New Forest Marathon

Does anyone know whether this will close soon. Would hate to miss out but awaiting injuries to mend before committing.

Happy running

There are no messages on the web page to say it is full.

 Recently heard the course has changed, anyone know much about this?

Usually sells out 4 months in advance but places can normally be picked up by people dropping out with injuries etc.

IIRC they sometimes allow you to swap from the half to the full and vice versa.

I will be entering the marathon at the end of this month, loved the course last year and it is very unique.

Especially when you have to stop at one point because you are about to be mown down by some stampeding ponies on the road, and at another time to extract a couple of large stones wedged into the recess on the sole in both running shoes making me sound like a New Forest Pony.

Will be interesting if the course has changed although I would of thought the major part of it would follow the same route as last year.

 Just had a look at the course and its exactly the same as last year with the exception that when we get to the Rising Sun Inn we turn right  instead of going straight on and do that part of the course the opposite way round to last year, everything else is the same.

Darkman wrote (see)

I will be entering the marathon at the end of this month, loved the course last year and it is very unique.

Especially when you have to stop at one point because you are about to be mown down by some stampeding ponies on the road, and at another time to extract a couple of large stones wedged into the recess on the sole in both running shoes making me sound like a New Forest Pony.

Will be interesting if the course has changed although I would of thought the major part of it would follow the same route as last year.

 Just had a look at the course and its exactly the same as last year with the exception that when we get to the Rising Sun Inn we turn right  instead of going straight on and do that part of the course the opposite way round to last year, everything else is the same.

Most be a feature of the race - was exactly the same for me when I ran this.

Oh and no long old drag in this race. Is very scenic.

Right, I'm also in  going to hone my lasso skills so I can catch a pony and hitch a lift.

I've heard they are wild, ....... well when I catch one and jump on board it will not only wild but livid.

Hope to improve on my VLM time of 3hrs 27mins 28secs, I'm already cycling to work a distance of 15.82 miles as part of my training and as a build up for my first Tri next year.

Due to the slight change in the route the last hill heading towards the finish is quite tough.  It used to be the first hill you ran down on the old route.   On a plus note though it is where the jelly babies are. 

So are we all publishing our expectations?  Ah, what the heck, added motivation (or humiliation post race)!!  I'm hoping for a sub 3.30 - did my first 20 miler with an overall avg of 8mm at the weekend ... I started off too fast which is why I'm assuming my last mile was pants.  If I reach my target I would like a different focus for next year so am also considering a tri... Darkman, which one are you doing?

I've never been sidelined by stampeding ponies so, to those of you who may be put off, it's not all hooves!! 

This'll be my first marathon, I did the half last year and a few halves since. I can vouch for the scenery, I'm a member of the local running club and we do our training in the New Forest. it's a beautiful course. The reverse from last year and this is so that one of the villages in the Forest can reopen its roads just an hour into the race once all the runners have passed rather than stay closed for most of the day. The support from locals is great, Longslade Bottom is the steep undulating bit that everyone dreads but it's no easier if you run the route clockwise or anticlockwise. The hill at the end is going to be grim, last year it was the downhill bit just after the start, this year the uphill bit near the finish.

 Enjoy! And please wave as you pass me!

Looking forward to my first New Forest run, I wanted to enter last year but missed the boat! I ran the South Downs Marathon a few weeks ago, and there's nothing better than having great views and scenery to lift the spirits in those final miles. I know the New Forest will deliver on that!

I see the route is both on and off road, is this road shoe or trail shoe territory. See you on the day!

This race despite being classed as a multi-terrain race is mainly road with the exception on what was a railway line (so its stated and it looks like it could be) so you only need your normal road running shoes deffo not a trail shoe event. 
The off-road bit has alot of large gravel parts much like railway ballast, the only drawback is possible stones wedging in your sole of your running shoe like what happened to me. That was when I wished I'd got a swiss army knife with one of those attachments to get stones out of horses hooves 'cos it took a bit of leverage to get 'em out.

 I loved this course last year which is why I'm travelling down from Loughborough to run it this year, great scenery, great course, great support, great organisation and some super houses to ogle at along Bistern Close whilst you're passing by them.

First doing the this event.  On the website it dives the course profile and map but no info about drinks stations.

 Have any of you folks done this before and of so whats the score with drinks stations,

 Thanks

Scarlet Pimpernel

If you look on the map the drinks stations are marked with a big D in a circle, this is also shown in the map legend.

I ran this last year and the weather was warm, sunny and dry but not too hot.  There were enough drinks stations for the course because unlike in the VLM which has one every mile you don't really need that many along a marathon course in September, if its really hot I'm sure the organisers will be savvy enough to add extras to enable everyone to cope with the conditions.

The only advice I can give is to be aware there could be wild horses encountered along the course because of where it is, I had to get out the way of one that decided to run down the road towards me and was determined he was owning ALL the road. Was quite worried I would be found lying on the ground with horseshoe marks all down my back by my fellow runners following behind me, would of been quite something to add to my running diary ........ 'today had a DNF in the New Forest Marathon due to horseplay'.

Be aware that, as it's in the New Forest, drinks will be served in cups. Bottles aren't permitted as the caps get "lost" and the wildlife eat them and get sick and the plastic cups are easier to spot and pick up by the cleaner uppers. If possible bung your empty cup in the rubbish sacks on the way round  or chuck in the direction of a marshall as you pass.