Hi all, doesn't time fly?
It seems like yesterday we were pounding out the miles in the pouring rain along the side of Loch Ness.
Only seconds after I'd crossed the finish line in 2006 I was asked if I'd do another marathon.
Right away I said "yes" and I'll be back in October, determined to get under 4hrs at the second attempt.
To anyone considering their marathon debut, this isn't the easiest course you'll find but the organisation is great and there's plenty support along the way.
Let's hope the weather this year is just a wee bit drier!
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I've decided to go up to Inverness for a week if I can and do some exploring. In spite of all the rain I had a great time there in October and the three days I was there just wasn't enough.
I have found out Moray again is on the same day as the Great Scottish Run which is a bit of a tradition for me now so looks like it'll be Loch Ness again!
Need to keep my eyes on the Travelodge website again for their cheap deals!
I tried yesterday to book two rooms in one of the guest houses we used but it's already full on the Saturday night.
I'd asked Visit Scotland to try to find an alternative but they emailed me today to say I'd struggle to find a guest house which would accept a one-night booking on the weekend of a major event.
I looked up another guest house and rang it this morning and got two rooms no bother.
I can't say I was terribly impressed by Visit Scotland's response.
We stayed in a B&B near to the start but I will have to search for its name. We stayed two nights so that I could collapse in comfort after the race. :-)
I would say that only about half of it was hilly - you went up a hill then down a hill then up a hill then down a hill then up a hill .....well you get my drift.
DD - its not too bad really although at mile 17, just when you are knackered, there is a lovely hill about 1.5m long. There is usually a profile of the route on the website but if you can't find it, email me and I'll send it to you. I think I still have it somehwere on my pc.
I can remember last year there was a hill at mile 4 which caught me and a couple of others completely by surprise!!!
But its a brilliant race and so well organised. You get food and soup afterwards too!
Inverness basically has tourism as its only industry, and there are thousands of beds available in hotels, guest houses and B&Bs. Even if each of the 1500 runners in this event brought their whole families, it is unlikely that anyone couldn't find somewhere to sleep in October. Different maybe in June when we are overrun with American and Japanese Nessie hunters (makes me nervous, I can tell you), but off season.......
The problem with Visit Scotland is that they will only tell you about hotels etc that are registered with them, and very few do, for the very reason Spartacles has highlighted.
[rant mode off]
I'll be doing it again (touches wood to ward off the injury fairies) - I've done all 5 so far, so why break with tradition. I love it.
We have had forumite meals the night before and the night after in the past, although the Italian restaurant we used for the night before the 2005 race has now closed. Happy to advise/arrange/book something nearer the time.
I think I will definitely do Loch Ness again this year but will wait until I get paid this month!
I haven't decided which Marathon to run later in the year yet.
Debstir can't be any wetter than last year although I thought it was okay to run in but not when you stopped running.
Don't really mind the rain too much - although I much prefer if it starts raining once I have started.
still fabulous race, supberb organisation, incredible scenery, fab company, and even fabber night out after! ;o)
Hope the weather is better than last year and good luck all :-)
Good luck to all !!!
It was my first ever marathon last year - you'll love it!