I live in Victoria and the marathon is not the easiest course but beautiful. Hit or miss on weather, as it is in October. I prefer the Vancouver Marathon in May.
I’ve ran the Dublin Marathon 5 times… it is not flat!!! The first half is a lot of uphill pain…Absolutely brilliant Marathon though! The support around the full course is amazing.
I have run the Vancouver Marathon twice and it is a stunning course, not easy but worth it! The last 10k or so is along the sea wall, around Stanley Park, flat and gorgeous views of the mountains, the ocean and the park. I am of course biased, as Vancouver is my home city! It is in May so the weather is usually nice. I am running the half course this year but ran the full last year for the second time, it was the 50th anniversary.
I can't argue with you as to the London Marathon; the atmosphere was amazing thanks to the wonderful supporters and volunteers lining the streets. I would add the Stockholm Marathon to the list for you to consider sometime (it was my first marathon). I'm running the California International in about 6 weeks and was glad to hear your favorable comments on it. What race are you running next, Ben?
Cambridge Half Marathon is my personal favourite (as its local to me) and flat. Great scenery and the route goes through some of the iconic grounds too.
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is my favorite here in the states and also my home town race. It has amazing crowd support and raises money for a great cause! Thanks for posting this video. While I am not the fastest runner I am looking to challenge myself with new races in new places.
Marathon du Médoc is, without a doubt, the most enjoyable ‘race’ I’ve been in, it’s practically compulsory to wear fancy dress, the route is so scenic and runs through multiple vineyards where you must sample the wine and stop running to dance to the live bands (50 of them!), there’s no point in going for a fast time, you simply need to do sub 6.30 for your medal and goodie bag which of course includes wine. 🍷🧀🥴
Cracking video, will you be doing one on trail races/non roads? Great description on Edinburgh marathon rexwind/weather though has also been the hottest day of the year too 👍👍👍
Great list .... you forgot some races in Canada... Around the Bay 30K (older than Boston), Toronto Waterfront Marathon and the Vancouver International Marathon
Loch Ness is a beautiful route, New York Half was fantastic for the course & support. I did Moscow Marathon in 2018 & that is almost pan flat as well as very well organised with the website & race instructions available in English.
Bournemouth Marathon hasn't happened for a few years now. They still do the Half, 10k and 5ks. Southampton Half & Marathon is pretty good (Two laps for the Marathon though, so the Half pips it for me. I hope to get to the Beer Lovers Marathon in Liege one day, I was booked to go in 2020.
This is very informative Ben. Thanks so much. I prefer the Flat race as I'm still new to this. I love to do Royal Parks Mmarathonin in London next year. 🙏😍
Bath Half (and the 2 Tunnels run) are great. The Bath HM always has a fantastic crowd and live music entertaining and driving the runners on. A hilly but very scenic HM (or 10km) is the Frome race. Usually baking hot in middle of July but is a good test! Great video Ben as usual!
Thanks Ben.... Definitely Loch Ness (scenic and a beast at mile 19).... Secondly I love London and the HUGE atmosphere...... Manchester for Fastest... but do try and get a signal long before the start as the transmitters are sparse... (I've run all three)!! and can give hotel tips too.....
Great video! Shout out for the Spitsbergen Marathon (and Half) - inside the Arctic Circle, below 0C in June, and armed guards against Polar Bears en route 😮
Sheffield Half Marathon the one for me! Notoriously long hill (5 miles) on the way out, but views of the Peak District and Sheffield to die for, with basically 8 miles back down hill to the finish! Get yourself along, we’ll put you up for the night! 😃
Rottnest Marathon in Western Australia is pretty iconic. Hilly, often exposed, gorgeous, with bonus quokkas. Lapped course, on your final lap you are given money to pay a bagpiper to play you home.
Chuncheon (pronounced choon-chon) Marathon in South Korea. Historic (first run in 1946) and beautiful - it is a lap of a lake with mountains covered by autumnal trees all around.
Love the Energy! In the US, the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, FL is fast 15k, hosting the US 15k championships. Ton of elite runner. If your a Disney Movie buff than the Disney Marathon is also Amazing. You run through all the Disney Parks and the Character are out cheering you on! Philadelphia Marathon is amazing too
Hello! nice list you got there! I'm training for my first marathon and I wonder how Stockholm or Copenhagen marathon stack up against your choices? Cheers
Great video Ben. You have missed the awesome set of Chester races. The 10k, half marathon and Metric marathon / Marathon. Good luck with your training in 2022 and beyond.
