Recommend me a first marathon…

[MissUnderstanding]

Last year was going to be the year I tried my first marathon but IT band problems put it on the back burner. With hindsight, I think it was really good to have another year getting stronger and running regularly before having a go at the big M! Recovery has gone really well and I’ve got into some good habits. I can hear that little voice of temptation calling me again! I think having something to aim for will help, but what? I know I could do some googling but since there’s so much experience and wisdom here, I thought I’d ask for recommendations.

So…

🏃‍♀️I’m looking for something in the Autumn(ish).

🏃‍♀️Not too hilly. I love hills but for the first one, maybe it’s better without anything too extreme.

🏃‍♀️Ideally trail but not too tricky terrain (I know might be tricky with the “not too hilly” criteria)

🏃‍♀️Accessible for people who won’t be finishing in sub-anything fast!

🏃‍♀️South west or easy for travel from there

Is there anything you’ve done (or heard about) that ticks my boxes? All suggestions gladly welcomed!

Even just asking here seems a bit real and scary… be gentle!!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Hi MissU. Good question!

I will pick this up on Monday’s weekly chat if necessary. We have a significant South West contingent. I don’t think that there are any criteria which would tempt me to try a Marathon! HM is quite far enough thanks. Let’s see if we can conjure up some options which fit.🙂

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you!! The great thing about running is we can find what fits us best. I’ve already got some super suggestions…Fun Beyond 10k is certainly living up to its “fun” title!!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Lots of us are a bit crazy…almost part of the job description 🙂

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

😂😂😂

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Here you go.... well done you... I shall be watching to see where you decide!!! x

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you!! It’s now at the stage of feeling super exciting! It might get scarier when the runs start… plenty of time for that though!! ❤️

[RunWillie Marathon]

I can’t help you on a UK marathon MissUnderstanding but let me know if you want to make the trip to Australia & I’ll shoot you some suggestions. Cheering for you! 😍

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Now that’s super tempting!!! I think the commute might be a bit tricky but if I’m ever down your way, I know who to ask for help!!! Thanks so much for the cheers! ❤️

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Hi MissUnderstanding . How about the New Forest Marathon. It ticks all of your boxes I reckon. There is talk of SueAppleRun and I doing the half (to be decided nearer the time) but I and quite a few folk on here have done the 10k event there. newforestmarathon.co.uk/hom...

Well organised and of course a fab location 😃

[Lookslikejames Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

There are a few hills on this one though.. and it's my absolute nemesis! It was my first marathon, I went out to fast and it was a fairly hot day... so it absolutely broke me 😄 Its a beautiful course though and well organised. Once I've got to where I want to be with marathons I hope to return and finish in much better style than I did the first time!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Lookslikejames]

MissUnderstanding would love a hill... really... ( I am ducking quickly )!

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

😂😂😂 I do love a hill-my worst runs are on the flat! Too boring. My favourite route round here has an uphill section that’s just perfect-you get into a mindful rhythm and there are just enough flatter sections that when you hit the top, you can still breathe and there’s the most wonderful downhill through the trees! I’ve heard about trail marathons with epic hills and I thought that might be a bit of a stretch for number one!!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I agree..feel exactly the same..! X But yes first Marathon could be good to just ease in..x

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I’ve heard about trail marathons with epic hills and I thought that might be a bit of a stretch for number one!!

Nah, off-road bumps just mean you don't have to run the whole thing. Much easier. 🤣

Joking apart, here are two thoughts, based on my vast experience of precisely one (10% over-length) trail marathon:

1, Before deciding, get as much numerical, factual information as you can on the overall elevation gain, gradients and terrain of the course. Words like hilly and steep (let alone the rest) are meaningless without context.

2, Don't rely on a road marathon training plan ; train for the terrain you'll be running.

xxx

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks so much! You are absolutely right-on paper some of my favourite hills look terrible but are fine and vice versa! I love the excuse to have a recce to check out the terrain for real. I’d much prefer a pretty location with a bit more of a challenge than five hours of dull dull dull! Plus training on trail will be so much more fun! Your advice is much appreciated as always ❤️

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Lookslikejames]

Thanks for that useful info…it’s good to be mentally prepared! I do like hills but didn’t want a course that was really hilly with tricky terrain underfoot if that makes sense! It’s all hills round here and I find totally flat runs a bit boring!! I think we’ve all had tough runs like yours here…experience is a wonderful thing!! Wishing you loads of luck on getting back to where you want to be🤞

[Lookslikejames Marathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I also prefer a hill or two but the New Forest was almost the end of me. The first half is described as flat, but there's definitely a fairly sizeable hill, and then there's a monster at around mile 18. It's probably not actually that big but it looked and felt it at the time!

