Team Strides Lochaber MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (190 votes). | 1 to 7 of 7 ratings | Page: 1 |
| The big picture 2011 (7 votes) | | Overall score | | 86% | | How many would do it again? | | 79% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 89% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 74% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 83% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 77% |
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2011 race reviewed by: AP58
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Flat and fast until mile 23, traffic a bit hairy at times
In full: Friendly, well organised, fast, but hill at mile 23 challenging. Not much can be done about it, but 2-way traffic and runners both sides of road cramped at times.
Date of review: April 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: David Mail
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Scenic, well organised
In full: Out-and-back gently rolling course, beautiful scenery on furthest 8 miles out of built-up areas. On road with tourist traffic but all drivers very patient and careful. Plenty of drink stations; on a hot day there seemed to be more than advertised. Lots of prizes, every 5-year age group, teams, local, etc. Well organised, nice atmosphere, runners neither crowded not sparse, just right. Only improvement I would suggest is a secure baggage area.
Date of review: April 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Richard Taylor 35
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: small, low-key but thoroughly enjoyable
In full: I was initially a bit apprehensive about this event having only done one marathon before but I need not have worried - there was loads of water on offer and although the support was limited; given the size and rural location of the event it was much better than expected (and who needs support when you are running through amazing scenery!). Overall a great event and will definately do again - I still want to experience a "big city marathon" but deep down I know it will struggle to compete against this event....
Date of review: April 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Fozzy62
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A little gem of a race!
In full: I wanted to do this one again after work problems last year stopped me from attending.The comments posted before this are fair but should not put you off. The weather was again hot at 20deg but you can't blame the organisers for that!! Carry some water with you and you will still feel it - trust me i did!! Thanks to all the people involved for making this a memorable run
Date of review: April 15, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Tiny Runner
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 38 runnings and there's still not enough water
In full: Whilst I like the fact that this is organised by runners for runners I was disappointed that there weren't more frequent water stations on the course. Spring marathons in Scotland can be hot, very hot...
This race is run on open roads - the traffic did its best to accommodate us but I had to run on a rough grass verge a couple of times. It might have been better if the organisers had advertised it more in the local area and alerted drivers to the fact that the runners were doing a *marathon* not just a run.
There wasn't a great deal of support but what there was was very enthusiastic. It was also nice to find that runners on the way out cheered those on the return and vice versa.
Although there are no challenging climbs on this course it is rarely completely flat. The first and final miles are through a park with a couple of short, sharp hills on the return, but running beside the castle was a treat.
The size of Fort William (smallish), along with the fact that there are very few trains from Glasgow (most people's route goes this way) meant that there was a lot of chatter and friendliness between runners.
In many ways the competitors themselves make this marathon work. Add that to the scenery and it's a prety fun weekend away.
I would recommend this marathon but would suggest that runners carry some water of their own. I saw a few runners with a small pack that accommodated one bottle - presumably for the gaps between the stations. I wish I had done.
Club run marathons are few and far between, so I applaud Lochaber AC for making the effort.
Will I do it again? Perhaps in a few years.
Date of review: April 13, 2011
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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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