I ran Barcelona this year as an alternative to London. Obviously, it can't compare to the atmosphere and size of London but I found it really friendly and enjoyable. It was amazing running up La Rambla as the finale to the run. I certainly intend to return next year (it's on 21st March)
this year there were some races in Europe in March and April that had more than 2000 runners, so that nobody has to feel lost while running them:
Barcelona, Rom, Marseille, Lyon, Paris, Bonn, London, Rotterdam, Turin, Zürich, Hamburg, Madrid and Padua. Linz had just over 1000 and might already be a bit small for me. Duesseldorf, Prag and Vienna are in May and alternatives.
You can find links to their web pages under www.marathon-kalender.de, and then click marathon and the month you want.
I haven´t decided so far, but if I don´t get into London I am thinking about Paris or Rotterdam, maybe Lyon. I think it is nice to have it done while all the others are still doing their long runs.
And there are always the big ones in Boston or Vancuver.
Connemara - March 28 Rome - March 28 Lyon - March 28 Bonn - April 4 Zurich - April 4 Paris - April 4 Rotterdam - April 4 Turin - April 18 Hamburg - April 18 Tresco - April 18 Linz - April 18 Shakespeare - April 25 Padua - April 25 Lochaber - April 25 Madrid - April 25 Dusseldorf - May 2 Vienna - May 16 Prague - May 23
Barcelona - ?(mid March) Bungay Black Dog - ?(late March or early April) Taunton - ?(early April) Le Touquet - ?(mid April) Leeds - ?(early May) Sheffield - ?(in June last year!) Lake Vyrnwy - ?(early June)
Ooooooh, didn't realise there were so many spring marathons. Well, it least it goes to show there's more to life than FLM. I got so worked up last year when I applied for london and was so dissapointed when I failed to get in. I'm not even going to bother this year, I'd rather support one of the smaller marathons.
erm yes its been pointed out that this is a 24 hour and not 24mile race and therefore since I am looking to retain my sanity until the 2005 ironman i will not be entering hull next year (but might for fun the year after)
I did Turin in 2000, and then done London for the first time 2 weeks later, 3.24, followed by a 3.28....
Turin was excellent and i can certainly recommend it, about 3000 runners, fairly flatish, one hill before halfway i think, some nice countryside, and a finish through the city!
Ryanair flys there from Stansted for cheap flights, paid about 35 quid i think at the time. Reasonable cost of hotels, and on-line entries, i really enjoyed it!
The only downsides i can remember, are Sparkiling water or Pure orange juice at stations...and KM markers instead of miles, which caught me out!
But overall this is the only overseas one i have done, and was great!
May consider again, when i get my annual rejection (2000 was my only success out of 9 attempts!)
I'm going to apply for Copenhagen on 16 May. The Danish Crown Prince Frederik is getting married on 14 May and the atmosphere in the city that weekend is going to be incredible. I just hope they don't change the date of the marathon because of the royal wedding.
LL, I can imagine that Kopenhagen will be expensive during that weekend. All the hotels will be booked out by crazy people wanting to see some guy getting married. On the other hand, Danish supporters are great. There were about 10000 of them at the Berlin marathon. I will do a Danish marathon at some point but not this year.
Oh go on Lars. It will be "Wonderful" !! I have a good friend who lives in Copenhagen(Frederiksberg)so I'm going to stay with her. Its just a matter of sorting out the flights and deciding whether to take the family with me. I must start a thread... PS Are you Danish?
Barcelona - March 14 Connemara - March 28 Rome - March 28 Lyon - March 28 Bonn - April 4 Zurich - April 4 Paris - April 4 Rotterdam - April 4 Turin - April 18 Hamburg - April 18 Tresco - April 18 Linz - April 18 Shakespeare - April 25 Padua - April 25 Lochaber - April 25 Madrid - April 25 Neolithic - May 2 Dusseldorf - May 2 Belfast - May 3 Copenhagen - May 16 Vienna - May 16 Prague - May 23 Stockholm - June 5 Edinburgh - June 13
Bungay Black Dog - ?(late March or early April) Taunton - ?(early April) Le Touquet - ?(mid April) Leeds - ?(early May) Sheffield - ?(in June last year!) Lake Vyrnwy - ?(early June)
ok after a bit more research - there is a 5hr cut off but no qualifying time required so i'll probably stick with it - although i suspect this means i'll be in the last few percent of finishers.
Barcelona - March 14 Connemara - March 28 Rome - March 28 Lyon - March 28 Bonn - April 4 Zurich - April 4 Paris - April 4 Rotterdam - April 4 Turin - April 18 Hamburg - April 18 Tresco - April 18 Linz - April 18 Shakespeare - April 25 Padua - April 25 Lochaber - April 25 Madrid - April 25 Neolithic - May 2 Dusseldorf - May 2 Belfast - May 3 Copenhagen - May 16 Vienna - May 16 Prague - May 23 Stockholm - June 5 Dartmoor Vale - June 13 Edinburgh - June 13
Bungay Black Dog - ?(late March or early April) Taunton - ?(early April) Le Touquet - ?(mid April) Leeds - ?(early May) Sheffield - ?(in June last year!) Lake Vyrnwy - ?(early June)
M., you have more serious runners in other marathon runs than London, but you are still running it for yourself so the % doesn't matter. I think there shouldn't be the word finisher on the shirts, there should be the word winner on all shirts.
And at least 5 hours gives me a bit of leeway for something to go wrong. At Sheffield you are "invited to retire" if the sweeper bus overtakes you - timed to finish at 4hrs30.
