Preston Guild Marathon

I`m looking for a 2012 target and this could be it. What`s the course like then?
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  • I went out yesterday to do the first mesurement of the course. I still have 360 yards to put into the marathon and a bit to put into the half when I've got the marathon done.

    It starts and finishes at the Harris Museum. Goes along Ringway towards Leyland and turns back around the Copp Lane area (got that bit to sort). Back into the City, round by the Unviersity, along Tom Benson Way, then out to Cottam, Salwick, Treales and almost to Inksip before returning through Cottam and Tom Benson Way to finish at The Harris.

    The half will return from Cottam/Salwick.

    It's an undulating course. No major hills but a challenging course nonetheless. The start and finish area is a great location, and with all the trappings that go wwith a quality event, it should be quite a spectacle.

    Mind you if the wind is as bad as the last couple of days, it will be tough.

    Not sure yet whether to run it, referee it or just do the comentary.

  • ShivaShiva ✭✭✭
    I'll be tempted now that this is local to me
  • I'm in for this.  A great reason to come back to the old country... image
  • We`ve booked it in for a weekend. Not sure what distance we`ll decide to do. I shall target the marathon, I reckon, but the OH will do HM or 10 miles. Prices look very reasonable too! image
  • Hiya Brian,

    Do I take it that you've got the job of actually designing the marathon course, AND certifying it's accuracy?

    If so, then I have to admit that I'm surprised you're considering sending us out towards Inskip because from Cottam back to Cottam (via Salwick, Treales, Wharles, Inskip, Moorside, Woodplumpton and Higher Bartle IF I'm understanding you correctly) means you'll be giving us all a whole half marathon 'out in the sticks'.  ...which just reminds me of the motivation sappin wilderness docks phase of London, but twice as long and in our own back yard.

    However, I'm pleased you're not considering a 2 lap half marathon course, (cos yes, they're totally boring as hell so seriously reduce entries), BUT! ...surely you can keep the route a lot more central and actually in Preston itself? ...which, let's face it, is where all our friends, family and Guild crowds will be to easily cheer us on.

    For example, as a kid in the '72 Guild I can vividly remember the crowds lining New Hall Lane as we paraded festively with bands et al. The atmosphere was just sheer electric to say the least. If you send us out of town for a good HALF of the course then how can the Guild crowds participate? 

    Or are you indicating with the above course that you've been warned away from the centre?  Surely the whole of Preston will be virtually shutting down for this "one race day in 20 year" event anyway?!  Can't you persuade them a little more? lol.

    I'm not a marathon course designer but it makes total sense to me to ideally have half of your route (or thereabouts) to the south below the Ribble line of Preston then the other half to the north, just specifically because this enable a good 80-90% of Preston Guild people to actively get involved with this marathon, and either run it or support us en route on the day.

    How about giving us a course a bit more like this for example, or something pretty similar?  Surely the upcoming PR machine about to ensue over the coming 6-10 months realises the importance to Preston of your marathon igniting the spirit of the people to actively engage socially, so that it makes more commercial sense afterwards? 

  • I hope you can give the attached some serious consideration...

    ...as I certainly can see that straight route out of town into Penwortham that you envisage, but then keeping to all the main dual carriageways so that Penwortham, Leyland and Bamber Bridge folk can come out en masse to support us.  Then back into town with the struggle coming up London Rd hill at mile 9 would be fun, as would the crowds bustling all down New Hall Lane and along Blackpool Road before we see lots cramming onto the Garstang Road Bridge at mile 15, just where we need them to be before we hit your long stretch along Tom Benson Way keeping us uplifited.  A busy Blackpool Road to a good turnaround point back along Riversway into town would also be incredibly motivating before a last final surge up along North Road, down to Ringway and back into your Museum area would leave us totally on an true emotional high! ...What a finish, and event, fitting for the Guild title. Plus, crowds can easily move from the start to New Hall Lane, to PNE, to Mile 19 and back to the finish for us.

    Feel free to totally steal this route for yourself, as I my only intention here in sticking my nose in is that you "give us an absolute cracking course that's teeming end to end almost 80-90% of the way with Preston's great townsfolk", as to me that atmosphere is what the Guilds are all about.  Sending us out into the sticks just isn't going to achieve that.

    Looking forward to seeing what you can arrange for us all Brian. Hopefully, a very exciting Guild race ahead.

    Thanks!

    Pete
    Preston

    PS. Gmap-pedometer for runners gets the mileage to 26.12, but when you get 'on yer bike' and find you need a little bit of extension then the obvious easy point to accomodate that would be your extending cone trick taken up at the A583 Blackpool Road/Riversway turnaround point between mile 21 and 22.  Leave it with you. Cheers!

    http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5241300

    (Apologies for the long winded post!)

  • I would think that to some extent Brian's hands are tied as to what the council and police say can be used and for how long - roads have to re-open etc! Whilst I don't know, I wouldn't think everything is for Brian todecide.
  • I  was wondering what had happened to the much talked about Guild Wheel a 21 mile cycle track circle round Preston, only need 5.1 miles from town and back to wheel
  • Guild Wheel goes across lots of main roads!
  • I may well look in to this for my first marathon as I went to UCLan so would be a nice one to do for my first time. I don't know much of the out of town bits but know the City Centre and University very well.
  • I'm looking to do my first marathon this year and really don't like running in the heat so wanted an October one.The one closest to me (town moor) is 5 laps and I think that is too much to hope for for a  first timerimage.

