning that the one at the 5 mile mark is missing.

Great day and please keep it up.

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On 3 Oct 2000, Sheila Doel wrote:
At the grand old age of 54, I participated in my first half marathon. I had trained but only once run 10 miles and was pretty tired after that effort. I was not sure I could complete the course but I was running for the Sargent Cancer Care for Children charity, so had a good incentive.

I was very impressed with the organisation of the event and even the weather co-operated. I could have done with fewer hills, however! I was doing fine until the hill up to the 10-mile drink station and it was tough from there on. From the time I crossed the start line, it took me 2hrs 15 min, which wasn't too bad for a first attempt. Amazingly, I felt fine the next day, just being aware of the muscles at the top of my legs. I shall be out running again tonight!

Thanks for a good experience. I look forward to trying to better my time.

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On 3 Oct 2000, Charlie Bamford wrote:
I ran in the half marathon and had a very enjoyable day. I am quite an experienced runner and I was surprised at how few water stations there were. This was particularly concerning because there were so many relatively inexperienced runners. Bottles of water provide a far better supply of fluids than the cups which generally spill everywhere.

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On 3 Oct 2000, Sarah Bray, of Foundation Personal Training wrote:
Thanks for a great event on Sunday. As a personal training company in the area it set out to be quite a challenge for some of our customers, but with 6 of them running and completing the course aided by their personal trainers (who ran as well) a lot of personal goals and challenges were broken.

Keep putting on a good show and I'm sure our clients will continue to participate for many years to come.

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On 3 Oct 2000, Nigel Payne wrote:
I live locally to Windsor, work in Egham and often take this part of the country for granted.

It has beautiful scenery and I saw the Great Windsor Park in a different light on Sunday. This was my second half marathon, my first being Bracknell 2000, to help me lose weight!

This race, was more of a challenge for me. I saw it as a bigger event, hilly and potentially more competitive. I broke my Personal Best by 14 minutes... now I am having a rest.

To all the people and companies that organised this year's event, to those people who raised monies for the charities and good causes, for those that competed and for all the family and friends that helped motivate us round the course... a massive, heart-felt... THANK-YOU...

Thanks for a fantastic day out. A wonderful family atmosphere.

See you next year.

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On 3 Oct 2000, Rob McPherson wrote:
Overall, the event was well run, but based on my experience in North America, there are a couple of material improvements that could be made:

• increase the width of the course, especially at the outset - you tried to squeeze 3000-odd runners into a path the width of a one lane road - in Toronto, the half marathon route was at least 4 lanes wide - that means no getting stuck behind 2 1/2 hour pace runners and having to risk injury running on wet grass.
  
  
• invest time in getting companies to sponsor post-race food for the runners - Power Bar, Gatorade/Powerade, Delmonte bananas, etc are all items desperately needed by the runners, who either got water only or tried to find money (who carries money??) to buy a "Bacon on a Bun". Runners are a great demographic (usually higher income, plus an efficient way for sports product companies to get their products to their target).
  
  If you don't want sponsors their with free food, why not have a survival pack ready at the end of the race - you prepay £5 and get a special runners bib and pick up your pack (say it costs you nothing or minimal to get the products supplied) at the end of the race (just mark the bib when you give it out, so people don't come back up twice). You'd sell a ton of them and maybe make even more money.

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On 3 Oct 2000, Pete Rogers wrote:
Had a fantastic day, the course was perfect and amazingly the weather was spot on as well. Many thanks to all involved. I look forward to next year's event. Actually the only criticism was why wasn't there any Mars Bars/Bananas, some food, at the finish.

On 2 Oct 2000, Lisa Purkiss wrote:
Yesterday I ran the windsor half for the 3rd time and have to say it was my most enjoyable. I also recorded a personal best for a half marathon which I am very chuffed about as the course is so hilly. The weather was perfect and the organisation was superb. I am looking forward to next year's event and hope to do even better.
P.S. The legs are sore but I feel great!

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On 2 Oct 2000, N. Joss wrote:
Overall a superb event. Great place for a run and in virtually every respect, excellent organisation. The atmosphere before the race marked the Windsor as a quality event. However two criticisms which I heard echoed by others:

1. The volume of runners in the first three miles made it very difficult to see the mile markers and in the hot opening miles this had adverse consequences for race plans.
   
   
2. The distances between drink stations were too great particularly when the weather is as warm as it was on Sunday.

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On 2 Oct 2000, Craig Beaumont wrote:
For me, Sunday was a day of 'firsts'. The first time I had been to Windsor, the first time I had been to a marathon event and the first time I had run further than 2 miles!

I came as a member of British Military Fitness, although I am involved in the Construction Industry through my job as Assistant Director of the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACE).

The day began poorly, stuck in traffic and getting a flat tyre in our Military Fitness minibus. We were a full 3 minutes behind the leaders when we all passed the starting line; the weather was nigh-on perfect, although it got a bit too cold and windy for my liking towards the end!! The water-drenched sponges were a huge relief, and I began to depend on seeing the Nike Mile Markers to keep running - "only 3 miles to go...".

I had no idea the course would so hilly, but that suited me. In the end, I managed to complete the course in a respectable 2 hours and 10 minutes, before nabbing my medal and collapsing in a heap. After the race, we helped empty the events' supply of lager before heading off to spend an evening around pubs in Windsor. I had great fun, it was a cool way to spend a Sunday, but today my legs have stiffened up and refuse to obey instructions from my brain so I'm not sure I'll be able to do it again... at least, until next year...

On 1 Oct 2000, Paul Jenkins wrote:
I thoroughly enjoyed the race day and thought the organisation throughout was superb.

Many thanks for an enjoyable day

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