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Southampton Marathon
Stephen Elkan 2
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hi- I know a lot of runners are taking part in the big spring marathons- however is any one running the Southampton Marathon. Did anyone run it last year and can give recommendations. I’m going to target this run as a PB possibly with training plan set up.
Happy running
Happy running
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Comments
I've run many 'town' marathons and to be fair it is better than most.
Sure there are some dull bits but some stretches through town and park are reasonable enough.
The course has a couple of inclines, including the Itchen bridge twice as bb69 says, although I understand the course is in reverse in 2018 so will be around 3 & 16 miles rather than 10 & 23.
It is potentially a PB course: I ran my GFA there. The stadium bit was also pretty cool (you go in one end, along the side and out the other end).
Organisation was pretty good and I liked the compact finish area (Guildhall is but a small stagger from the finish).
The only word of caution, again as bb68 says is there is a 10k and half alongside.
The 10k started 90 minutes after the marathon, so if you go through halfway in anything around 1h30-1h45 bracket you will come up against a wall of 10k walkers around miles 13-15. Anticipate some bobbing and weaving. You'll catch the slower halfM runners much further on when it's much more strung out.
I liked the fact that it is the same day as London, so training plan was the same as those doing the big City one. That was preferable to Brighton (over priced & over rated) and Milton Keynes (inferior to Soton imho) which are on different weeks.
My early training is going really well so feeling the buzz to enter.
Have you guys any race plans?
Good organisation and support and atmosphere, but its 2 laps, of which the second lap was congested with 10k and half marathon runners. Also quite a few inclines, so not a PB course due to congestion and hills.
Sure you will enjoy though.
Im upping the training and LSR going well. Just need to do more midweek at marathon pace.
Have a look at a P&D schedule if you get chance - very good training.
also forgot to say - a great non alco beer at the end of the race was nice as well.
I am doing the beginners marathon plan with Hanson's marathon method book that I bought..should be 24 miles for next week and 39 the week after on week 6... I must admit it's a slog on the treadmill.. I'd much rather run outside, but I will save that for when I really up my milage as at the moment I just want to get my legs used to running higher mileage. When I go to the higher milage I may well split my runs into two parts each day to fit in with going to work.
Berlin was a very good marathon in my top 2!!
FBT- that beer is really good, amazing recovery from it. I’m currently having a dry January and may continue it throughout training, if I have the will power.
Berlin is currently my Fourth favourite marathon. Great for a weekend away and amazing flat course.
1) London- in 1990 I did my first marathon in London and it got me hooked on running. Done it 5 Times since and still get goosebumps.
2) New York- Amazing route/organisation only thing I don’t like is long wait at start.
3) Abingdon- Small marathon but did my PB here 3:32:33 so will always be special. Most low key marathon I’ve ever done- day before had a McDonald’s for lunch as my pre marathon meal!!, so relaxed on day and ran brilliantly.
I also do a leg day in the gym with deadlifts, abductor exercises, lots of stretching, soleus exercises, and a few planks thrown in...these exercises seem to keep the injuries at bay..
Dave.
I put it joint 1st with london....then Brighton, Rome, Barcelona, Jerusalem, venice, florence
most dissapointing were Amsterdam then France
I only have Brighton and London in the diary again tis year. Would love to do New york or Boston but they are so expensive.
FBT- I forgot about Brighton I did enjoy that one and crowd support was excellent. Amsterdam was a nightmare for me as I had shin splints and was in agony for 13 of the 26 miles. However loved the weekend away.
New York is expensive but treat it as a holiday.
Dave I’ve been running for a long time and my times are staying static now, I think this will be my last year at having a go at tyring to beat 3:30 time. I’m going to do 2 marathon races this year spring and autumn, then hopefully an ultra race at the end of June in between the marathon races if I stay fit. My 12 mile run with a park run in between on Saturday was brilliant training.
Amsterdam sounded grim for you - i disliked the fact it was a boring drag along a canel for most of the race outside the city. Stadium start and finish was nice though. - Speaking of which i liked the run through St Marys stadium in southampton marathon -nice touch i thought.
MRM2 - I found that running through little villages outside venice, florance, prague etc were really pleasent, but amsterdam was dull along a canal for 20 miles. Good point about the bad weather though at Bournmouth could make it unpleasent.
Dave - agree finish area of Bournemouth was very good (not sure i would call the marathon very flat though as a few hills up and down the cliffs, but presume these were not in the 10k)
FBT - I did Amsterdam last October and really enjoyed it. Apart from the first 2k where I had to weave through slower runners the rest of my run went pretty smoothly, but I think the mad start was enough to put me off from doing it again.
CD - I liked the start and finish in the stadium, thought it was the best part, funny how we all see different good and bad points in races
Although this will be my first ever marathon...I did run in the first Southampton half marathon back in 1982.... and did the half a few times in the 80s and early 90s... I've still got my t-shirt for the 1991 half.
In preparation for the marathon, today was the first time I've run 10 miles since the 90s..over twenty years ago... and it went well, slow but that doesn't bother me.. I'm just getting the miles in my legs at the moment.
I'm not really following a plan, but have done quite a few marathons, and have a fair idea of what ought to be included. Always enjoy a long run whether or not I'm preparing for a marathon. So last week I chose a good day for a 17' run out to Sandbanks. Also went on the treadmill last week, and did a couple of km. and that was enough for me. Apparently some people do virtually all of their training on the treadmill. Amazing. Happy running.
The 10 miler today was outside and hilly.. I really prefer running outside... and my longer runs will be outside. I don't think I could run 10 miles on a treadmill in one go.
Sandbanks and the coastline from Hengistbury Head ... what a lovely place to run....lucky you.. phew 17 miles well done, you've obviously put the miles in previously to get to that stage..... how is everyone else's training going?