Ive not ran this newer course, i last ran it with the older course which had some pretty brutal parts. anyone run it last year with any feedback on the course?
The course looks similar to the first cov half in 2005 which included radford road and the last cov half i ran in 2008 which inclded allesley etc... Hopefully won't be to hard as I tried bring ham last year and it was torture.
I ran it last year, not running this year as have moved away and its good but not that good that I am going to drive a 240 mile round trip for! I reviewed last year, when it was very sunny, and as I don't like the heat, is always going to make it seem harder than usual! It basically goes out from Coventry, along a lot of rural lanes, and then heads back into Coventry through a park. It was pretty up or down the whole way, but there are not major hills that I can remember, so as long as you run regularly and incorporate the odd hill into your training this won't pose a significant problem! It was pretty well organised out on the course, with good local support, just the start/finish was a bit chaotic, coped fine with last years numbers but it wouldn't if there were a lot more running, but I am sure the organisers have taken that on board. If your local its definitely worth considering, but like I say there are other halfs that wkd which is why I am not travelling for it. Hope that helps!
well its either coventry or oxford half i cant make my mind up yet, need to go and read reviews for both, i've got friends i can stay with in oxford so either is a possibility for me
I would read the reviews for Oxford, first running last year seemed to have some major issues! I am running Cardiff that day hence why no Coventry! Sure either will be a good run out!
i ran the whole course today on a training run. its far from an easy course but its not an unenjoyable one, the 1st 5/6 miles is uphill, the 1st 3 are a gradual but relentless climb and then its a bit up n down, but on mile 5 there is a horrible hill, but its small, the good news is that after the turn around at mile 6 you could roll down the rest to the end, so power up the 1st half, i was using whole new muscle groups for the 2nd half, you basically get fresh legs at 6 miles, it felt like 2 10k's i dont know how to explain it. anyway, my gps trace from today is here if you want it.
Wow - thanks Marc - I have just ploughed through upcoming events to find one to do, and your GPS info and report is the most helpful yet! I am going to sign up now to do it - might see you on the day! The colder the better as far as I'm concerned!
Hi all i've never done a half marathon , and am considering this or birminham half marathon as my first.
so far the furthest i've done is 10miles. have entered silverstone half next March which will be the one i am training towards, but wanted to mentally prepare by completing the distance this year.i'll essentially be a fun runner and expect a few stops along the way in the second half of the race.
wasn't sure if i should continue with 10milers or move up to half marathon, swayed towards half amrathon as field will be bigger. - i'm hoping to finish around 2hr15min-2hr20min
if you have done 10miles you will easily do HM I'm doing Bham half, not sure about this as i will have just run a marathon the week before so will see how my legs feel
I have run Silverstone HM and Bham HM before, and Bham is the harder of the 2
not run coventry so cant speak about the course
Bham the killer is the last 3miles but its a great atmosphere, loads of support especially now its been picked up by Bupa hence why i'm going to run it again
If u can do Bham HM you will fly silverstone, thats one of the easiest HM's i've done, it flat all the way
I'd say go for a HM as you cant beat crossing that finish line its a great feeling and you will be glad you did it ( and u get a medal and a t.shirt with bham not sure what u get for Coventry but i would say at least a medal )
i too have done silverstone and birmingham, silverstone is such an easy course, but the lack of crowd can bore some people, im a huge 1 fan so the course itself is amazing to me,
Birmingham is great all the way round, with a few killer hills near the 11 mile mark i believe it was, (just after edgebaston) since bupa took over the organisation is 10x better, especially at the start/finish line.
If you plan on doing the birmingham one Vennisa i would check its still open, their Facebook page said it was near full a month ago.
This was a really good course - finished with out stopping in my first ever half so very pleased. it was rather hilly - but just the downhills to get over the uphills!!!
I'm glad you enjoyed it Vennisa - well done for keeping going, there were some mean hills in there! It was the first time I'd completed this route too. The supporters were terrific and I enjoyed every pound of it!
Well done Marc - no PB for me, I never expected to as I have been a bit slower since running a trail marathon in the summer, this race did prove however, that my legs still have it and I will beat that PB one day!
Comments
nobody else?
