Not the Worcester Marathon

Just got an email from Threshold Events about next year's Worcester Marathon and Half. I am sure this is a great event, but when I look at the course I see that it starts just outside Worcester and runs into the countryside. Does this not contravene the Trades Descriptions Act? Worcester is a great city and I would love to enter an event that ran through it.

The Kenilworth Half is the same, starts in the suburbs of Kenilworth, and then disappears into the sticks.  Should events that bear a town or city’s name not be obliged to run through them?  Does anyone feel the same?

You try getting a marathon through a town or city 

Its starts in the place appropriate to the name, I cant see a problem personally ....

"Its starts in the place appropriate to the name” Well it does not even do that really. I would not call the place where it starts Worcester. It's a bit like the famous Ryanair airports.  Its just a bit disappointing when you see the advertising and think ‘great, a run through Worcester’ and when you click through you find its anything but.

I appreciate the sentiment behind your first sentence, although a lot of places manage to get marathons or halfs through their city centres. Worcester is a place that is desperate to promote itself and a genuine city marathon or half marathon would be a way of doing that.  In fact in a city as small as Worcester it could include a bit of countryside as well, as Coventry's does.

Having grown up in the Woo (Worcester) I think the logistics of running a half marathon or a 2 lap full would be impossible.  I can't think of a route that would actually take in the sights, without having to close down the major arteries into the city centre.  Plus, most people moan about hills on a course and there would be some notable hills involved that there would be no way of getting round.  They could use the canal towpaths but then you wouldn't really get to see the sights (i.e. Catherdral, Cricket Ground, Race Course, St Andrews Spire, Sixways etc).  If you use the riverbanks there would be steps involved at some point.  I appreciate what your saying on the 'Worcester' front but then if you name it something more appropriate i.e. Black Pear Half would anyone outside of the local area know where it was???

I did Gosport Half yesterday. It started on the border of the town and runs away from it. You mainly run in Lee-on-Solent.

I don't think it matters as long as you know where the start is and get there at the right time.

Magpie Rob wrote (see)

I did Gosport Half yesterday.  You mainly run in Lee-on-Solent.

So why is it called the Gosport Half?

Laudy, Worcester isn't that hilly and what's wrong with closing a few roads?  If the famously car-obsessed Coventry can do it I am sure Worcester can. It shows a place's commitment to the event if it is willing to challenge the moaning motorists.

Now there's a challenge!

Yeah but lets be honest some people moan about the 'hills' of running over a motorway flyover, I'd love to see them tackle Fort Royal or Rainbow Hill   Not that there is anything wrong with putting some short steep climbs into a course, wouldn't bother me!

I believe this to be the second running of this race in 2013, so I guess it will take a while for the race to grow and to get the council on board with the necessary road closures etc.  If it grows maybe it will migrate into the city but those are some nice villages the current course takes you through: Wychavon Half Marathon (I think thats geographically correct??)