Team Strides Lochaber MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (190 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Ianjames
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Friendly, well-organised run in stunning surroundings.
In full: I'll start with an admission: I've never seen the Highlands before and oh my god, they're beuatiful. Going along the road, every now and then, I tore myself away from the back of the person in front and just looked across the loch and thought "oh wow". Really - as beautiful as anything I've seen in the UK. Okay, you aren't running right through those hills (for which I was thankful) - in fact, you're running along a road, with a few cars going by, so you have to pay attention (and its for that reason, and only that reason, that this doesn't get a "5" for atmosphere).
I found the majority of the other runners friendly and encouraging - there were lots (comparatively, for a small race in a rural area) of people standing by the road, cheering not only the people at the front but those of us tromping along behind. Lots of water and lucozade. I discovered too much Lucozade makes you feel really sick, but that isn't really part of this review - just thought I'd mention it. Sometimes superfluous information is nice, isn't it?
Nice medal, and a t-shirt. These things still impress me, and probably always will. And its pretty much flat - a couple of very gentle undulations, but nothing that significant.
For the scenery and the support, this is one of my favourite races.
Date of review: April 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Ruth Travis
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race, even better if it wasn't so warm
In full: Small but perfectly formed race in Fort William. Flattish out and back route - on the way back in you are running towards Ben Nevis. Very warm this year 19 or 20 degrees with no shade and not much wind so everyone was suffering. Plenty of water stations though with 330ml bottles of water and Lucozade. Could do with an extra water station at the turning point though. Nice T-shirt and decent medal. Free sandwiches, biscuits and hot drinks afterwards. A nice change from the over crowded, over priced, over hyped big city races
Date of review: April 11, 2011
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2009 race reviewed by: karinsmiles
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A bit hot for me this year, but slick organisation as usual. Flat route.
In full:
Date of review: May 1, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: J Morrison
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Only my 2ne
Date of review: April 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: David Robertson5
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: does what is says on the tin
Date of review: April 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Gizzmo
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: road open to cars, no segregation, dodging (slow moving) cars at some points. Water / energy stations a bit slow. Lack of marshalling, direction, support towards end. Not my favourite event.
Date of review: April 25, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Simon Grieshaber
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A fantastic marathon, excellent PB potential and beautiful highland scenery
In full: The hills (if you can call them that) are long, slow climbs. Traffic on the roads wasn't any great problem at all so don't let that put you off going.
The day (2009) was very sunny, and there wasn't anywhere to escape from the sun (but sun in Fort William is usually a rare commodity...) I always sruggle when the sun is beating down; despite that I ran a PB by over 5 minutes.
I would recommend this race to anyone - especially if you've never visited Scotland before - stunning scenery.
Enjoy...
Date of review: April 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: david beattie 5
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: A very tough race in the conditions - it takes skill to pick out the warmest day of the year so far to run a marathon!
Beautiful scenic course but the "out and back" route was a bit dispiriting near the end. Traffic also fairly busy and probably not a good "first timers" marathon - not a lot of support for those hard last few miles. Very well organised .
Interesting that approx 500 entries and only 370 turned up on the day - the other sensible souls had obviously seen the sunny forecast!
Date of review: April 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Dips
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very low key and quiet marathon..away from the crowds..bliss.
In full: Cheeky undulations on this simple route with some good scenery. Plenty of water stations but plenty of traffic too, mind those swinging caravans!
Date of review: April 21, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: tricialitt
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Not as flat as you might think, but harmless little undulations, rather than any sustained hills. Pity that the traffic was quite heavy along the road, and that the slower runners were rather left out on their own to figure out the last few miles of
Date of review: April 21, 2009
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