Best non city UK marathons

[Cwcwbird]

Just read the London marathon with interest. I've never been that bothered about running London personally. I've done the snowdonia marathon and loved that. What are people's marathon recommendations that are trail or non city? I've been eying up the Loch Ness marathon, anyone done it who would recommend it?

I’m guessing you’re Welsh from name and comments and if so you must come and do the Great Welsh Marathon in Llanelli / Pembrey. Flat … ish (ha) but ever so friendly. April. Small group, feels like a run along the seaside and you can stop for ice cream if you want 😂👏🏼

The Two Tunnels Marathon in Bath is good. I did the Challenge a few years ago (10k, half and marathon) purely because I wanted the interlocking medals. It's a mixture of trail and paved and you briefly pop into the centre of Bath.

www.relishrunningraces.com/bath-two-tunnels-marathon.php

Thanks for the other suggestions! I quite like the sound of 2 tunnels. I am indeed Welsh... I'd need to look at the route for that Llanelli one, I love Pembrey but I'm not a fan of the coastal path. It's weird, I love the seaside/beaches but I hate running along a big sweeping bit of coastline. I think it's because the view stays the same for a long period of time so you feel like you're not getting anywhere!

These guys do some well organised events in the SW www.puretrail.uk/

Hi all, did anyone on here end up signing up for the loch ness marathon this October?

I'm trying to find an online friend to share the highs and lows of training with!

I'm considering signing up again, I did it last year for the first time. Didn't acquit myself well (I wasn't feeling 100% on the day) so I'd really like another go.

Only thing that's holding me back is the logistics. I can't take any time off work so there was a complex journey home on the sleeper train on the Sunday but that's not going to work for me this year as I'm moving this summer.

@DrivingTheoryTest how did you find it last year?

You must have a long way to travel if it's the sleeper train. Do you have some travel options up your sleeve should you decide to go for it in October?

We were apparently very lucky with the weather - it was dry 97% of it. It usually rains a lot according to my friend who's done it several times.

The course is great, couple of challenging hills at 18 & 22 miles. First 5 miles is downhill so that gives your quads a good thrashing if you've not trained for it.

Can't fault the organisation at all.

I'll be working remotely on the Monday so I won't have to make my way to the office at least, but it's a matter of working out where I can work from and what my options are for getting home on the Monday evening. So in some ways the logistics are more complicated as it's technically possible but there's more organisation involved. If I had to get to the office for 8am it would definitely not happen

@DrivingTheoryTest ah the upside of remote working! I've found a room in Fort augustus and it looks like staying there makes the bus journey to the start line significantly shorter which is good.

When I am running (which is more intermittent than consistent) then it's in all mix of weather and I live in Scotland so hoping the weather can't be too much of a surprise for me. I went out today and it was only 10c and I was too hot!

@Zerotorunninghero if you need a training plan I really recommend Hal Higdon's Boston plan - all his plans are free, you only pay if you want to use the interactive app.

I've used his plans for a little while now and I really like them. The reason I suggest the Boston plan is because the profile is pretty similar - downhill for the first 5 miles & then a couple of wicked hills towards the end.

@DrivingTheoryTest ooh thank you, that sounds like a good recommendation and I'll check out that particular plan.