     Will the course be similar to the Preston 1/2 on Monday....did that and loved it, although the wind was fun!

  • Where or when can I get an entry? Have looked on web and cant see anything as yet.
  • I would try here

     http://www.prestonguild2012.com/?OBH=731  image

     In my section at work looks like we may have 3 for the full (1 entered last night) and 3 for the half in October. 

  • ...or if that's not clickable, you could try directly downloading their printable form here.

    Just a thought ....Does Brian ever come on here much ...or do you think we're stuck with a marathon course that goes out into the middle of nowhere already?!

    I hope not ...as a good few thousand will join us in this, but more importantly, thousands more Guild family and friends will be along the course creating a brilliant atmosphere if we can get this right. 

    Come May when we start getting everyone and his dog out training it's the course that will make or break the number of entries and eventual atmosphere along the route on the day, but we're going to be facing fields of animals for a good middle 13 miles at this rate. 

    Fingers crossed hope he shows up soon. The Police and Preston council will most likely want everything nailed down and finalised by Easter so they're not giving him much time to get a decent route for us.

  • Hi Pete

    I am defo going to do this one but can't help thinking you have a romantic vision on how much interest it will attract. I really think Brian will come up with a cracking route and it will be a great event but streets lined with crowds..................for real!!!!

  • Yes, and if I'm honest, I'm a bit concerned you could be right...

    See, one thing is for certain. If it's an out of town route for a good half of the course (see Brian's post above describing the route on 29th Dec) then the whole day will simply become a complete non event. The people of Preston won't even bother to get involved in the Guild year spirit and start training for it about May time, and certainly families won't even bother to come out and watch.  After all, who's going to support runners as soon as we start leaving the town area and go out into the fields?

    Guilds are about the local communities of Preston coming together in large numbers and this can't possibly happen if the powers that be design a route that doesn't enable it. What a let down that would be.

    If you look at the link to the route I suggested then at least the people who live in Penwortham, Leyland, Bamber Bridge, or near London Road, New Hall Lane, Blackpool Road (2 good long stretches), PNE, Fulwood, Garstang Road, Tom Benson Way, Riverside, Fylde Rd, town, etc, could very easily come and watch runners go by if they so wanted to, but how can they do that if we are sent out into sticks for a good half of the course??

    It's a Catch 22 really and out of our hands. We'll be lucky to get 1,000 runners with the current course and barely any atmosphere.

    I remember when Guilds we're really magnificient events to remember and the whole town virtually switched off for a week, so perhaps I am dreaming yes, and this whole marathon thing is just a PR stunt, but it's the course that will determine whether local communities will join in and particpate in vast numbers or not. Nothing else. We'll have to wait and see.

  • If you read between the lines from Brian's post it is not his route at all. The council have given him most of it and all he can do is tweak here and there. I had an similar vision to Pete of a course round the city packed with crowds but honestly thought it would never happen at all until I found out the council were doing it. All the messing in Blackpool over the years by the council and the hoo hah in Liverpool over the marathon. At least a local team got Liverpool going and Blackpool are back on again. Just goes to show if the council backs it races will happen.

    It could have been the start of something big but I don't think so now all well there is another one in 20 years.

    May do the series but only the half to get the "Preston Guild series" tee shirt.

  • What do you have to do to get the t-shirt Alan?
  • Keith OB wrote (see)

    If you read between the lines from Brian's post it is not his route at all. The council have given him most of it and all he can do is tweak here and there. I had an similar vision to Pete of a course round the city packed with crowds but honestly thought it would never happen at all until I found out the council were doing it. All the messing in Blackpool over the years by the council and the hoo hah in Liverpool over the marathon. At least a local team got Liverpool going and Blackpool are back on again. Just goes to show if the council backs it races will happen.

    Keith,

    Can you give  examples of "All the messing in Blackpool over the years by the council..."?

  • Soup, lets not drag up ancient history please.

    Please ley bygones be bygones. It seems we have more in comon than I first thought so can we work together please?

    Pete: The course has been designed and approved by a multi-agency approach of a Council Officer (who is a ruuner), the Police and a Traffic Management Company.

    The organisers are a pleasure to deal with because they know what they need to deliver. The route was approved by the Police and Road traffic Management before I went out to measure. 

    This is most unlike Liverpool who altered their course 3 times after it had been measured. Manchester has a marathon in April but they haven't finalised a route for the measurer to go round.

    I am most grateful to Preston for their proactive approach: they are making my job so much easier.

    ET: I understand that to get the tee shirt you have to do the 5K in May, RunPreston in September (5K or 10K), Guild Marathon or half, and Preston 10 in November.

  • Instead of coming up with negatives about this event, can I please ask people to focus on one very important positive?

