Team Strides Lochaber MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (190 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: ichi
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Excellent marathon. Very welcoming and very well organised.
In full: A relaxed, welcoming marathon in a beautiful setting. Organisation was perfect: efficient but low-key.
A special thanks to the 'sweeper' who brought me home and kept me running(your brother had just run a 100K). Without you my time would have been 15 minutes longer than it was!
Date of review: April 21, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: bunions
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Stunning, brilliant
In full: Couldn't find any faults - the only problem was that it was too sunny/bright (!). Views were awesome, the whole return leg running towards Ben Nevis, amazing throughout.
Date of review: April 21, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Peter Rogan
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The UK's best marathon. Great course, great organisation. Done it tenn times!
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Joe Poole
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: good race overall
In full: amazing scenery, bit of as bottle neck at the start and we were 2 abreast till around 3 miles with little oppertunity to get past other runners without dodging the traffic at points. very friendly race, plenty water stations but beware the upward climb around 19 miles if a p.b is your goal. I did enjoy this race
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: nick constantine
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: very encouraged by all shapes and sizes; experienced runners very supportive
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Margaret O'Hara
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent, I will be back
In full: Excellent value for money, weather was unexpectantly hot got a bit sun-burned, the scenic view was excellent and the run was my 3rd attempt at the marathon and my best, I will be back for sure. Thanks to all who made event possible. For sure one of the best.
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Tina K
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great experience for my first marathon
In full: My first marathon - and I couldn't have asked for more. Organisation was good. I felt very welcome. Very enthusiastic support dotted along the route, which was much appreciated. The views were simply stunning. (Oh and thanks to the 'fetch' support with the jelly babies!)
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great views, flat course
In full: The most scenic race I have ever been in, and as flat as they come.
Quite the antidote to the big city event; less fuss, less crowds, more open road, better air, fantastic scenery. Loved the fact there was no razzmatazz. The free cup of tea and cheese roll at the end seems to sum up the event perfectly.
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Tigerspaw
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Glorious Mountain Scenery and Fantastic Weather
In full: A friendly and well organised marathon set amongst stunning mountain scenery, with a route that is mostly flat, apart from a slight gradual hill in and out of Corpach, and a long downhill past Banavie that played havoc on sore legs and blistered feet on the way back(as a previous post has mentioned, the footpath here is quite uneven and potholed so you need to keep your wits about you when tired).
Sporadic but loud and enthusiastic support along the road from both tourists and locals. Drinks stations also sporadic and not quite where notes said they would be, and some energy drink / water stations had been amalgamated which caught me out slightly, so next year would make sure carried own drink, particularly sparse in mid-section of route, but lots of water at end.
Police presence and marshalling at busy junctions but very low key over rest of route, leading to some 'interesting' manoeuvres from holiday caravans / campervans / motor cyclists! Very busy with traffic in some places and then really quiet in others, so a good chance to take in the mountain and loch side scenery and fantastic views of Ben Nevis on the return section.
Another very hot year and no shade on the route probably added to the blistered feet, and route turned into strong wind for last 1.5m which made for tough going, but gave me a marathon pb by 6min, so definite potential on this course if it was a tad cooler, and overall a successful weekend, well organsised, with plenty of free tea / coffee and sandwiches at the end.
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Morna Fleming
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great PB potential - but not in the sunny conditions we had on Sunday
In full: This was my 12th attempt at breaking 4 hours for the marathon, and I missed it by 12 seconds! Found the pavement quite rough and broken, which no doubt contributed to the formation of a horrendous blister on my right forefoot, which felt much worse than it actually was. Very sunny - so attractive to look at - but I don't run well in the heat. Support along the way, although sparse, was very vocal and encouraging. Plenty of families and groups were travelling along the route stopping to offer encouragement, water, gels. Feeling rather jaundiced today because of relative failure (to myself), and the fact that it was a PB isn't really registering yet. However, I was a member of the team that won the 2nd ladies prize, so I should stop beating myself up and give myself a little pat.
Until the next time ...
Date of review: April 20, 2009
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