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Original poster

Which Half Marathons are most tolerant towards Slow Runners?

29 replies

Imstyledilemma · 06/10/2017 09:55

I'm determined to try a half marathon next yea,r but want my first experience to be a positive one, in a friendly atmosphere.
Which marathons are well known for being tolerant towards all abilities?

thanks.

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Pippioddstocking · 07/01/2018 23:52

If you are in the South then White Star Running are very beginner friendly

TheOrigBrave · 03/01/2018 09:23

The larger the event the better it will be.
It's not just about tolerance, but how long the roads can be closed to traffic for. It's expensive to close roads so smaller events will get everyone through and then re-open a road, whereas larger ones will have the roads closed for the duration.

City events will attract more spectators.

What sort of time are you aiming for?

randomsabreuse · 12/12/2017 10:48

Great Birmingham Half. Massive race, great atmosphere. 2.20 was about middle of the pack!

oohloolalala · 12/12/2017 09:40

Manchester half marathon is great, very flat and lots of support!

thismeansnothing · 08/10/2017 22:46

I've done Liverpool rock and roll half and English half marathon in Warrington. Both great events and I finished around the 2hr30 mark and there were still plenty of supporters and great atmosphere

thismeansnothing · 08/10/2017 22:45

Where abouts are you based OP. Fylde coast runners (in the north west) their events marathon halves and 10milers have no cut off and most welcome Nordic walkers too

TriJo · 08/10/2017 22:32

Reading half is fantastic, would be very tolerant of slower runners too. Closed roads and a big field.

RamblingFar · 08/10/2017 12:54

Anything organised by www.nice-work.org.uk or www.theraceorganiser.com. I've never been too slow for either, even when having a shocking race.

I also did Keswick half last year really slowly, but it's a challenging course.

TriGirl007 · 08/10/2017 12:47

Thanks runawayqueen for infor - I hadn’t realised that Exeter were quite so strict cut off I’m hoping to do that next year as not ready this year.

RunningOutOfCharge · 07/10/2017 20:07

Reading half in march!!

Brilliant organisation with race angels for those struggling

And a great stadium finish!!

ScaryDuck · 07/10/2017 19:47

Any of the big ones will have plenty slow people. I've done GNR, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. All great atmospheres and runners of all sorts - Glasgow probably my favourite (GNR was a bit busy for me!)

Runwayqueen · 07/10/2017 08:03

Tri... I did bath in 2.41 this year and got a medal, had no problem with fluids on the course. I do think I was one of the last to get a medal though, within 5 mins of my time the medal and tshirt problem hit.

Cardiff was great, think they suggest a 4hr limit but they were still giving medals at the 4.30 mark. Exeter GWR was 3hrs, then you moved onto pavements.

trevortrevorslattery · 07/10/2017 07:40

Loads of slow runners in GNR! Go for it 😊

soupmaker · 07/10/2017 07:36

I did the GNR years ago and it was fantastic. If you don’t want to put yourself at the mercy of a ballot come to Glasgow in October. It’s a great course and you’ll not be swept up at a slow pace.

IrianOfW · 07/10/2017 07:31

Tri - bath is very pretty obviously but there were some issues last year, lack of water and not enough medals!! But I am sure they'll iron those problems out this year. My info came mostly from a club member who DNF so didn't have the most impartial view 😄

IrianOfW · 07/10/2017 07:27

Where are you? I've only done halfs in the West Country so I can only advise on those. If you are worried about pace go for the races with a bigger field. But really, don't worry, you'll be so elated when you finish your first half you won't care about anything else!!

marywinchester · 06/10/2017 20:14

both Taunton and Barnstaple have full marathons the same day as their half marathons so the cut off time is around 6ish hours. i'm sure there are other marathons/half marathons that do this so maybe one of those would be an option.

TriGirl007 · 06/10/2017 19:58

Anyone done Bath HM? I’ve entered it as my first HM in March 2018, and guessed a time of 2.30 I’m hoping it will be more 2.20 but i doubt I’ll be faster, based on my 12k time.

overnightangel · 06/10/2017 14:58

Cumbrian Run in Carlisle every September is really friendly and tends to see a lot of people doing their first race of that length, only heard good things from people I k ow who've done it, depends how far away you are.

rookiemere · 06/10/2017 14:55

GNR has a great atmosphere - definitely try to enter for that.

rookiemere · 06/10/2017 14:54

I'm pretty slow - 2 hrs 45 and have done the Great North Run, Edinburgh Half and the Glasgow half in October. They've all been fine - I've not been the last by any means.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 06/10/2017 14:52

Bigger ones will tend to attract slower/ less experienced HMers.

My area ran one for a couple of years which didn't attract a huge crowd. There was definitely a bias to faster runners. I run in a perfectly respectable 2hr 12 and found that I was in a quiet gap between the 2hr slot and a cluster around 2:30.

Courses that go through residential areas tend to get more support. Sadly my local races go through a lot of industrial/ commercial estate as it's easy to close off which is dull! Along the river is quiet for crowd support, but much prettier!

Finish times will be a good guide. 3 hours is quite common as a cut off.

123rd · 06/10/2017 13:55

Where abouts roughly are you Op?
There are tonnes of HM around the country.

Original poster
Imstyledilemma · 06/10/2017 13:05

I'm tempted towards entering the GNR ballot.

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Original poster
Imstyledilemma · 06/10/2017 13:04

Thanks for the suggestions.
I want my first half to have a good atmosphere. If it's too elitist I think it will put me off attempting another.

I know myself too well!

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