Even Chicago, which is flat, has a hill called Heartbreak Hill... its not even bad but its right at the end of the course and threatened to take me out!

Thanks for the wishes, I need all the crossed fingers I can get, it's taking so long to get back from my calf injury 😔 I'm getting there now though, but its also going to take a long time to get my fitness back to where it was as I'm really not in shape

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

Oh wow-that looks absolutely perfect!!! Thank you!!! Bonus that there’s meet up potential too…

Really great suggestion…much appreciated!

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I did New Forest marathon last year, it was 273m elevation according to my data, which is reasonable for a trail marathon. I know the hill being mentioned. Hike it! Much better use of energy.

A lovely marathon too (although weather was tricky when I ran it). Expensive though.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to PaulS83]

Awesome, I ran the 10k and it was hot and sticky but beautiful, if I can get to half marathon distance in a reasonable time I'm going back this year

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

It was very hot and sticky and then peeing down with rainy!

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to PaulS83]

I’d take peeing down with rain over hot and sticky any day’l!

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

The problem is it sent the humidity off the chart! A bit of sun would’ve been lovely to burn the humidity off.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to PaulS83]

I remember that weather, and that was just the 10k! It was a mad day for a marathon!!!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

I was chatting to an Ultra runner this week. He is running a short (for him!) 29 miles this weekend and we got to talking about hills. There are many really lovely trails up here in North Yorkshire moors, but the hills are inescapable. His take on this, and I have heard the same from the Ultra runner who operates our local running shop, is that if you want to run a trail marathon, or a shorter distance if you really want to enjoy this area at its best, you just have to accept walking up steep hills is an inevitable part of the experience. The energy lost in trying to run up every hill is really energy wasted. If that is good enough for ultras, it is certainly good enough for me! New Forest sounds great, just years too late for me 😊

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks so much for that! One of the common gremlins in my head tells me that “real runners don’t walk any of their runs” but I have to keep telling myself that’s nonsense! I’ve said it enough to others but it’s harder to listen to myself!

I was listening to Women’s Running podcast recently (it’s one of the episodes in the last month) talking about the chilled mindset you get into doing ultras (run a bit, walk a bit, sit down and eat a bit!!!) and I absolutely love the idea of one of those in the future.

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Absolutely, they’re foot races. The target should be to use your energy as efficiently as possible. Even if pace is your goal, it’s a better strategy overall to ease right off up the inclines and to spend that energy you’ve saved hitting the easier terrains harder.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Ooh how exciting!

I can’t recommend anything in these parts for you but these sound like fabulous locations:

findarace.com/events/barrow...

letsdothis.com/gb/e/salisbu...

I’ll keep an eye out for others but let us know how you get on and all the very best of luck for your training 🍀

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Oooh now those look brilliant!!! Super suggestions. I’ve been away for the weekend to Salisbury and was thinking that I had to come back with run kit..,this would be a great opportunity to go back for a recce!!! Thank you!!

I’m going to need a spreadsheet to keep track of all these options! I knew you lovely posters here would have great ideas! ❤️

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Just think of the views! 🤩

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

It’s really lovely down there! I always see massive birds of prey too. This is exciting!!!

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon]

Bath Two Tunnels (Relish Running Races) is a good option but is usually in August which may be slightly early for you.

How far South-West are you?

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to PaulS83]

I’m near Bristol so Two Tunnels would be perfect…except for the date. August is often busy and I’m not great with heat. Great suggestion though. I’ve heard Relish Runs are really well organised. Thank you!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I’ve done loads of Relish Races and yes they are very well organised. And the bling is mighty fine too 🤩

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Now that’s important!!! Who doesn’t love a bit of bling 🤩🤩🤩

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

I have not done the marathon   MissUnderstanding , but if I did I would love to do the New Forest Marathon. The 10k is certainly fantastic and the event ticks many of your boxes.

newforestmarathon.co.uk/home/

Whoops, looks like people got there before me. I didn’t know about a hill!

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Just spotted this! Thanks so much…it’s looking like the New Forest might be getting a visit this year! Thanks so much for the recommendation!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

if you do wish to do it MissUnderstanding , think about accommodation early. It’s an early start and the roads into the forest get snarled up before the run. Believe what they say on the website, it’s true.