Agree, Chester Triple Medal 🥇 for doing 3 of the 4 options is also a nice touch. The Metric Marathon (26.2km) is a nice step up distance towards the full Marathon
Dublin Marathon starts off flat but becomes sneakily hilly around the 5 mile point and then two really steep hills, at about 8 miles and 22 miles (heartbreak hill). Have to wait until next year until I complete it for the 5th time!
Beachy Head Marathon(used to be Seven Sisters marathon)! October time: amazing scenery-very tough, my most honored medal! Great video can't wait to do some of these races you have suggested.
Hi Ben, the midlands exists and has some great races too! Whether you want a city experience like derby, Birmingham, Nottingham, or trails, with the peaks and national forest on our doorstep! Oh and there’s even a set of races around Alton towers!
Inverness marathon is fantastic but I would not call it nicely undulating. Some very sharp descents over the first few miles can mash your quads and then you hit mile18 (or 19) and its a full mile of climbing. But good to see you include it on your list because its a great day in a beautiful part of the UK.
i love the Snowdonia Marathon. Its never a "race" for me, i simply go every year the past 3 years for a fun social marathon with friends. Big fan of St Neots half marathon. Got my PB there a few years ago. Back again in a few weeks too!
Best 10k event in n.ireland, Keep’Er Lit 10k quality event, quality goody bag, must do if in n.ireland Best half marathon - Belfast half Best marathon I’ve done - Berlin, mega flat, mega support and it’s a major ( lottery place )
just a few ideas some i've done, london winter run 10k 13th feb, brighton half 27th feb, cambridge half 6th march, manchester half 15th may swansea half 12th june, bournemouth 5k,10k,half & marathon 9th oct, portsmouth 10mi 16th oct, Beachy Head Marathon TBC oct
I've just run the cherry blossom 10 miler in DC. The course is part of the Marine Corp marathon, it's flat (just 1 uphill at the end) crowded but i set a PR. It's lottery based only but it's really worth it. Only "negative" you need to pay for your medal
One for the bucket list is the Salomon Cappadocia Ultra Trail - I haven't run this, but my friend has just finished the 74 miler - they run 3 events 119km, 63km and 38km.... just to get you taste buds tingling ....
Ever hear of the Peachtree Road Race? It's the largest 10K in the U.S. Boulder is the second. I've run both, and I definitely prefer Boulder, but just saying.
No Peachtree 10k in Atlanta? Come on man. I personally love the Disney Marathon. You run thru all the parks and Mickey Mouse himself high-fives you at the finish.
The bournemouth marathon isn't run anymore unfortunately, 2019 was the last. The half marathon is still lovely though, ran my PB there a couple of weeks ago. And it has the same big hill and willpower-draining out and back along the seafront 😅
It’s not a race I’ve ever done.. but on paper really looks like a good one, very similar to the other Spanish races I listed. So certainly one to consider!
Hi Chloe, I've raced the Malaga marathon Dec 2019 and I'm doing the half this Dec...really really good set up and race day vibe! It's virtually flat and both the half and full distances are at the same time. Weather is usually perfect that time of year too and then the city is buzzing in the night with the runners feasting on Tapas and beer ;)
Hi Ben I en joyed your videos I did vitality mathanth for London 6 hour 24 mins my frist one I like the half marathon I did in Blackpool be for lock down was fun
Bit of a shout-out for some of the smaller races out there - Mid-Cheshire 5k, one of the quickest out there and wonderfully organised. Also, the 4 Villages Half Marathon - I’m biased because it’s my club’s race, but it won Runner’s World “best half marathon in the north” and it’s such a well-ran race. The best two races I’ve ran!
Yikes! There's a difference between the Houston Half (which is in October) vs the Houston Marathon (January). Yes, it's confusing. The October Houston Half is only half race and a 10K race . The Houston Marathon (it's a Boston Qualifier) is a marathon, a half, and a 5K (I'm running the 5K this year. YAY!!!!) I hear the marathon course is pretty flat too. Yes, I know it's confusing and it confused me when I started running and looking for races, too! Hope this clarifies!
I loved Manchester and the support we got along the way, together with sweets and drinks offered by the kind people of Manchester, no matter I stuck to my gels. 🤓 I wanna run them all but Tromso is the one I want badly. Next is Athens, November 14.
As an Amsterdammer it pains me to hear you say Rotterdam is nicer... Haha just kidding, I ran my 1:29:06 PB on the half marathon in Amsterdam last week! Definitely doing Rotterdam too! My next upcoming race is the Maspalomas marathon on Gran Canaria⛱️☀️
