They ran out of medals due to over selling places on the day! Second year in a row, I do this race, finish within cut off times (this year under 7hrs) and not got a medal! They wrote my home address on a piece of paper and promised to send me a medal in a week’s time. Several messages and all I hear is “we will post it/ we posted it on the 7th June/ no response...20th June still no response! Complete ignorance! Not even a courtesy to set expectations! £125 per race, all the hard work and no medal....😡

I usually compete in Ironman branded races around the world but decided to do a local half iron race as a gap filler - this one looked ideal. 

There were warning signs from the beginning when I actually had to email the race organisers a week before the race asking for the event guide - which still hadn't been released. I didn't even know what the start time was! It was finally released 5 days before the event.

Registration was pretty simple but they were trying to charge £2/3 for parking on the saturday (registration day) for a registration (pack collection) process which took about 45 seconds. I was glad I parked in the public car park and didn't bother to get a ticket for those short few minutes!

On race morning I paid the £5 fee to park at the venue which was fine. Transition was a bit of a mess - no allocated racking so you just racked anywhere and there seemed to be no rules about what you could keep in transition. 

Down to the swim start and the male wave began. The female wave was due to start shortly afterwards (15 mins later) but as we started to get into the water they shouted at us to get out because there was no safety boat or kayaks. The two loop course which was long and narrow would mean that we would collide with the men at some point. So the officials just told us to wait until they could sort something out. No-one seemed to have a clue what was going on. 

I had timed a gel 10 mins before the start so this was a bit annoying. Rather than being advised a time, we were just repeatedly told to wait until further instruction. They then started moving us out of the way so the first men could exit. This was a very narrow river towpath so was a bit of a mess! We ended up waiting for at almost an hour before our start time - we had to wait until all the men were out of the water.

Once in the water, the swim was fine - until one of the safety kayakers shouted at me to move across to avoid collision with the slower swimmers who hadn't reached the turnaround point yet. I gradually swam across but apparently it was a bit too gradual as the kayaker actually hit me with his oar repeatedly. I had to pause my swim and put my head up to find out what the hell was going on. Very unprofessional - it wasn't exactly like I was off-course and I wasn't even close to colliding with the others.

Out of the swim and onto the bike. The bike course was three loops of a massive gradual climb and fast descent, but at certainy points on the course (open to traffic) there were no marshalls, such as at a couple of roundabouts. At the first roundabout I actually had to shout at a woman who crossed the road right in front of me. There were two marshalls nearby who were just sat on the floor completely disinterested. This made for a bit of a stressful race as you had to be on high alert to traffic and pedestrians the whole time due to the lack of marshalls (and their indifference).

The run was along the river towpath and being a sunday afternoon, was packed with people going for a nice sunday stroll. No marshalls, so people, dogs and children were getting in the way of runners which was more than a bit annoying. At the aid station (only one on the 5k course bar one in the transition area), I had to shout at the marshall to request water as they weren't prepared with cups some of the time.

At the finish, I was more than a little miffed at being handed a light rubbery/plastic medal. Bit of a joke when you've paid over £100 to race - and there was no goody bag or anything! I'm not quibbling over goody bags but generally when you are used to high quality races these things come as standard. There were also no age group prizes so despite coming 2nd in my AG, I didn't recieve anything for this.

Furthermore, when I went to collect my bike from transition, my wetsuit had been taken. I asked the person "manning" transition - who didn't look older than about 14 years old - and he just shrugged. So my wetsuit never turned up - the organisers said they hold responsibility over lost belongings.

All in all, not an experience I would be keen to repeat. It starkly highlighted why local races need to up their game when the organisation is as shoddy as this.

This event had it all!! A stunning location, the open space made for a family friendly event.  Catering facilities ensured your supporters were looked after.

Swimming in the same stretch of the river as some of the great Olympic rowers, cycling through the quaint countryside & running 4 X 5km laps offered supporting opportunities for family & friends. Support was received by locals & event organisers, along the course. This was a charming & challenging way to spend a Sunday morning. 

The organisation of the event was seamless, from registration to pre race meeting, during the event there seem to be an endless supply of water, encouragement & energy gels, post race refreshment, food & supportive faces to help you out. 

An early start but super easy to get to from London. Loads of space for parking onsite and plenty of room for our team tent! We prearranged to have space and were able to put up a team tent right on the run / finish shoot. Brilliant. F3 have been very accommodating (and were rewarded with cake later).

With team members in several events on the day it was great to have a base so central to proceedings. Registration was a doddle and very efficient. Sadly I couldn’t make the Saturday registration but was sorted quickly on Sunday morning.

The swim start was good and spacious. Not too much of the usual bumping and bashing but the 2 loop swim was more challenging. Turn buoys at each loop were busy and slowed the pace a lot. Also the water exit was a new challenge having to clamber up over the metal edge.

