Preston Guild Marathon

Whats this meeting about Alan ?

And ive decided, it might be interesting if we all come up with our fantasy Preston Marathon Routes. Im happy with what ever route they do, but i just thought it might interesting and also might give us all ideas for our own training routes.

Any way ive come up with this, ive not really spent much time on it, maybe 10 mins he he but ive covered the Uni, Deepdale, the Docks, the river , the welcome to Preston Sign, a couple of the towns parks and Museums, along with County Hall. 

http://www.runningahead.com/maps/366c528313494b9d8106e893a66de6a5?unit=mi

I would of loved to have gone around more of the river routes but, i thought, we cant really have that many runners going down those narrow paths. Any way, what else can you guys come up with ?

Great route. Like the bits on the old tram route out from Avenham Park and a nice bit on track by River at docks. Think these would work even with a large field as it would have settled by those points.

This route would also be good for spectators.

Ah thanks Max.

 I think i might come into problems with the people at Capital Centre and perhaps runners wouldnt like to tackle that hill into Preston. But for me that, thats the route I would of loved to have seen us take on.

 Have you got one of your own ?

P.S. the Old Tram Road, i often use this on my runs, its very handy and its nice running around there and along the river walkways. 

Met a mate in Chorley on Sunday and we ran through Cuerden and picked up the tram path to Aveham, turned and ran back for a great 18 mile lsr.

I live in Longton and often run down Ribbleway to the docks and use the track you have mapped. In fact ran down Ribbleway on the last day of coasters, though went on paths through docks as Nurse Gladis had a sore ankle!

Will have a go at a route but to be honest yours will be hard to beat.

Ah coasters! i Thought your user name seemed familiar. There was so many of us mind, that i wasnt sure. Ive emailed Stu and few others about seeing if we can get all the people from the first and last legs together for the Guild Marathon for a bit of a re-union.

You know, ive seen a few routes which use those docks ways and i have been thinking about taking them in on a run sometime. That site i have used for my route, it is free to join and advert free - which is nice! Its made by some runners over in Boston USA you see. Any way im rambling, the point im trying to make is, that there is a search tool on there and you can look up other peoples routes and thats were i have seen the docklands runs people have been doing and I bet its quite nice, passing through there on early mornings.

P.S you dont have to beat my route, just come up with what would be your fantasy Preston Marathon Route.

Yes. I definitely agree with Max. That is a great route Coasters.

Yeah sure, the heirarchy would immediately jump on you and moan by saying it's messy and would be difficult to shut down this much of Preston, but I can't see why we couldn't share a 1/3 of any road with traffic where necessary for once in 20 years. Strange how they forget that they do that for roadworks all the time.

I love your north-south split idea similar to mine, with the main roads of Fishergate, London Road, Deepdale, Blackpool and Garstang Roads in it, and especially the intricate interweaving throughout many of Preston's communities to keep it fun and entertaining between town, parks and countryside.

I did mine in about 20 minutes but I'd say yours is definitely better. 

Hell, parts of that are a cool training run for this summer for sure, especially somehow mixing in miles 1-8 with the last 6, and just following it straight from miles 9-24 would be great training runs.

THAT's the kind of course thinking that makes me want to enjoy running round Preston. Nice one.

Ha! Thanks Pete, yes i saw your route, using both sides of the town and coupled with that fact i live the south side of the river, i know you can easily get a load of runners down those parts.

I agree Preston is nice to run around, i think i said earlier how the river walkways are really nice to run around esp in the summer and it is true. We are lucky to have those areas. I am looking forward to the cycle wheel being built, as i imagine large parts of that can be used as a running path. I think they have something similar in Lancaster.

 I dont know the north of the city very well running wise, so i wouldnt be surprised if some of that isnt very good but hey its my route he he I know what you mean about the road closures, but there is no choice as Preston is so small and if you want to keep if close to the town for the crowds its what you have to do. If Newcastle and London and can manage it, then im sure Preston can esp if its a one off. Mind you, i'd love Preston to get a yearly Marathon and i think it would well attended. 

