Which Marathon?

[Chocolateismyfavourite]

I've done Manchester marathon twice in previous years and absolutely love it. I want to go back and do it again because I'm much fitter and better at my running now and really want to see how much quicker I could possibly do it.
Couple of friends have said to try a different one. Could anyone recommend one? I need crowds, they do help me along. ( I've had my ,11th London ballot rejection😂)

Dublin was good and had support round most of the course.
I found the crowds in London too overwhelming, Manchester has the right level of support for me. By mile 20 of London I was wishing i'd never put my name on my vest!!
Don't do Edinburgh, it's low on support for the 8 miles of out n back along the coast road.
People seem to enjoy Loch Ness but it's quite rural for most of the route so i don't think it will have good crowd support.
York and Chester are both in the autumn, I'm not sure what they're like. Liverpool rock n roll always got good reviews but it's been scrapped :(

just spotted this on the bbc www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61059707

Ooh thanks so much for the advice. I'm leaning towards Chester I think after having a look, but the Leeds one does sound good too. I've always said I don't know how I'd cope with the crowds in London, where as, like you I thought the Manchester crowd was just right, even though I'm sure it's more now than when I did it few years back. I saw that Liverpool was very popular, shame it's cancelled.

Brighton is quite popular, mostly flat and nice views along the promenade.

Oh. I was going to say go for a small local one if you're after a time. I ran a mile extra at London because of all the weaving in and out.

Edinburgh is suppose to be great for a PB. Loch Ness is beautiful but hilly.

Is qualifying with a 'Good for Age' a possibility for entry to London?

I loved Chester, but it's worth noting that quite a bit of it is country roads as I recall. I loved training over the summer.

Manchester is great, I agree!

I did the Chester one and really enjoyed it. Good mix of country and city ( for my liking). Do you sometimes run half marathons? I find they are a good way to get a feel of what you like and don't like. I for example really didn't like the great North run ( huge number of runners and the route is just concrete jungle to me) but really liked the Macclesfield one as it was the complete opposite but I am sure many runners will dislike it for the very reasons I liked it!

York. It’s flat (mostly) good crowds and nice scenery.

There is a small local one to me, but it is in may and it's extremely hilly haha, it's in May also.
As much as I'd like to get a gfa, not at the mo, maybe one day though😁
Thanks for the info about Chester, some friends ran Brighton yesterday so ill ask them how they enjoyed it too.
I do run half marathons, they are small ish country side ones, wich I do enjoy and the scenery is lovely.

I did York and loved it. Really great support, some in the town and then in the country. Fairly flat but still beautiful and interesting. 10/10.

@Vwswimmer1 - I have read good things about York . Will have a look at it again 😃

I have done the York 10miler several times. It’s a lovely course. Easy enough to get to.

I do want to do the marathon but I keep injuring random bits of myself and having to postpone. I’m going to be 93 when I finally manage it.

The York marathon is bloody horrible! It's not hilly and scenic but not flat either. Just miles and miles of dull country roads and no support along the way, apart from in little pockets in the villages. There's also the added problem of the marathon relay and 10 miler running at the same time on the same course, meaning people around you are all going at different speeds and doing different races, which can be quite disconcerting.
Tempted by the new Leeds one, but it won't be good if you're going for a time as it looks like there's a monster of a hill.
Would recommend Brighton or Edinburgh over York, if you want a time. Brighton is similar to Manchester in terms of crowd support, but very slightly hillier. More picturesque course though (there's nothing much fun to look at on the a56, is there?!)

Lochness is fantastic and a fast marathon. Everyone I know PB's at.

It's definitely my favourite marathon. People go one about it being hilly - it has one large hill which isn't as bad as folks make out and remember it starts in the mountains and finishes at sea level . It's mostly down hill.

The first 6 miles it's very down hill , so much so you need to hold yourself back. Then it's lovely and undulating, climb at around 20 miles then 21-25 lovely steady down hill and 1 mile flat to finish.

My husband has just competed his 17th marathon. His previous PB was at the Chester one.

I thought the same about York?! Really really dull and with the exception of RIGHT at the start and in Stamford bridge there is no support at all (I don’t mind personally but if it’s something you need it’s probably not for you!)

Loch Ness is beautiful and not as hilly as you’d think but yes again, very rural, no support generally.

Liverpool was brilliant but I think now defunct? :(

Thanks for all the info everyone 🙂 few things to think about!