Currently my club are looking into the possibilities of a cheap overseas running trip for next year – a half marathon or even a full marathon.
We would want to organise this trip ourselves rather using the nice chaps at 2.09 Events or Purple Patch Tours etc just to keep costs down.
In the past they have been to Benidorm – half and full, which I understand went down well.
Are there anymore cheap overseas events that come recommended?
Comments
I've run the half marathon from Pegasus Bridge to Caen in France, which is a great race through fantastic countryside. There's also a marathon, if that's more your thing and a 10km for those who can't manage a half. Caen is a great place to visit as the beaches nearby were used on D day so there are loads of museums and exhibitions. It also worth going to Pegasus Bridge before or after the race as there's a very good museum there.
The race is in June. Here's this year's website.
M.ister W - Thanks, that looks great. One of oldest runners, early 70`s I think, was in the army. This year he ran the FLM in just over 6 hours so I`m sure he would be up for this one.
We go to Almeria (Southern Spain) for the half marathon (and 10K) every year. It falls on the last weekend of January, which is a great opportunity to escape the British winter.
The half marathon goes through the town and along the seafront, ending up in the smart Almeria La Liga football stadium.
It's the best value race you will ever enter. For about £5 entry, you get a pre-race meal, teeshirt, and amazing goody bag.
Drop me a mail if you want to know more.
I've done Prague and Vienna halfs, cheap Easy Jet flights and budget hotels. Loved both. Was supposed to do Barcellona earlier this year but the flight was snowed off
I do Malta half marathon most years,next year,s is on 26th February there is a full as well as the half.I travel with Chevron air holidays and can normally get a week,s half board for about £250.It,s best to stay in Sliema as the buses for the start leave from there and the races finish on the sea front so you won,t have far to walk to your hotel.
and chapettes
The Pegasus Bridge half would be ideal for Dennis.
There's the 10 and 20km du Touquet every August.
Le Touquet, nice seaside town just the other side of the channel, choice of 10k or 20k.
It's held in the afternoon, on the Saturday, and you can do it as a day trip, or stay overnight at the Ibis or similar.
Ferry crossing to Boulougne or Calais, €10 (on-line) entry to either, and a technical t-shirt - bargain!
Mr.K please keep me updated on any developments!!
I ran in the Lanzarote (Teguise) Half in December (€20), the full marathon was only €25 & you got loads of food & drink afterwards + a medal & tech t-shirt.
I will make a decision on the Le Marathon de la Liberte (Pegasus Bridge run) in a couple of weeks.
Fantastiv event
Causeway Coast Marathonhttp://m.youtube.com/?dc=organic&source=mog&hl=en#/watch?v=3NKgFdZSEl0
Otherwise - The Berlin 25k is in May iirc and there are cheapish flights there and you can keep down accommodation costs by renting flats and sharing for a few days rather than booking hotels. It starts and finishes at the stadium and goes through the Brandenburg gate so routewise is a bit like a baby Berlin Marathon. But the support is quiet, it's not the big deal the marathon is.
Otherwise perhaps somewhere in eastern europe ? e.g the Poznan half is £9, flights from Luton £92 return, hostel accommodation from £10 a night (a clubmate ran the Poznan marathon last year so I just looked this all up now as a random example).
I live near Brussels. There was a 10K race the week before Christmas and 25 runners from Blackheath & Bromley turned up and took away a few prizes. Great race underneath the Atomium monument.
The Brussels Marathon and Half Marathon are in the first week or so of October, are easy to get into, very keenly priced and there's approx. 3,000 in the full mara and about 7,500 in the HM. Brussels is just two hours drive from Calais (motorways the whole way) plus we have fantastic beer and cuisine over here. Or 2h20m from London on the Eurostar.
The city also copes very well with people who can't speak French or Dutch but are stuck on English, which might be an issue if you go a bit deeper into the continent.
Heard caen is quite good.may plump for that.
Did Kampala a in November a few years ago but wimped out of the marathon to do the 10k.was brilliant to be so close to some really quick Kenyans (though only on the start line)