The course looks similar to the first cov half in 2005 which included radford road and the last cov half i ran in 2008 which inclded allesley etc... Hopefully won't be to hard as I tried bring ham last year and it was torture.
i'm considering this one, will be interesting to see what other things, the RW reviews i heard were quite positive of this course
I ran it last year, not running this year as have moved away and its good but not that good that I am going to drive a 240 mile round trip for! I reviewed last year, when it was very sunny, and as I don't like the heat, is always going to make it seem harder than usual! It basically goes out from Coventry, along a lot of rural lanes, and then heads back into Coventry through a park. It was pretty up or down the whole way, but there are not major hills that I can remember, so as long as you run regularly and incorporate the odd hill into your training this won't pose a significant problem! It was pretty well organised out on the course, with good local support, just the start/finish was a bit chaotic, coped fine with last years numbers but it wouldn't if there were a lot more running, but I am sure the organisers have taken that on board. If your local its definitely worth considering, but like I say there are other halfs that wkd which is why I am not travelling for it. Hope that helps!
well its either coventry or oxford half i cant make my mind up yet, need to go and read reviews for both, i've got friends i can stay with in oxford so either is a possibility for me
ok will have a look Thanks Laudy
i ran the whole course today on a training run. its far from an easy course but its not an unenjoyable one, the 1st 5/6 miles is uphill, the 1st 3 are a gradual but relentless climb and then its a bit up n down, but on mile 5 there is a horrible hill, but its small, the good news is that after the turn around at mile 6 you could roll down the rest to the end, so power up the 1st half, i was using whole new muscle groups for the 2nd half, you basically get fresh legs at 6 miles, it felt like 2 10k's i dont know how to explain it. anyway, my gps trace from today is here if you want it.
http://runkeeper.com/user/MarcStokes79/activity/119138947
the course is pretty once you get past mile 3 and into the country side, i liked it a lot more than i imagined. its a good course.
thanks Marc thats really useful, its encouraging to read its all downhill from mile 6 lol
3 weeks to go now, weather just took a dive for the worst though, kinda glad, i like colder races.
Wow - thanks Marc - I have just ploughed through upcoming events to find one to do, and your GPS info and report is the most helpful yet! I am going to sign up now to do it - might see you on the day! The colder the better as far as I'm concerned!
Hi all i've never done a half marathon , and am considering this or birminham half marathon as my first.
so far the furthest i've done is 10miles. have entered silverstone half next March which will be the one i am training towards, but wanted to mentally prepare by completing the distance this year.i'll essentially be a fun runner and expect a few stops along the way in the second half of the race.
wasn't sure if i should continue with 10milers or move up to half marathon, swayed towards half amrathon as field will be bigger. - i'm hoping to finish around 2hr15min-2hr20min
any advise would be great
if you have done 10miles you will easily do HM I'm doing Bham half, not sure about this as i will have just run a marathon the week before so will see how my legs feel
I have run Silverstone HM and Bham HM before, and Bham is the harder of the 2
not run coventry so cant speak about the course
Bham the killer is the last 3miles but its a great atmosphere, loads of support especially now its been picked up by Bupa hence why i'm going to run it again
If u can do Bham HM you will fly silverstone, thats one of the easiest HM's i've done, it flat all the way
I'd say go for a HM as you cant beat crossing that finish line its a great feeling and you will be glad you did it ( and u get a medal and a t.shirt with bham not sure what u get for Coventry but i would say at least a medal )
i too have done silverstone and birmingham, silverstone is such an easy course, but the lack of crowd can bore some people, im a huge 1 fan so the course itself is amazing to me,
Birmingham is great all the way round, with a few killer hills near the 11 mile mark i believe it was, (just after edgebaston) since bupa took over the organisation is 10x better, especially at the start/finish line.
If you plan on doing the birmingham one Vennisa i would check its still open, their Facebook page said it was near full a month ago.
Birmingham entry closes at 5pm TONIGHT, just an FYI
Thanks - i've gone with Coventry as i need to be back in London by 3pm on a sundays, and birmingham starts at hour later.
i'll do Birmnigham next year - thanks for your advise all.
This was a really good course - finished with out stopping in my first ever half so very pleased. it was rather hilly - but just the downhills to get over the uphills!!!
I'm glad you enjoyed it Vennisa - well done for keeping going, there were some mean hills in there! It was the first time I'd completed this route too. The supporters were terrific and I enjoyed every pound of it!
i thought it was good, well organised too. weather (whilst a little icy at the start) was perfect, set my PB yesterday.
Well done Marc - no PB for me, I never expected to as I have been a bit slower since running a trail marathon in the summer, this race did prove however, that my legs still have it and I will beat that PB one day!