marathon in autumn?

Hoping to do my first one this Autumn.

 Dublin was my first thought, but it's on a Monday not in the holidays for the UK, which means I would a) need to take holiday time and b) no-one could come with me, as my partner is a teacher.

Athens has to be a target one year, maybe this year. I have a friend running it, but the hassle of getting there on a Friday night, coming back on a Sunday night (again if I want any support with me) puts me off a bit. Also the current Greek riots makes me wonder how the Athenians will be feeling come November.

 Loch Ness looks beautiful. Hillier than perhaps I first thought, although anything would be a PB! Tempting, but again it's a flight job up from Warwickshire, expensive accommodation already - not cheap for a UK marathon - be £250 each at least.

 Eden Project looks beautiful, but looks bloody hilly and a bit tough for a first marathon.

 Now someone on here has mentioned the Marathon Nice-Alpes-Maritimes...sounds more expensive, but my mother-in-law lives one hour from Nice along the coast...so no accommodation costs, Airmiles might cover the flights...hello....

 Anyone done the Alpes-Maritimes?

i'm thinking of doing san sebastian, and chester mara as a training run this autum.

as a local runner i have played close attention to chester and everyone i know gave it the thumbs up last year, and from what i saw watching it, it was extremely well organised, so it could be worth a shot.  i would personally keep clear of liverpool for a year or two, runliverpool have one or two bad marks next to their name.  i'd let that one bed in and for them to sort out inevitable teething problems.

 personally snowdon is a must for all british mara runners and your CV is not complete till its on it. 

BS - ROFLOL, chester won't have the numbers that liverpool will have, granted.  but if you gonna critise a race, perhaps compare like for like? i.e. how many are doing chester this year? think you'll find its a few more than last year! just an idea?

in the smaller mara's i have the same problem being a sub 3 runner, although in the big city mara's i have trouble with runners getting in the way at the start. so its swings and roundabouts 

i agree totally about the two races clashing and am disappointed that it has happened and hopefully this can be avoided in the future.  personally i wish they had both gone for earlier or slightly late dates, instead of slap bag in the middle of the mara calendar, that time is very congested with excellent proven races.  i'd like to support both my local mara races, but i'm not willing to invest 18wks training for a race without a proven track record of excellence (something neither has yet). i've only manged to fit chester in due to my decision to do a very late main race (27th nov), and its not gonna be flat out, more of a very hard & long, long run.

all the best for liverpool, quite a few club mates are doing it and i'm keeping an eye on it for the futer, and one i want on my CV. although when i can fit it in though is another mater.  (but that in some ways is a nice problem to have)

Hi
I’m a FLAT Autumn marathon runner …. And did Dublin(3h20'21)  in 2010 which has a total height deviation of around 110 meters
which is flat.
The only thing that I could Criticise with Dublin would be the free t-shirt the rest was perfect+ and believe me I’m not easy to please!!!

For my 2011 marathon I have chosen the MARATHON DES ALPES-MARITIMES - Nice-Cannes France  it has about the same height deviation as Dublin but is not a loop, so the wind direction could play a part.
This year it is also the French marathon championship so the quality should be guaranteed.

cheers

carrot top wrote (see)

i'm thinking of doing san sebastian, and chester mara as a training run this autum

Frankfurt on the 28th October. Hotels are cheap, the course if flat and you finish indoors on a red carpet with cheerleaders, dry ice and strobe lights

I did Dublin 2011 and would definately rate it. Run on a Bank Holiday Monday, great organisation, fantastic support even when the heavens opened up during the race. There was an ASICS technical shirt  last year in the goody bag which is still serving me well. A couple of slight inclines and one short but testing climb around the 20 mile mark but nothing too serious. If like last year there will be pacers supplied too. I would definately run Dublin again but have opted for the flater Amsterdam this year. The years are catching me up and am still seeking that sub 3.30 marathon which has eluded me thus far. Have to say glad I booked it as I have since seen the the Palma Del Mallorca on the same day as Amsterdam and despite it being cheaper overall than going to Amsterdam it would also have drawn me as I have run there a few times and have really enjoyed it.

Another vote for Dublin!

Did it as my first in 2010 & just about to sign up for this year.  Have an inkling that it's at the start of school half term (Oct 29th).

Has a Dublin Marathon 2012 forum thread been started yet? - can't seem to find a link