Marathons
Paris Marathon (Run in 2018):
Highlights: It is considered the seventh major and for good reason. The course is beautiful for the most part, flat as a pancake and wide. It is definitely a PB location if the weather is on your side. The transport links are fantastic for getting to the start and finish and for spectators to get around. If you’re looking for an iconic big city race I would recommend it.
Lowlights: My main problem is that they didn’t have any electrolyte drinks on the course but their website gave me the impression that they did. Also the medal from this year was the ugliest medal I have ever, ever seen.
Queenstown Marathon (Run in 2017):
Highlights: View, vistas, expanses. Every corner you came round revealed another awe inspiring landscape. In my mind it is the ultimate destination marathon with so much to do in the local area.
Lowlights: It was a pretty expensive race considering there was no t-shirt or swag bag at the end. The buses to the start were a bit disorganised as ours took us to the start of the half marathon!
Snowdonia Marathon (Run in 2017):
Highlights: This is by far the most beautiful marathon I’ve ever done. The hard course gives you a real feeling of achievement. Being a smaller marathon I suspected I would miss the support but the other runners made up for it and because it was an open road race but with careful planning to reduce traffic issues it meant that I saw my supporters 7 times during the race!!
Lowlights: While the aid stations were brilliant I did have a slight worry that if anything did go wrong there wasn’t a huge amount of marshalling along the course.
Chicago Marathon (Run in 2017):
Highlights: What a race, what a city, what a route! I was honestly surprised just how much I loved this race. As a tourist it was welcoming and oh so beautiful and as a runner it was supportive, loud and passionate. This race should go on everyone’s bucket list.
Lowlights: I cannot think of any!
Berlin Marathon (Run in 2017):
Highlights: Stunning route, amazingly well organised and one beautiful medal. This race is unsurprisingly one of my all time favourites. Cannot speak more highly of this marathon and the city itself. A perfect overseas marathon!
Lowlights: The only issue I had was at the expo and that they had run out of merchandise but I am only nitpicking!
Edinburgh Marathon (Run in 2017):
Highlights: The start was overlooking Edinburgh and the first few miles that were inside Edinburgh were lovely. The view across the sea from the coastal road.
Lowlights: Quite a few lowlights sadly the main being that while it may be called the Edinburgh Marathon only the start and the first few miles are in the city and the rest of it is along a costal road that you loop back on. It wasn’t very easier to get out afterwards as the shuttle buses were a hefty walk away. Also the medal wasn’t great either
Rome Marathon (Run in 2017):
Highlights: History, so much history! A constant string of sites in a great well planned route. Aid stations were amazing and despite the awful rain the support was fantastic. The most beautiful medal EVER. Goes in second place behind my all time favourite marathon; London.
Lowlights: Lack of photographers. A bit of a mission to get back out after the finish. Thats it. A whisper away from 5 cups!
Athens Marathon (Run in 2016):
Highlights: The history of the course, the original marathon, is a huge draw. Finishing in the stadium is incredible and the small but passionate support was truly heartwarming.
Lowlights: Because the course leads from Marathon to Athens it is mainly running along a dual carriageway and there is not a lot to see. The medal while beautiful is a little beaten up because it is used year in year out.
San Francisco Marathon (Run in 2016):
Highlights: Running cross the Golden Gate Bridge, the amazing medal, best expo, awesome route taking in all of San Francisco. As a tourist is shows you all the great places and views the city has to offer. It is a race I couldn’t recommend more!
Lowlights: no photographer on the Golden Gate. Early race means not a lot of crowd support.
Copenhagen Marathon (Run in 2016):
Highlights: Flat, Fun course. Awesome to finish with a beer given out at the finish line. Great bands playing along the route.
Lowlights: A lot of looping parts that did make parts of the race feel very endless. While it was not the marathons fault the heat put a real dampener on the day.
Virgin London Marathon (Run in 2016 & 2017):
Highlights: The Support! If you ever want to feel like a celebrity run this marathon with your name on your shirt. The course is iconic, goosebumps creating, wide and above all well manned water stations. It was my first marathon but will be what all marathons are measured by
Lowlights: Couldn’t name one. Perfect Race.
-
-
To keep up to date with my latest ramblings on this blog please subscribe below