Sarsen Trail & Neolithic Marathon

I'll be there for the marathon for the 3rd consecutive time.  Have run the Prague Marathon the week after each year and will do again.  Really enjoy this event, something I always look forward to.  Hopefully the weather will be good, has been fine the last couple of years.

JonnyS - is the route clear, well marked etc - for the ever so slightly navigationally challenged ?  And hilliness - compared to other local trail runs (South Downs, Clarendon, etc) ?  

You'll have no problem with navigation.  The walkers go out early and give a clear definition of the route & navigation has never even crossed my mind during this event.

 In terms of hilliness, you have 2 fairly steep climbs (at around 4 miles and 10 miles).  The rest is undulating.  The first half is much more picturesque mostly run on grassy trails.  The second half is mostly on fire tracks through Salisbury Plain, can be bit boring between about 12-18 miles and is open to the elements.  I would say it's a slightly quicker route than Clarendon & Salisbury.

The stones are a welcome sight when they catch your eye with about a mile & a half to go.

One point to note is that the water stations only have water & sponges.  Best to bring gels etc with you if you require them.  I've run it just on water alone so far.  Nice spread of food at the end though. 

Hi there,

 doing the full one for the first time this year and really looking forward to it!

See you there!

Hi

 I'm hoping to do the Marathon this year, having done the Half several times and the Marathon once.

 I've always found the Half hard going, even though the Finish is several hundred feet below the Start. I find that those steep little descents and ascents in the first few miles throw my pace control, such as it is, so that I try too hard just when I should be settling down.

 I like the event a lot - Half and full - and I think the scenery and the atmosphere are great. When things are tough you can (usually) overtake a walker, which always helps. I know what you mean about miles 12-18, JonnyS, but there's a reason that they call it Salisbury Plain.....

You probably ran past me, as I did the ACC too. How was the JCC in comparison? I'm doing the ACC again this year.

See you in Avebury!

I doubt very much that I ran past you.... I'm more of the slow but steady type!

 The JCC seemed to have longer hills but fewer of them.... day 1 was made incredibly hard predominantly due to the conditions underfoot - knee-deep mud most of the way. .. day 2 was easy in comparison except for the last 6 miles ( hills...) and by day 3 I was struggling with ITBS ... more hills but no mud.... fog on the coast ( never been stuck on a cliff on my own in dense fog before....) which led to the coastguards stopping the race for an hour or so ( I was already up there! poor sods behind me were kept waiting in a minibus!)..... but hey, ultimately, I made it and that's what matters. I didn't feel it was harder except for the mud on day 1 so would do this again after a drier winter...

I loved the ACC and would love to do it again but am not sure yet whether I'm free that weekend!

In the meantime I'm really looking forward to the sarsen trail and will defo see you there.... all be it with a strapped knee!

The water stations are frequent enough, just don't have anything other than water & sponges.  I've managed the marathon on just water for the last 2 years. 

I remember thinking of food for most of the last 10 miles the first time I did it & the spread at the end didn't disappoint.  Can also get an ice-cream is you desire as well.

This is rather madly going to be my 1st marathon but I have been doing my long runs off road and with some big hills thrown in.  I am really looking forward to it now.

Does anyone know if trail shoes or normal running shoes are best for this event?  (I have been training in both).

Also am really worried that a stile that we have to climb over is going to be thrown in at Mile 20?!?!?  Could you confirm any random obstacles that we need o be aware of?