The Farnham Pilgrim, Marathon & Half-Marathon - Events

Hills'

13/04/2012 at 22:23

Haven't run a marathon since the last Pilgrim, but finally getting back to feeling like I could do. Must get my entry in. Looking forward to it! Who else is in?

way2slow

14/04/2012 at 06:22

i'm in - part of my 12 in 2012 challenge!!! never run it before - is it a nice course?

KateF

14/04/2012 at 06:41

Me too - morning W2S - it''s a beautiful course, loads of marshals and very friendly. Couple of hills though....

Hills'

14/04/2012 at 11:58

It's an interesting course, lots of variety, which distracts from slogging up those hills.

way2slow

15/04/2012 at 07:42

ooooohhhh - i love hills! one of my favourite races (apart from the bog) is the grizzly

. Hills' - if you're local, do you know of any b&b's which'll allow dogs?

Hills'

16/04/2012 at 16:45

Hi w2s, The Princess Royal is listed on the 'pet-friendly' site below and is closest to the Sands Village start & finish. Check it out.

http://www.lodging-world.com/uk/england/surrey/farnham/pet-friendly-hotels

way2slow

16/04/2012 at 20:13

Thanks Hills' - will check it out......

Hills'

20/04/2012 at 19:23

Seem to be into off-road, this year. What other softer events (underfoot)can anyone recommend as a run-up to The Pilgrim?

Neil Chisholm 2

22/04/2012 at 17:27

This looks like a really interesting alternative to a mass road race. Two things which I'd be grateful for others' views on:
1. I have just done the Paris marathon (my first) coming in a shade over four hours. The field here being so small in comparison, are we talking about a more advanced bunch than my level?
2. I like the idea of off road running, having had IT band problems in the run up to the Paris marathon. But I imagine off-road running would unwind the springs my legs more than the roads, and I wondered if I should train specifically for this aspect, or at least accept that it will be a more demanding course?

Sophie Bennett 4

23/04/2012 at 09:30

Do I need trail trainers for this? Lots of mention of off road...

HowFar???

23/04/2012 at 15:45

Did this last year. Road shoes were fine. The standard is as mixed as any other event. One or two hills you may as well walk up and stiles and kissing gates to negotiate. Queues build up at these in the first half, but the field spreads out so less of that as you go on, not a PB course so shouldn't be a problem. I'd expect marathon time plus 10-15 mins. Overall nice event and well worth doing.

Hills'

25/04/2012 at 23:16

just ran some of the routes near Guildford. They are certainly soft and squishy now! If it's a wet summer, shoes with more grip may be needed.

ancient plodder

09/05/2012 at 19:03

Hi Neil

I staggered (literally!) round in around 6 1/2 hours and they were all still waiting for me at the end with food, water and T-shirts. Unless you're super-fit, you won't run it all - it's a toughie, (I think it's harder than Beachy Head, which I've done in the same sort of time several times.) If you're not used to off-road running, this will probably add at least half an hour to your road time. There are lots of (often welcome) obstacles that will slow you down, as the others have said, plus mud and tree roots to dodge, but there's biscuits and Mars bars at the water stations, and a lovely atmosphere. Just enjoy it. Forget PBs, but a bit - no, a lot - of practice running up hill would be very very useful! It's a great race. Bet you'll be a convert to off-road after this one!

way2slow

10/05/2012 at 05:16

oh boy, now you've got me worried ancient plodder - do you know if are there more hills than the Grizzly? Haven't done any off road training yet - better get my act together i guess.....

Are we nearly there yet

10/05/2012 at 13:41

Oooo. I'm seriously interested. I'm useless as a useless thing on hills. Done a coule of marathon's but never an off road one. Will have to get some hill practice in around St Martha's. Like the sound that it's friendly, local and they're still waiting after 6 hours! My kind of race

ancient plodder

10/05/2012 at 19:51

some of the hills are big, and some are just long slow inclines that go on for ever and ever and ever... at least I think that's what it's like because memory fades with age (just like remembering how stiff I was afterwards). If you know St Martha's you'll be pleased to hear that a climb up to there is roughly half way... enjoy the sand...

way2slow

11/05/2012 at 13:49

don't know the area at all unfortunately - i'm from the midlands and i've never been to farnham...... and what's this about sand? - don't remember any beaches showing up on the maps

Neil Chisholm 2

12/05/2012 at 18:34

Guys, all this info is great and is whetting my appetite! This looks like a real challenge but a massively fun one!

ancient plodder

13/05/2012 at 12:33

If it's whetting your appetite, perhaps we should add there's a pub right opposite the entrance to the start/finish field....

Hellywobs

14/05/2012 at 16:51

I've signed up for the half marathon and am looking forward to it. For the scenery and the Mars bars! They are very generous with the cut-off times, so you can take your time and enjoy it. Definitely not a PB course but now I've said that someone will come on and say that they've done a PB there!