The bike leg is glorious. The road between Marlow and Henley a pothole challenge but I believe being resurfaced soon. The lovely Pishill was harder than I expected (especially on loop 3) but the decent from Bix to the turn a pleasure to ride. The drinks station was well manned and the marshal in Nettlebed was amazing at stopping the traffic, I didn’t have to stop once. The route back to Marlow was again challenging on road surface and the hill up just before Marlow took breathe away again.

Back to Transition and off on the run. The first 2km along the river bank is stoney quite rutted dried mud and was also busy with people walking but pleasant to run along – no fault of the organisers. Another 2km to the first water station was perhaps a bit too far as there was also water at the transition area less than 1km past this. 4 loops on the run in total in the sun was hard work but a 5km loop worked very well to see team members regularly.

Across the finish we were all named and cheered by many supporters.

Personally, not so sure about the rubber medal but that maybe that as a regular F3 eventer I am used to their usual metal medals that we love.

Overall rating 4 / 5 and the only issues were water stations and medals for me.

Definitely a race to recommend and I will be back in 2017.

https://pickupthepacepaul.wordpress.com/2016/07/31/fugitive-half-iron/

first half iron, and very happy with my selection. All pre registration was great.

This is a small event, so I was not sure what to expect. With all the IMUK posts going on I went to register nice nd early to enjoy the environment. Was a little surprised when it was over in a minute as you just got number, swim hat and one gel... Oh well at less than half the price of IM the thrills are not there.

so race day starts, racking was quick and easy, but 5 toilets was not enough. No worries I went in the bushes

Swim was great, very well organised and nice current. Was a little confusing at start as it was changed to two laps at the last minute rather than one.

when I got out of the water transition was easy and on to bike. We had to run across grass and loose gravel stones which was not ideal.

the bike WA great an out and back with 3  laps. The lap though was torture, a hill which make a box hill feel short, which lasted about 8 miles, but on the plus side we later had a fast down hill where I reached 40mph which for a novice cyclist I found fast. Bottles given out each lap to replace fluids so this was really good nd the high5 bottle made a nice goodie.

back to transition, over same gravel to get to racking, then 4 laps of a 5k route. Technically 1k short of the half iron distance, but nice route, trail run along the river predominantly.

at finish was something to eat and fizzy drinks, just what I needed, and a nice medal...

all round great day day out and great event that I would recommend.

its not an easy bike nor does it have the thrills, but if you are looking for an affordable half iron, which is well organised and friendly then you are in the right place.

This is the third time I have done the Marlow half and would recommend it to anyone looking for a race with a fast course(with a few challenges), relaxed atmosphere, good organisation and spectator and family friendly

Swim is in the Thames, half upstream and half down. Plenty of space and loads of kayaks/ribs for safety

The bike goes from Marlow out towards Henley and up Pishill, which is a longish drag rather than a sharp climb, and then speedily(close to 40mph) down through Bix for the turnaround where you do another 2 laps. Well marshalled and sigposted throughout.

Run is along the Thames path, which is off road for a mile or so, then onto tarmac for the rest of the run. A few small little uphill sections with a downhill all the way back to transition. A quick 4 lap run.

Excellent facilities at the finish; immediate printout of times and splits, plenty of water and recovery drinks, cafe.

A good race to bring the family along to; kids park and ice cream van nearby, 4 chances to see competitiors on the run.

Only criticism was the water station on the bike wasn't very well manned or signposted; they missed me all 3 times

I took part in the event last year, and thoroughly enjoyed it so 'came back for more' this year. Fantastic location, set in the heart of the bustling town of Marlow. Very friendly events crew, with a great atmosphere at Race HQ.

Swim - in the River Thames, well marked out by buoys, and great for spectators who can line the banks and watch competitors on the out and back course.

Bike - undulating, with three loops up and down Pishill - which is a long slog, but counterbalanced by a fast, smooth descent down from Nettlebed. I train a lot on this course, and love these roads.

Run -  four laps, along the banks of the Thames, up and through Race HQ. Combination of track and road surface. Well signposted, pretty surroundings and good support coming through the finish. 

Overall, would certainly recommend to any middle distance athlete - it's a friendly, well organised event with a great atmosphere. Especially suited to those who enjoy climbing on the bike, as it is a wonderfully 'undulating' course.

This was my first attempt at the half iron distance, was a great event and I really enjoyed. It was also my first river swim, and I wasn't looking forward to it, but no noticable flow and it went well, only minor gripe was the swim exit quite high could do with a ramp, step or ladder. Thanks to the organisers, marshals, supporters and fellow competitors who made this a friendly event. Great atmosphere on the run through the park and at the finish