Wroclaw is the economical, cultural and intellectual capital of Lower Silesia, located in southwestern Poland, 160 km from Germany and 120 km from the Czech Republic. It is well equipped with communication facilities: international airport, railways, highways and river ports. Medium - light industry, trade, service and education are major employers. The city with its charming historical center, parks, good restaurants, hotels and friendly people (700.000 inhabitants) is a pleasant place to visit and to do business.
Comments
Obviously, it can't compare to the atmosphere and size of London but I found it really friendly and enjoyable. It was amazing running up La Rambla as the finale to the run. I certainly intend to return next year (it's on 21st March)
this year there were some races in Europe in March and April that had more than 2000 runners, so that nobody has to feel lost while running them:
Barcelona, Rom, Marseille, Lyon, Paris, Bonn, London, Rotterdam, Turin, Zürich, Hamburg, Madrid and Padua. Linz had just over 1000 and might already be a bit small for me.
Duesseldorf, Prag and Vienna are in May and alternatives.
You can find links to their web pages under www.marathon-kalender.de, and then click marathon and the month you want.
I haven´t decided so far, but if I don´t get into London I am thinking about Paris or Rotterdam, maybe Lyon. I think it is nice to have it done while all the others are still doing their long runs.
And there are always the big ones in Boston or Vancuver.
Correct link (hopefully)
Connemara - March 28
Rome - March 28
Lyon - March 28
Bonn - April 4
Zurich - April 4
Paris - April 4
Rotterdam - April 4
Turin - April 18
Hamburg - April 18
Tresco - April 18
Linz - April 18
Shakespeare - April 25
Padua - April 25
Lochaber - April 25
Madrid - April 25
Dusseldorf - May 2
Vienna - May 16
Prague - May 23
Barcelona - ?(mid March)
Bungay Black Dog - ?(late March or early April)
Taunton - ?(early April)
Le Touquet - ?(mid April)
Leeds - ?(early May)
Sheffield - ?(in June last year!)
Lake Vyrnwy - ?(early June)
hull oh erm have to think about it
Turin was excellent and i can certainly recommend it, about 3000 runners, fairly flatish, one hill before halfway i think, some nice countryside, and a finish through the city!
Ryanair flys there from Stansted for cheap flights, paid about 35 quid i think at the time. Reasonable cost of hotels, and on-line entries, i really enjoyed it!
The only downsides i can remember, are Sparkiling water or Pure orange juice at stations...and KM markers instead of miles, which caught me out!
But overall this is the only overseas one i have done, and was great!
May consider again, when i get my annual rejection (2000 was my only success out of 9 attempts!)
Gary
On the other hand, Danish supporters are great. There were about 10000 of them at the Berlin marathon. I will do a Danish marathon at some point but not this year.
I have a good friend who lives in Copenhagen(Frederiksberg)so I'm going to stay with her. Its just a matter of sorting out the flights and deciding whether to take the family with me. I must start a thread...
PS Are you Danish?
Barcelona - March 14
Connemara - March 28
Rome - March 28
Lyon - March 28
Bonn - April 4
Zurich - April 4
Paris - April 4
Rotterdam - April 4
Turin - April 18
Hamburg - April 18
Tresco - April 18
Linz - April 18
Shakespeare - April 25
Padua - April 25
Lochaber - April 25
Madrid - April 25
Neolithic - May 2
Dusseldorf - May 2
Belfast - May 3
Copenhagen - May 16
Vienna - May 16
Prague - May 23
Stockholm - June 5
Edinburgh - June 13
Bungay Black Dog - ?(late March or early April)
Taunton - ?(early April)
Le Touquet - ?(mid April)
Leeds - ?(early May)
Sheffield - ?(in June last year!)
Lake Vyrnwy - ?(early June)
I'm still favouring Rotterdam myself
There is also Dartmoor Vale on 13 June.
I'd hope to finish in about 4ish but this will be my first marathon so wouldn't be able to prove it.
Connemara - March 28
Rome - March 28
Lyon - March 28
Bonn - April 4
Zurich - April 4
Paris - April 4
Rotterdam - April 4
Turin - April 18
Hamburg - April 18
Tresco - April 18
Linz - April 18
Shakespeare - April 25
Padua - April 25
Lochaber - April 25
Madrid - April 25
Neolithic - May 2
Dusseldorf - May 2
Belfast - May 3
Copenhagen - May 16
Vienna - May 16
Prague - May 23
Stockholm - June 5
Dartmoor Vale - June 13
Edinburgh - June 13
Bungay Black Dog - ?(late March or early April)
Taunton - ?(early April)
Le Touquet - ?(mid April)
Leeds - ?(early May)
Sheffield - ?(in June last year!)
Lake Vyrnwy - ?(early June)
you have more serious runners in other marathon runs than London, but you are still running it for yourself so the % doesn't matter.
I think there shouldn't be the word finisher on the shirts, there should be the word winner on all shirts.
I might go to Rotterdam myself.
And at least 5 hours gives me a bit of leeway for something to go wrong. At Sheffield you are "invited to retire" if the sweeper bus overtakes you - timed to finish at 4hrs30.
Wroclaw is the economical, cultural and intellectual capital of Lower Silesia, located in southwestern Poland, 160 km from Germany and 120 km from the Czech Republic. It is well equipped with communication facilities: international airport, railways, highways and river ports. Medium - light industry, trade, service and education are major employers. The city with its charming historical center, parks, good restaurants, hotels and friendly people (700.000 inhabitants) is a pleasant place to visit and to do business.