Ok guys I am planning next years races and looking for Two fast marathon courses for 2011. My plan is to go sub 3:15 for a mara. Hopefully this will enable me to get a good for age place in London 2012. Where abouts did you good people gain your PB`s for Marathon ????
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My 2 fastest times were Rotterdam, 3:16 and Berlin, 3:22ish. Both flat and fast.
Good luck with it Brad.
The Malta Marathon in February '11 has PB written all over it as you race downhill
The race starts 200m above sea level and finishes in a town by the sea. I'll be having a crack at it particularly as my creaky bones seem to work best in the warm weather!
According to the McMillian calculator a 3:15 marathon equates to a 41:33 10K and 1:32:28 half so you may not be that far off with the correct training.
I have done Abingdon, Berlin, & Malta among others. Hamburg too.
Malta IS NOT a PB course, trust me. Net downhill is not the same as downhill all the way. Also, it's quite possible to get lost! Seriously, the lead car went astray last year & lost 2 of the lead group, and at the rear of the pack I was constantly having to stop and check the route.
Abingdon is not absolutely flat, just not hilly. Hamburg is about the same.
Berlin is flatter, almost entirely flat, but can be a bit warm. And crowded, though less so at your end perhaps.
I would recommend another one I have done - Eindhoven. Not only is it absolutely flat (not so much as going under a bridge) but it is not (unlike Berlin) crowded, the support is much better than Abo, and not only can you put your own drinks out there but they will hand them to you. Also later than Berlin so warm weather less likely.
It starts near Padova and follows the Brenta river through lots of small towns with a lot of support. There is a very ugly bit around the back end of Mestre but the run over the causeway and then into Venice was very nice. Good pacing groups.
Blimey - I'd be impressed with people running PB's at Windermere. I spent a week round there one xmas and ran part of the course most days. Its not what I'd have thought of a PB course - very undulating. I reckon those PBers are just VERY good and 'hard' runners !
My PB course is actually London - 3.13. Thats from Green Start so not as crowded. Only thing is that often its the first hot weekend of the year - so that takes its toll sometimes.
I'm entering Edinburgh next year - that could be hot or cold - who knows - its Scotland ! And doing Leicester this weekend - so will let you know what I think of that.