In previous years this race was well supported, and maybe it was just the time that I passed through but Marshall’s in the city centre were largely stood there with their arms crossed not really encouraging runners with their arms crossed. On a number of occasions people were crossing the road in front of runners at corners causing runners to slow down, dodge around them or run into them. This all despite marshals being present they didn’t really seem to be engaged in public traffic management. There were nowhere near enough marshals on the water stations and in order to get a bottle runners were coming to a full stop. At the second water station my fiancée grabbed a bottle with an energy tablet in it, despite these boy being advertised (only water was advertised) and no warning thithis is incredibly risky for those with allergies and in such a hot day when dehydration is a real issue.

The race is not good value for money. You do get a nice medal and tops were much improved this year. However, for the money you pay you would expect adequate toilets, a better finishers bag, better organised aid stations and more than two massage therapists working in the massage tent. They were doing their best to see to those needing a post race massage, but we had to leave the line after waiting for over an hour. We likely would e been waiting at least another  30 minutes. 

I’ve always loved this race but the organisation and quality is getting worse, not better. I love the route and running in York has always been a lot of fun. This year it fell far below my base level expectations and I’m not convinced I would pay the money way to run it again.