    This is a once in a generaation and for many a once in a lifetime opportunity.

    at the age of 48 now, I'll be lucky to still be running marathons at the next Preston Guild so I don't care where it goes (though it is a nice route), I just want to be able to say "I was there in 2012"

    This event will capture people's imagination I am sure. 

  • Sorry if i'm being blind but is there a link to the course anywhere.  I've already entered (my first marathon ever and thought as its on the doorstep why not) but would like to see the proposed route.

    Thanks for any help you can offer.

  • Hi wilber..................

    I posted this a couple of weeks back.

    It starts and finishes at the Harris Museum. Goes along Ringway towards Leyland and turns back around the Copp Lane area (got that bit to sort). Back into the City, round by the Unviersity, along Tom Benson Way, then out to Cottam, Salwick, Treales and almost to Inksip before returning through Cottam and Tom Benson Way to finish at The Harris.

    The half will return from Cottam/Salwick.

    It's an undulating course. No major hills but a challenging course nonetheless. The start and finish area is a great location, and with all the trappings that go wwith a quality event, it should be quite a spectacle.

    You should be able to roughly plot the route from my description.

    As soon as I complete the measurement I'll post my Garmin trace on here. the one I have at the moment is hopeless because I was back and forward getting things to fit (and then I still had bits to find)

    Preston Guild will publish a map as soon as possible. Plenty of time yet.

  • Thanks Brian will go and have a play with a map later, but looking forward to the finished thing as my map reading can be a little erm creativeimage
  • Hi All

    Because this is a one-off marathon, it has no designated charity and so I have included it on our calendar of events at the Rosemere Cancer Foundation,

    Based in Preston, we support cancer patients throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria, ensuring that they get the best possible cancer treatment. Please go to www.rosemerecancer.org.uk

    I have a personal interest in the Guild having been an active participant in '72 and '92 a proud owner of a medal for completing the running series in '92! I know that the marathon will be a brilliant event and confident the organisation will be faultless (the director, Phil Walsh being a perfectionist!)

    Just imagine running into the centre of Preston with a Rosemere vest on, finishing a marathon, knowing that you are supporting your local cancer charity, knowing that you are making other people's cancer journey so much easier.

    If you would like to talk to me more about how we can help you fulfil this, please e-mail me on anne.sweeney@lthtr.nhs.uk with your telephone number.

    Thank you

  • Following the post below I have had 3 people contact me already to run for Rosemere - thank you Claire, Steve and Mark. This is fantastic and maybe if more come forward we could have a 'Team Rosemere' Please think about it and if contact me if only to discuss it without committing anything

     'Because this is a one-off marathon, it has no designated charity and so I have included it on our calendar of events at the Rosemere Cancer Foundation,

    Based in Preston, we support cancer patients throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria, ensuring that they get the best possible cancer treatment. Please go to www.rosemerecancer.org.uk

    I have a personal interest in the Guild having been an active participant in '72 and '92 a proud owner of a medal for completing the running series in '92! I know that the marathon will be a brilliant event and confident the organisation will be faultless (the director, Phil Walsh being a perfectionist!)

    Just imagine running into the centre of Preston with a Rosemere vest on, finishing a marathon, knowing that you are supporting your local cancer charity, knowing that you are making other people's cancer journey so much easier.

    If you would like to talk to me more about how we can help you fulfil this, please e-mail me on anne.sweeney@lthtr.nhs.uk with your telephone number.

    Thank you'

  • Brian:

    Could you let us know who it is that we're waiting for now so we can get to see this route?  ...Is it you? Preston Council? The police? Somebody else? Who?

    Are you saying it's been fully designed but not measured?  ...Or are parts of it designed and parts of it measured?

    Can it still be changed?  ..as I was really hoping you could get your team to make something much nearer to this happen.

    Would it be possible for you draw out what you already have on gmap-pedometer.com for us? ...as the outline you gave a month ago isn't easy to see what you mean?

    Also, and this is the burning question ... If I've read your outline correctly, what's the purpose of sending us out into the countryside NW of Preston for a good half of the course, completely away from the hearts, communities and atmospheres in Preston itself, when we are supposed to be creating a "once in 20 year Guild event"?  It just kinda defeats the object to me.

    I love to hear your comments.

  • compo 1compo 1 ✭✭✭
    wow another new marathon they seem to be popping up all over with this Manchester

    also there might be the return of the Huddersfield marathon the guy planning it says he has backing of sporners and the council

    runners who run marathons should be proud of them selfs as it is a very hard thing to do
  • Pete,

    Not wanting to interrupt your questions to Brian, but I struggle to understand how your route is any better.  The first 9 miles are all along dual carriageways / main roads, which are detached from the communities of Preston.  You also have a similar 5mile stretch around Eastway / Tom Benson Way, and although this is closer to Preston, is still detached from most of the population.

    The route also crosses / runs along every major route into and out of Preston, so we can either run with the traffic, or prevent anyone entering / leaving Preston on the day.

    At least heading out into the countryside may provide something more interesting to look at than the long road ahead.  I don’t expect people to be lining the streets where ever the route goes, but at least we might get a bit of encouragement on the way through the villages.

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