Team Strides Lochaber MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (190 votes). | The big picture (190 votes) | | Overall score | | 90% | | How many would do it again? | | 91% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 95% | | PB potential | | 81% | | Atmosphere | | 74% | | Organisation | | 82% | | Value | | 84% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 72% |
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2012 race reviewed by: Andrew Paterson 3
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well organised scenic race
In full: Great place to spend a weekend. Very friendly club feel. Cycling witches with jelly babies were great! For a plodder like me didn't feel intimidated by faster club runners who were all very suportive. Some great craic! As a small field can be a bit spread out in the last few miles so it really is 'the loneliness of the long distance runner' rather than the mutual support of shared suffering!
Date of review: May 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: fat-arze
| | 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: full marks it was that dam good
In full: everything about this race was first class, will be back next year if its not the same day as london. course was a bit long but still managed to knock 3 mins off my p.b
Date of review: May 8, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: fluffyface
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: WELL DONE FOR PUTTING ON A GREAT RACE
In full: Great venue at the Nevis Centre, plenty of free car parking close to the start. Pretty Course, with Loch & Forest either side and a view of Ben Nevis all the way back, great for a PB, its as flat a marathon course as you're going to find i think. Yes, it is run on a main A Road, but its pretty quiet, very scenic, and i didnt really notice many cars....no problem. Plenty of energy drinks & water stations well placed & some friendly locals with Jelly Babies enroute (much appreciated). Slightly long course at 26.44, but due to enforced finish area change. Pretty good value as far as marathons go with a tech T and a nice touch of tea/coffee & rolls/biscuits at the finish, better than a goody bag i'd say!
Date of review: April 22, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: dave b 74
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: First time...won't be the last.
Date of review: April 22, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: 14May83
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Flat and scenic course; small field on open roads but well-organised
In full: Having only done 'big-city' marathons before I wasn't sure what to expect. But I discovered a friendly and well-organised event which is difficult to fault. Lots of drinks, good if sporadic support along the course and even the open roads weren't really an issue.
Date of review: April 21, 2012
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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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