Hi
I have entered FLM and been following the various "am I in" threads with interest. Well done Josie Jump in particular for all the amateur sleuthing. It's amazing how many people seem to be sweating buckets over whether they get in or not..
What alternative marathons are people pencilling in if rejected? Or are you all going to sulk and do half marathons instead?
Does anyone have any experience or know anything about:
Rotterdam (Apr)
Copenhagen (May) ?
Also why is it that the UK has virtually no decent second marathon (I'm just talking PB potential forget the crowds)
Cheers
Tim
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Comments
(anyone who's anyone's doing it)
Fast, flat, friendly.
2nd?? some would say other ones rate more highly than FLM - depends on your outlook
so - Abingdon or Cardiff - dead flat both of them and very good
I guess. However both Abingdon and Cardiff are in october was looking for a spring one around the same time as FLM, ready to use all the excellent base mileage have been / will continue to put in!
What about Lake Vrnvwy or whatever its called - the worlds most unpronouceable race other than the Llanfairpg 10km!!
Did it last year and enjoyed it, just hoping to be a little bit faster this year.
Plusses were
Easyjet from Stansted
Well organised, excellent food at the finish
Good pacers (they swap for fresh legs at half way)
Copenhagen is a lovely city to visit
Minusses
Hotels, eating very expensive
Route was fairly flat but littered with kerbs, parked cars, narrow paths - worst of all cyclists giving drinks to their friends
Drinks in plastic cups - and the sports drinks tasted horrible if you picked one up by mistake.
I think there is still a Copenhagen Tread running, so you might like to ask there for more info - RichK had a good website of his own with useful info.
We all enjoyed it, but I'm not sure we will be going back.
The two I have in mind as alternatives to FLM are Lochaber and Paris. Both in same month as FLM.
I had looked at doing this as I went through the whole "am I in am I not in" bollox" last year but I decided that as it would be my first (and probably last)that it would be better to do something nearer to home.
In the end I did Shakespeare which is always 7 days after FLM. Next year it is on 25/04/05.
It has a 13.00 start. Entries are open.
If you do a search at the top of the forum page then there are loads of threads on Shakespeare marathon for 2003 and 2004
It doesn't have quite as many people at the sides shouting "keep going!", people in amusing costumes or the Isle of Dogs, but then again it does have a wine station at 42K, the best start of any race other than maybe New York, and you can sign up and get your number today.
3 March Rome
10 April Paris & Rotterdam
22 May Prague & Vienna
Or you could join me in Mannheim on 21 May for an evening marathon! Starts at 17:30
The conditions are also generally good. Because it is in June I found it easier to train for as my highest mileage was done in March and April when the sun is coming back up and the weather kinder
Berlin beats Paris into a cocked hat in all respects, the start, the course, the spectators, the weather, everything. Even though it's an autumn race not a spring one.
I didn't like Paris. Too many underpasses.
Rotterdam does seem to be the best spring bet, shame its not an obvious city to want to visit. The Halstead marathon in sunny Essex also looks interesting - not heard of that one before.
The choice for autumn events does look better - dublin, abingdon, berlin etc
Tim
About 4 weeks later in May.
It's definitely my second choice - flat, by the river and a fantastic city. Has anyone any comments?
Cheap flights by easyjet,already booked.