Barcelona Marathon 2011

A few folks from the Amsterdam thread have mentioned Barcelona as their Spring marathon 2011 so naturally we need a thread to plan which pub to meet up in! ... cough, I mean, a thread to discuss intervals, long runs, high viz, blisters and ITBS.

Enter before 19th December before the entry goes up 10 euros

Good one.  It has been mentioned a couple of times on the Berlin 2011 thread too.  I'm doing Barcelona next year.  Am looking forward to it very much.  Have only done one marathon before - Paris earlier this year.  Barcelona's a great place!

I did Dublin last week and I'm just sorting out flights and Hotel for trip. Only problem I have is that the flight is due in at 17.20 on the 5th and the Expo closes at 19:30 so I don't have a lot of leeway. Barcelona seems to be about the same size field as Dublin around 12000. Flights from Dublin are only €57 return.

I enjoyed the Dublin Marathon thread so I hope this one starts to grow + if anyone finds a bargain hotel near the start then they can pass it on

Crumbs that's cutting it a bit fine Jim! Bargain flights though...

I've not been to Barcelona before, any excuse for a weekend away really but something else to keep training for  Although in hindsight, hearing the rain hammering against the window, the dark nights closing in and another dodgy winter forecast, maybe it's not one of my better plans!

Anyone else?

Apparently there are quite a lot of Irish Runners on the 17.20 Ryanair flight but they are talking about having someone to collect for them if the plane is delayed. I just need to find a 50 y.o. body double to be on standby if I have problems who is travelling on the Friday.

I did this last year, as a training run, prior to an April marathon. I was there for work and had a 22 miler scheduled, so did this instead.

I cannot say enough good things about  this race. The crowd support is amazing pretty much all the way, the organisation was smooth and the course is a PB course. I am hoping to race it this year, if I can sort work over there again. There were water and energy bottles every 5km, sponges every 5km and various video recordings taken around the course, plus at least 5 live bands and a couple of spin classes alongside the route.

Living in hope, I officially started my 18 week schedule tonight

I have done Barcelona for last 3 years and am doing it in 2011.

The organisers are pushing to increase entry levels to 12,000 for next year so it is a well supported event.

This event is extremely well organised; good quality T Mizuno T shirt; start and finish in same place and excellent value for money compared to other European marathons like Berlin.

Transport is also really good with an underground station within 400 yards of the start / finish / expo.

Thoroughly recommend it to anyone considering it. 

Greasby / Upton

Burton is more Chester / Cheshire though - isn't it?

We stay at the Hilton in Barcelona so that would be cheapest option for a drink as we have access to the Executive Lounge and the complimentary bar!!

You say you are looking for a PB - what time are you looking to do?

My running partner Darrin has never beaten 4 hours (we did 4h 48seconds in 2009) so we will be aiming for 3h 55m - so again nothing spectacular - just steady.

Good course to attempt a PB though.

Wirralian wrote (see)

Greasby / Upton

Burton is more Chester / Cheshire though - isn't it?

Hi Wirralian & EE3, as someone from the otherside of the river, I hope as well as meeting in Barcelona, next October we will be meeting here;

http://www.runliverpool.org.uk/pdfs/Marathonmap.pdf

Officially 09.10.11, or are either of you planning on Chester (which is rather wonderfully the same day)?

Did this one this year.  Really nice event although they run out of stuff in the latter stages for the slower runners.  Didn' t get a medal, goodie bag or anything to eat or drink at the end which really put a downer on the whole thing.

They did send a medal through the post a few weeks later though.

This will be my 2nd marathon after running Amsterdam last month.  I'm hoping to run under 3:30 this time, but mainly looking forward to visiting Barcelona.  I've only ever visited on a guided coach tour before.  I don't imagine it will be too difficult finding a bar for post run beer.