Plenty of parking around Paul, there is a pay and display car park at the pyramids centre which is race HQ which should have space - failing that there is parking all the way up the sea front in both directions - you'll be able to park 10 times over if you wanted to!!
i believe so, but the residential roads set back from the pyramids centre a free i believe, although that may be 3 hours only so you'd have to run quick
I think the parking at the Pyramids is one of those where you phone an automated thingy and it registers that your car is parked and you've paid for a certain amount of time. I think it's one of those anyway, so bring your mobile with you to make the call. I think the ones along the seafront are P&D machines. I could be totally wrong though!
Hi All. Think this will be 11 for me this year, but not sure. They include a 27, 40, 40, 52 and 102 mile races, but only 2 since July. Have cut back to try to run faster. Had a mare at Abo two weeks ago. Started the race with a cold, ran too fast at start, heart stated beating really fast at 17 miles and dropped from around a 3.20 pace at that point to a 3.52 finish at a hobble. Should not have started in the first place, but the lure of a race was too much for me. Learnt my lesson though. Luton now defo a training run and this race is it for me. Hope the wind stays away. All my other coastal runs it hasn't , but a boy can dream! Sue, which ones are you in? I did 6 this year in 8 weeks, including the above and then the 104 three weeks later. Your body adapts and it will get easier.
Great to read all these comments. This is my local race (I live 1/4 of a mile from the route) and the first time I will have run it (only 1 marathon so far, London, and I'm a plodder - did that in 5 hrs albeit with only a couple of months training after injury, and at least this time I won't be held up by people walking 4 abreast!).
As others have said, the terrain is very flat, and what I've run of it is a good surface. The only real worry (apart from the distance for novices like me!) is the potential for stiff wind, and the occasional bout of horizontal rain.
Parking on the whole length of the seafront is all metered and I'm pretty sure gives the option for pay and display or phone based payment at each meter (our council needs the cash, and as these meters don't give change they aren't going to want to miss the chance of any extra money!!). You can, however, park freely just off it along Eastern Parade, although spacesdo fill up. As others have said, there's also parking in residential streets, mainly towards the Eastney end of the seafront. Some of these might be subject to residents parking zones, but I think most are fine.
If you're staying overnight in advance, tripadvisor seems pretty accurate as a guide to local restaurants.
Doing the GSR tomorrow as a tempo run - looking forward to Dec 18th with a mixture of excitement and trepidation!
I need to think about this one - having a weekend break on the coast (probably Lymington) 16th-18th. Will Mrs Chillies mind a small detour to Pompey on the way home???
Are ther still places available?
by the way, Taff Boy - I was at Abo - I had a great run, unlike 2010 when like you I ran it with a stinking cold and ended up with 3:44:24 and another month of protracted illness.
Hi Chillies, interesting to hear you were ill for so long after. I went into Abo with a cold which I thought was on the way out, but hit me hard and then got worse for the next 2-3 weeks. I am only just starting to feel back in the swing of things. Do you think the running caused yours to hang around so long?
I'm not sure Taff - I got the cold just before running the Spitfire 20 mile race (which was very wet and cold), and ended up feeling like crap for 2 months. It may well have been just a horribly long-lived infection which would have carried on anyway.
The final straw was missing the Marlow Half that year because of a weekend of SERIOUS nosebleeds - I'll run through most things, but embarrassing uncontrolled bodily emissions have to be deferred to
It took me another fortnight for my heart rates in running to get back to normal levels.
If I've got any advice it would be to keep running at an easy pace until you feel properly fit again.
This is my first Marathon, I will be the fat one at the back as normal, only doing it as got a DNF @ Ironman Wales so need to get a 26.2 under my belt. I have talked 2 other mates into doing it, also thier first marathons.
am i right in thinking the start and finish is at the Pyramids Centre...? I'm still unsure whether to drive down (from south wales) on the morning, or stay over night...
It's about a 2 n half hr drive i think, which would mean a very early start...
I'll be taking the 5.40 train from London SGB, which means about a 4.30am start for me! I found some cheapish hotels in Portsmouth but i figured it wouldnt be much fun on my own!
Dina: Sound like there be a few of us bring up the rear so to speak, will be happy with 5hrs, Another friend is doing a marathon the day before so will be his second that weekend,
I alway stay in Travelodge or Premier inns when I travel to Triathlons, you may get a deal, better that early starts, sorry guys im over an hour away myself so cant put anyone up.
Comments
i believe so, but the residential roads set back from the pyramids centre a free i believe, although that may be 3 hours only so you'd have to run quick
I could be totally wrong though!
Thanks for the parking info. no need to ask now.......
Sue, which ones are you in? I did 6 this year in 8 weeks, including the above and then the 104 three weeks later. Your body adapts and it will get easier.
Great to read all these comments. This is my local race (I live 1/4 of a mile from the route) and the first time I will have run it (only 1 marathon so far, London, and I'm a plodder - did that in 5 hrs albeit with only a couple of months training after injury, and at least this time I won't be held up by people walking 4 abreast!).
As others have said, the terrain is very flat, and what I've run of it is a good surface. The only real worry (apart from the distance for novices like me!) is the potential for stiff wind, and the occasional bout of horizontal rain.
Parking on the whole length of the seafront is all metered and I'm pretty sure gives the option for pay and display or phone based payment at each meter (our council needs the cash, and as these meters don't give change they aren't going to want to miss the chance of any extra money!!). You can, however, park freely just off it along Eastern Parade, although spacesdo fill up. As others have said, there's also parking in residential streets, mainly towards the Eastney end of the seafront. Some of these might be subject to residents parking zones, but I think most are fine.
If you're staying overnight in advance, tripadvisor seems pretty accurate as a guide to local restaurants.
Doing the GSR tomorrow as a tempo run - looking forward to Dec 18th with a mixture of excitement and trepidation!
I need to think about this one - having a weekend break on the coast (probably Lymington) 16th-18th. Will Mrs Chillies mind a small detour to Pompey on the way home???
Are ther still places available?
by the way, Taff Boy - I was at Abo - I had a great run, unlike 2010 when like you I ran it with a stinking cold and ended up with 3:44:24 and another month of protracted illness.
I just entered late... Online entries closed, but postal still open. Til when i know not tho...
Just had a poorly paced marathon last Sunday, so looking to pace a better one this time round
I'm not sure Taff - I got the cold just before running the Spitfire 20 mile race (which was very wet and cold), and ended up feeling like crap for 2 months. It may well have been just a horribly long-lived infection which would have carried on anyway.
The final straw was missing the Marlow Half that year because of a weekend of SERIOUS nosebleeds - I'll run through most things, but embarrassing uncontrolled bodily emissions have to be deferred to
It took me another fortnight for my heart rates in running to get back to normal levels.
If I've got any advice it would be to keep running at an easy pace until you feel properly fit again.
am i right in thinking the start and finish is at the Pyramids Centre...? I'm still unsure whether to drive down (from south wales) on the morning, or stay over night...
It's about a 2 n half hr drive i think, which would mean a very early start...
I alway stay in Travelodge or Premier inns when I travel to Triathlons, you may get a deal, better that early starts, sorry guys im over an hour away myself so cant put anyone up.