Luton MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (269 votes). | 1 to 10 of 46 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 |
| The big picture 2009 (46 votes) | | Overall score | | 76% | | How many would do it again? | | 87% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 54% | | PB potential | | 64% | | Atmosphere | | 68% | | Organisation | | 82% | | Value | | 77% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 68% |
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2009 race reviewed by: LHWMG
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised and very well marshalled.
In full: An undulating 3 x lap course,mix of built up and villages,even a thatch roof or two.Cold as usual out in the open,a good day out for December.
Date of review: December 31, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Karen Samuel
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Luton Marathon Christmas Runners World, Special Event Rating: (You're in for a treat).
In full: It’s official that “Luton Marathon is License to Thrillâ€. For me though, my painful groins were Licensed to Kill :=(
My name is Samuel, Karen Samuel, double three eight. My mission was to complete Luton marathon without being injured, but I failed my mission miserably.
Stropsley and Striders must be excited, ecstatic and laughing ‘Ho, Ho, Ho’, with the record turnout of runners this year that participated in the London Marathon – I mean The Luton Marathon. For me it was ‘Argh, ‘ Argh, ARRRGGHHH’- 26 miles of excruciating pain. The pain hit me like a thunder ball and it frightened the living daylights out of me.
In Luton Marathon there is always someone you know, I met up with quite a few fellow runners. I was able to observe some first class runners with natural raw talent.
The first thing you notice when you walk in to the head quarters is the smell and adrenalin in the air, apparently it was Deep Heat according by my other half.
This marathon is a 3 lap course, a good marathon for virgin marathoners (cut off time is 5 not 6 hours!) I wouldn’t say the scenery was a view to kill but it is a nice flat course with few inclines and only a couple of hills. If you play your card right you should get a pb time. In fact I did not play my cards right and it went horribly wrong from 3 miles. I felt something go in my left groin my stride and speed suffered and I could not run properly, it was more of a jog and a limp. I thought all injuries were behind me, I just recovered from the flu 2 weeks ago, but I was so wrong! Last Friday I visited my GP who confirmed that I strained my left groin.
I just have one or two more 5k races for this year; please note speed will not be the essence (I had to cut it down due to injury) that’s my lot for 2009. Who said no pain no gain! ENOUGH SAID about my groins (adductors).
Luton Marathon is a great December Marathon to keep you in tip, top condition for the New Year. A quick word of warning, this race fills up quickly, early in the year, so book well in advance to avoid any disappointment!!!
The Medal is nice and thick something to get your teeth (or dentures) into it.
I hate to moan and groan, but what happened to the nice Luton t-shirt? I see we got the cotton bag instead. I not crazy about the bag and please no more Mars bars, instead could we have a nice chunky wholesome flapjack instead (yummy). It would be nice to have a few bottles of drinking bottles at water stations instead of all plastic cups. I love SPORT SYSTEM chips - brilliant. I also loved my number 338 because it was the same as my last race Bexhill half marathon - which was also chip timing. My embarrassing time results are for your eyes only – Runners World.
(Clap, Clap, Clap). ‘Bravo, Stropsley Striders, you did yourself proud’, I hope you will get your 50 plus votes from Runners World Raters for Luton Marathon.
I would just like to mention that all year in 2009, Bromley Veterans Athletic Club have been celebrating their 20 years anniversary. So please feel free and have a browse through the BVAC web-site and look at our slide show – look for the heading announcements and notices. There is work being done on Bromley vets website so bear with us.
As for races in 2009, I had the best time of my life and I am truly sorry if I could not rate every single race on Runners World Web-site. Let’s hope 2010 will be a wee bit kinder to me, one can always hope and PRAY.
I hope to be back on track next year.
I would also just like to mention that I like the new updated Runners World Web-Site. Keep up the good work.
Merry Christmas to all of you Runners World Readers. I hope you all have a good one, and keep on running. As for me I am hoping Santa will get me a place for Virgin London Marathon 2011 and new adductors!
Date of review: December 17, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Flying Ant
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Marshalls were superb !
In full: I must say the race organisers and marshalls at this event did themselves proud, lots of encouragement throughout by everyone. The weather stayed fine (which was a bonus), although i ran with a fever (which in hindsight was foolish) and hence paid the price with a lacklustre performance during the final lap (after the lemsips wore off). I found some of the twists and turns to be a bit 'tight' and the wind was quite gusty in places, even making downhill running hard. Pretty good value for the entry price to be honest, considering the prices some marathons are these days. Not the most scenic place to run, but a marathon none the less !
Date of review: December 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: billo
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Out of Season Marathon with PB Potential
In full: If you can cope with a few inclines and the December weather (cold and windy), then worth having at crack at this race for a fast time.
Course is not very inspiring, and feed stations are not really adequate, but 3 lap format allows you to have your own support team handing out personalized nutrition.
Date of review: December 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Peter N16
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: very friendly, well organised and runner-based race. better than average
In full: marshalls out in an unhelpful wind for hours but still cheerful and positive says it all really. loops not exactly inspiring but varied enough, not lonely with the relay runners buzzing around, and nice n safe
Date of review: December 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: DaveSloth
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A good winter marathon
In full: The torrential rain held off which was always going to be a bonus and the wind was bearable.
3 lap course meant you knew what was coming - good or bad - and support was regular, if a little thin (it was cold though so you can't blame them).
Only gripe was not knowing where to go at the end to pick up medal/drop off chip. Turned out to be a half mile walk, which to be honest probably helped loosen my poor legs!!
Definitely worth thinking about for next year!!
Date of review: December 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Duane Daugherty 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: An excellent marathon to finish off the year. Marshalls and people manning the drinks stations were excellent. Windy again this year but OK. Great to have run it again this year after last years disappointment. I'll be back next year.
Date of review: December 9, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: HowFar???
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Splendid event, just a tweak or two off perfect.
In full: Positives, course faster and less hilly than I expected. Number/chip pick up was efficient and fuss free. Marshalls lovely all the way around. Police efficiently stopping vehicles at one junction. The right amount of water/isotonic drink stations. Half mile or so from finish to pick up bag etc no real hardship. Scenery was varied, from housing to rural, and was better than some comments say, once we were out of the built up area and on the higher section there were some splendid views across the farmland.
Negatives, only small but for first timer the way into the sports hall from car park wasn't too clear, and once in the hall it wasn't clear where the number pick up was. After the finish, it wasn't too clear where the chip removal, goody bag, medal stuff was. So I'd say all the organisation was fab with the exception of marking up info in the sports hall itself.
Over all glad I took part and wouldn't discount another visit in a future year.
Date of review: December 9, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Bartman
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great organisation and marshalling. Love the three lap format.
In full: First standalone marathon (so a PB guaranteed!)and I'll definately be back.
Good race HQ -somewhere to keep dry! Good organisation, great marshalling and feed stations - encouragement at every turn.
Three lap format worked well for me mentally. Even got encouragement from some of the relay runners as they seemingly sprinted by (thanks Tash?) Course was varied and more on the 'undulating' side than the 'hilly' I'd been warned about.
Altogeher a great end of year race and highly recommended.
Date of review: December 8, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Maca Lad
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great winter marathon
Date of review: December 8, 2009
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