Having run this race a couple of years ago,  I was curious to see what changes being managed by Virgin Sport would bring.  Pre-race, I wasn't enamonoured. There were too many emails, mostly touting for more business by way of signing up your friends with a discount code; I personally didn't particularly like the overly jovial style ("this website uses cookies, we like to eat cookies"), it was very expensive to enter (£40 with the early bird discount) then further emails instructing us to fork out in advance for park & ride tickets too. A word of advice for anyone travelling alone to this event - get your park and ride ticket at the machine on the day as this is slightly cheaper than the price of the Driver's tickets that Virgin were pre-selling.  

However, this said, the event was expertly organised on the day itself.  No queues at the park and ride, and good atmosphere at the starting village.  The two chaps on stage perhaps didn't need to feel the need to fill the silence with nonstop chatter as the speakers were really, really loud!

The starting pens this year were down different streets which then fed into the race, which worked really well other than noone checking for people jumping into a pen or two ahead, which did cause congestion problems in the race itself for the first few k.  

The course is good -  pancake flat, and one to run to enjoy rather than attempt a PB due to the sheer number of people.  It was lovely to run round Oxford and out to the pretty village of Marston, and the bands and crowds were excellent. The bands were much appreciated on the long out and back in town.  Plenty of water stations, excellent medal, and the long sleeved t shirt at the finish was genius!  Love it! 

The only real issue was getting back into the race village after the finish as people were trying to move in and out the park through one gate which caused massive congestion. Making this main gate in only, and having marshalls directing people leaving the park a different way would easily fix this.  

Great event but its a hell of a lot of money for a half.