2013 UK Marathon any recommendations?

Hi.

I'm running my first marathon in October, and was thinking of planning in advance and starting to look at booking a 2013 Marathon. 

Do any of you have any recommendations for a fun UK Marathon.  What do I mean by fun... good question I don't really know.  I'm thinking maybe scenic. I've heard Loch Ness is nice, but of course I have to wait a while before I can sign up for that, just wondering if there are any other races you love and would recommend for 2013.

Thanks

Steph

October 13th 2013 - RunLiverpool Marathon. Voted in the Top 10 UK marathons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIT3ww9Rxfo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2QYdRygSkE

What sort of season are you aiming for? Spring? Summer?

Good questoin...

I was just thinking about that and decided, I think on the middle of April to Early June then I can decide if I want to squeeze another in later in the year.  So early in the year or a recommendation for one near the end of the year.

If I don't have a target i'll be lazy and not really do the running I should so i'm thinking do my october marathon... Plod along with a bit of maintenance running until the new year, and then start training again for another one.

Book there are 100's out there Liverpool mentioned above is a great atmosphere If you want a April one I'd get yourself in the london ballet and see where it takes you if it's still open.

There's a marathon in Manchester that wasn't the best this year but a lot of that was down to the weather and might suit also Milton Keynes, Blockpool or newcastle and Chester later on in the year. If you want a PB marathon I'd take a look at Abingdon although that might be the one your doing in Oct.

If you want a more senic marathon white peak in may is good.

Hi there, For an early one Belfast is pretty good. Ive done it twice, really cheap flights/accomodation and lovely city centre. Easy to enter as well. Edinburgh is likely full up by now.

Autumn marathons - I done Chester last year and it was special. Large section in Welsh countryside as well. Loch Ness is properly talked up, I am heading in few weeks and this will be my fourth time there but it fills up for general entry fairly early in the summer so dont hang about

Booktrunk

Blackpool 2013 7th April, new venue starting and finishing at Blackpool Football Clubs Bloomfield Road Stadium, super facilities, 5000 car parking spaces, 100 toilets on site (20 on the course) finish in front of the directors box inside the stadium, book online at fyldecoastrunning.org, early bird prices, loyalty points scheme.

Good Luck

booktrunk

I would say Chester   this is put on by runners for runners    i have done the first 2 and doing this year again   you have your name on your number  and the support though each village is fab   and at the finish  

Neolithic (stonehenge) marathon in early may is a very nice run. Rolling, multi-terrain and well organised.

So after hunting around Loch Ness and Neolithic Marathon sound awesome.  Would quite fancy Paris even though I said UK, but all in would be a bit expensive.

So I have a current top two, i'll have to see how my one goes in October, and go from there.  Thanks for the help girls n guys.

Steph

booktrunk wrote (see)

Cheers as you say lots to think about I like the idea of maybe cross country do giving it all a though .... Heck even a mini ultra 50k thingy, is a tempting thought.

How about the D33 then, in Aberdeen in March. 33 miles, out and back, mostly on nice cycle paths, well marked route, lovely scenery, fabulous organisation, beer and home made cakes at the finish. More like a day out with friends than an actual 'race'.

I entered last year on a whim and found a cheap and cheerful guesthouse right in the middle of Aberdeen. £24 for B&B, race entry £13, bus from Glasgow £10 return. All counted up, it was the cheapest race I've ever entered, and one of the best too.

I have the following on my list:

• Robin Hood (Nottingham Marathon)
• Loch Ness

It might not be the "UK" but I've heard great things about:

• Cork
• Dublin
• Isle of Man

I've only done the Eden Project and Loch Ness events, and both are excellent.

Loch Ness is epic, starting way beyond the end of the world - one way, not a loop. It feels like an endurance event.

Eden is challenging and, if you get the same weather I had last year, it's bleak, especially as you run through the quarry.  However, you get a pasty and a pint of local ale at the end.  However, the trouble with Eden is that you have an option to quit at halfway...

Emmy afraid Nottingham marathon is no more unless they bring it back was an excellent race but not enough people ran it so they have shelved it.  They still have a half there mind. 

Just added Windemere / Brathay to my list of possibilities, and after reading what runs-with-dogs said putting the D33 in Aberdeen on the list.

Halstead in May was one I did this year - very pretty, nice homely atmosphere, quiet country lanes for most of it but there was a stretch that the course passed through 2 or 3 times where all the supporters congregated and that was like the TDF!

Also remember Sussex from last year as similar. Neither flat though. And neither big-city.