I really want to run a marathon at some point in the next year or two, but I really dislike road-running. Can anyone suggest some trail / off-road marathons? Am open to options - either UK or abroad.
I'm doing the Forest of Dean half next week, which I'm really looking forward to, so this will give me a better idea of time and I'll also see how it compares to a road half (I did one a few years ago in 1hr 52mins).
Thanks in advance!
Comments
Beachy Head
Awesome
Bolton Hill, did it last week-fantastic. Or, equally fab Hardmoors 26.2 trail series. Did Osmotherely on about a month ago-tough as hell but awesome.
South Downs Marathon 8th June and Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon 22nd December.
The coastal series.
Beachy,
Giants Head or whatever it becomes.
South Downs.
Steyning Stinger.
Three Forts.
Eden - multi terrain, ie some road.
Neolithic.
brilliant, thanks everyone! Will look them up and make a decision...
Lake Coniston - 07/07
http://www.trionium.com/greensand/
Clarendon
http://www.clarendon-marathon.co.uk/
http://www.southwalesldwa.org/rrc/rrc.html
http://www.southwalesldwa.org/ravens/wrd.html
Try the Tronium marathons in Surrey - the Picnic or Greensand - ball-breaking hard....
Beachy Head's also top-notch as is White Peak in Derbyshire....
Some of the iconic and absolutely brilliant Snowdonia Marathon's also off road mate..
Im doing the Jurassic Coast Challenge this weekend so I shall let you know what it's like.. Its 3 marathons (actually a little over), 3 days but you can choose to just do one day..
If you fance a trip up to Yorkshire in September then the Yorkshireman marathon is a top event, really well organised with great stew at the end an a decent t-shirt, what more could you want, other than a good pub?
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Oh yes, there's those too
thanks everyone!
Alfa_Scud - the Yorkshire one sounds good, a stew at the end should help my motivation!
Red Williams - I've heard the Snowdonia one has great scenery, I've climbed Snowdon before and the views were shrouded in mist so it'll be nice to visit again!
Hi Canary, I'm doing my very first marathon in September: the Purbeck Marathon. I'm not sure how wise a choice for a first marathon it is but it looks like a beautiful course. I'm just like you in that I try to run predominantly off road. My knees don't take kindly to too much pounding of tarmac.
I am of course, also doing Forest of Dean, as you will have seen from your thread on that!
I've long fancied a crack at the Endurance Life Coastal Trail Series as well. If Purbeck goes well, I might have a go at the Devon one in February 2014.
Fancy visiting Switzerland? We have a lot of Alpine and trail races...with amazing views!!!
Here a couple of links for you to check out:
Zermatt (I have run the 2nd half last year and am doing it again this year, fantastic!)
http://www.zermattmarathon.ch/index.php?id=3&L=1
Davos Swissalpine (did K30 last year and doing C42 this year):
http://www.swissalpine.ch/cms/index.php?aid=1008
Eiger Trail:
http://www.eigerultratrail.ch/en/
Mountain Man:
http://www.themountainman.ch/en.html
...and you can find other Swiss races at Datasport.ch. Let me know if you want more infos