My Event Ratings

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: 38 runnings and there's still not enough water
In full: Whilst I like the fact that this is organised by runners for runners I was disappointed that there weren't more frequent water stations on the course. Spring marathons in Scotland can be hot, very hot...

This race is run on open roads - the traffic did its best to accommodate us but I had to run on a rough grass verge a couple of times. It might have been better if the organisers had advertised it more in the local area and alerted drivers to the fact that the runners were doing a *marathon* not just a run.

There wasn't a great deal of support but what there was was very enthusiastic. It was also nice to find that runners on the way out cheered those on the return and vice versa.

Although there are no challenging climbs on this course it is rarely completely flat. The first and final miles are through a park with a couple of short, sharp hills on the return, but running beside the castle was a treat.

The size of Fort William (smallish), along with the fact that there are very few trains from Glasgow (most people's route goes this way) meant that there was a lot of chatter and friendliness between runners.

In many ways the competitors themselves make this marathon work. Add that to the scenery and it's a prety fun weekend away.

I would recommend this marathon but would suggest that runners carry some water of their own. I saw a few runners with a small pack that accommodated one bottle - presumably for the gaps between the stations. I wish I had done.

Club run marathons are few and far between, so I applaud Lochaber AC for making the effort.

Will I do it again? Perhaps in a few years.
Date of review: April 13, 2011

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