Leicester Marathon 2011 - Events

WarrenK78

15/07/2011 at 12:51

I can't seem to find anything about the 2011 Leicester Marathon on RW? Maybe I am just missing it...

Has anyone who has run it before provide some details? Fast course? Good support etc.

*Frodo*

15/07/2011 at 12:56

Ran it last year as a training run for Snowdonia - had a whale of a time

It is a small event, but very well run with some outstanding marshals. The course is lovely in parts, but pretty uninspiring in other bits and the finish through the city centre was a bit odd; being a relatively small event, bystanders seemed a bit bemused as we puffed through the final miles

IMHO it isn't the fastest course, but certainly not a killer slow one either.
Hope that helps

Runner888

15/07/2011 at 13:09

Ran the full last year and the half the year before - a really well organised event. Starts and finishes in the City and as Frodo says a mix of well spread out supporters and confused shoppers walking in front of you in the city centre. It can be a bit lonely between mile 10 and 18, but when you get back in to the villages and City there is good support. Relatively flat course apart from the up hill final half mile up New Walk, can be a killer on the legs as well as having to watch people drinking beer and eating steak sandwiches in the bars !

knight rider

15/07/2011 at 13:25

I would recommend it as it is my local race, although this year I am doing Chester instead on the same day. The half marathon version is all I have done and is flat apart from the last half mile which has a hill - although it's not that bad!

cougie

pirate

15/07/2011 at 13:45

Yep - did it last year - nice enough course - rolling I'd say - but great marshalling, great support and a nice start/finish area.

Running through the shopping precinct was a bit odd - but you got to see the city !

Cake

pirate

15/07/2011 at 16:58

Did it a couple of years ago and conceding it this year at the moment. It’s small for a city marathon but well organised if the course is still the same first bit city run and then a bit boring on a motorway type road. Then goes through lots and nice courtyside will some slight hills back into the city, through the city centre confuzing the shoppers and a big of a hill at the end. Well worth doing and there are excellent facilities at the start/finish with the local uni.

Sean G

15/07/2011 at 17:28

Would say that the event has got more and more popular each year. Very well organised and pretty well supported too. As others have said, a little bit odd with bemused shoppers towards the end but they will still give you encouragement. I expect to be there again this year.

WarrenK78

15/07/2011 at 20:55

Thanks for the replies folks. I will be doing it but just wanted to know a bit more about it. Will be looking for sub 2:50 but it sounds as though the hilly last mile or so may stand in the way of that.

Sussex Runner (NLR)

16/07/2011 at 10:46

Did you know WarrenK is an anagram of.........

WarrenK78

16/07/2011 at 20:03

Yes, of course I know that, but only if you can't spell and spell it with 2 r's.

Martin H

17/07/2011 at 10:46

Warren - If you are aiming for sub-2.50 then the final hill will only knock a few seconds off of your overall time as you should be strong enough for it. It is not a killer hill, just a steady incline for three quarters of a mile (I run it most lunchtimes). When you get to the end you still have another 200m to sprint for the line

Cake

pirate

18/07/2011 at 12:24

Final hill not big at all just feels it after the other miles before hand.

Hallucyn8

14/09/2011 at 14:00

Hi

I'll be running the Leicester Marathon this year and was just wondering if anyone knew what the route will be?

The Leicester Marathon website only shows a half marathon route. I have emailed both the company that is processing the entries and a guy from Loros who appears to be one of the organisers but have yet to get any information back.

I'm hoping that it doesn't turn out to be two laps of the half-marathon course as I think this would be a bit de-moralising, especially as it's my first marathon!

Sean G

14/09/2011 at 18:56

This has ben the route for the last 3 or 4 years....

Leicester Marathon route

Hallucyn8

14/09/2011 at 22:47

Thanks for the link. I emailed the organisers again after posting here and actually got a reply almost straight away. I didn't get a map of the route but I did get a list of all the roads and it looks like it is the same route as previous years. It's certainly not two laps of the half-marathon route which I'm relieved about!

MrMo

15/09/2011 at 08:15

Does anybody know what time the marathon starts? I can't find that info on the offical race site. Thanks.

Hallucyn8

15/09/2011 at 11:11

I seem to remember seeing 9:15 as the start time but I can't see this on the website now. I did find the following hidden away in the FAQ though which may be some help:

"What time do I need to get to Victoria Park by?

It is advised that you aim to arrive at Victoria Park at 8:00am on the day. This will give you time to deposit your bags, kit, and valuables. To prepare, warm up and stretch. You’ve been preparing for this event for months so don’t rush the last part, don’t place extra pressure on yourself by being late for the start. Runners should be there by 9:00am in the starting pens."

M....

19/09/2011 at 22:04

just signed up for the half marathon, it's my local race so about time I tried it! I have been a spectator in the past, the bit in the city centre looks good, but the faster runners will be done before the shoppers have arrived.

Niblet

20/09/2011 at 11:19

I really enjoyed last years which was a well organised & friendly race & would be a certain PB opportunity if it wasn't for New Walk. To put that climb right at the end is cruel & I would advise any new comers to leave something in the tank! Hoping for cooler conditions this year.

WarrenK78

22/09/2011 at 12:22

Can any past runners give an idea of what the start is like? I believe there are a few thousand people all setting off at once, so I would imagine it is important to be reasonably near the front if you are looking for a quick(ish) time.