Maybe that's the future 9, the Guild Wheel. If not a marathon what about a 20 miler. There not many of those about and it could be kept entirely on the wheel. Either way,  i suspect once its finished i will borrow it for running.  

I live the south side too, Miller Park in fact, so running along the rivers, parks, docks and tram routes is just ace. I don't think they'd let thousands, (if there will be that many!), run past where I am in the early part of the race but hey, they could always reverse your route no problem. What frustrates the crap outta me is that there's is just soo damn unimaginative and pathetic, sending us out into the countryside for more than half of the course without running through Preston's communities, main roads and great little tracks like yours, but uhm, don't get me started again! Ha ha! Grrrr...

I went to check out some of the new Guild Wheel last week and managed to get a good 5 miles east along the river as far as the Brockholes Nature Reserve. It was brilliant to run on. Note that the tarmac stops there though cos we hit fields and had to scramble through a fence and an industrial estate to get back onto Longridge Road to get  home via Ribbleton Ave, so we'll just have to be careful whilst it's under construction.

It's supposed to come to about 21 miles I think when it's finished so it'll be a great training track for lots of us prior to the marathon but I think it'll be much nearer July when the full wheel is ready.

There's tarmac down now out for us out to the docks as well so we've now got a good 7-8 mile stretch along the river out to Brockholes from the very end of the docks. Come summer I can see lots of us doing long runs around the Wheel, but I'm certainly gonna do miles 9-24 of your course for sure, and at some point I'll be doing a few 15-16'ers around their "middle of bleedin nowhere part" .

Haven't checked out any of the northern parts of the Wheel yet but maybe someone else will fill us in when parts of it are ready to run on. By summer we'll be able to handle long runs on it too.

Your right Pete, it is a tight squeeze down there, but thought it a be nice to get the run down there on my fantasy route, so saved it off for a bit, in my mind the pack would of thinned out a bit by the time we get there. But maybe your right, perhaps it should reach that point later on.

You know, we have probably past each other a few times then if you use the river walkways too. I usually, try and greet every runner i pass, but im not the only one that does that so i guess that wont help you identify me! hehe . 

I think, i might wait till the wheel is finished before tackling it then. I did once run down that path that heads away from the Capital Centre, towards to water treatment place and it was closed off, i think it still is, i had to climb up a big fence and jump down the other side. It made the run more interesting, but i dont think its something you want to do every week hehe. 

I think everybody will agree with your grip about the course. But I'm sure they have their reasons such as costs and H&S. End of the day, cant really miss this one can we as there may never be a Preston Marathon again, so for us locals its a must. 

well hello Stu, long time no hear. Ah i forgot you were doing London. How is that going ?

 Has any one else ever thought with Virgin sponsoring London, shouldn't that have a focus on getting as many first timers in it as possible. I mean it seems an obvious PR avenue to explore to me.

 Either way, your going to love it Stu. 

Not too bad at all SJPC :_) Done a couple of 20 milers already

I am trying not to do much work now book is more or less finished (bar editing and editor is on it -no hurry)

Lovely to hear from you and some of tothers who forwarded me the message -WHY? -lol

I have booked it on Barry's Fanclub page and mentioned it there. You may get some entrants through that too. Anyway some may wanna spectate. We can make a day of it (and have the odd drinky after)

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/BazBat/

Ah yes it will be good for everybody to get together.. I'm nothing to do with organising this event, but fingers crossed it fills up fast and they change the route , which is what a few people on here would like to see and as a results we have been coming up with our own fantasy routes for it. Buts a one of event and it a be great to have Barry attend the Guild he he 

P.S sounds like your good and ready for London - One tip dont take too much money with you to the expo he he 

Just let who is doing it know that they have a celeb in Barry coming (if we don't lose him by then). Barry was made in Lancashire, started and finished in Lancs and all that, so it seems appropriate to have a re-union in Lancs I say

I hope they select an unhilly course-lol

Ha sounds like another thing to add to the list of excuses as to why we should have a re-union he he.

Is he still travelling around different races ?

Dont worry the course, that is being talked about is quite flat i believe. 

Austraillia really?? he he - The world famous Barry!!

Entries are now open for this even Stu and i believe there is currently a limit of just 5000 runners.