Fastest half marathon course in the UK? - Page 2

ScotInCornwall · #16 19th Jun 09, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ali Kitten

Jedburgh half is supposed to be mostly flat and not far from you! Might fit in with your timescale too. Jedburgh Half Marathon

And the weekend after the Aviemore Half, too.

JBBury · #17 19th Jun 09, 08:26 AM

I was thinking about Jedburgh. It's on my list!!!

ScotInCornwall · #18 19th Jun 09, 08:34 AM

Pretty close to my Mum, too, so that would suit me for a visit.

sara t · #19 19th Jun 09, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotInCornwall

Based on number of runners in the rankings, Bath is the commonest race for fast times, then Newcastle and Reading are almost equal 2nd.

Though if you are a 9.5 mm miler its a night mare- very overcrowded all the way for those finishing around 2 hr mark. IMO

roadrunnerrob · #20 19th Jun 09, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBBury

You are of course right. It does seem like semi-cheating by just looking for an easy course, but then again a PB is a PB as long as it is a recognised race abiding by national race rules. I wouldn't, for instance, run a course that was entirely down hill. But for PBs I think it is ok to look for something as flat as possible, because it means your ability will determine your time and not the course. My current half pb was a fast course in that it was relatively flat. Don't think I could have run that time on a course with lots of undulations.

Only semi-cheating yourself though. I think looking for a flat course for a PB is fine, but you let it slide a little by asking for downhills as well

I look back on a hilly course I PB'd on last year, and although I've beaten the time since, I still look on it as my best run to date because I dictated the course and didn't let it dictate me.

Don't want you to be looking back in 10 years and thinking, ah that was a good time, but I did cherry pick the course...

Times are all relative, of course, even one's own.

JBBury · #21 19th Jun 09, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadrunnerrob

Don't want you to be looking back in 10 years and thinking, ah that was a good time, but I did cherry pick the course...

Times are all relative, of course, even one's own.

But in 40 years I will probably be senile and have forgotten that I cherry picked the course. Then I can just bask in the glory

sara t · #22 19th Jun 09, 09:47 AM

roadrunnerrob · #23 19th Jun 09, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBBury

But in 40 years I will probably be senile and have forgotten that I cherry picked the course. Then I can just bask in the glory

I doubt it. It depends. I hope you will not be senile by 75, but if not I bet you will look back and be thinking, "What an easy course that was, I should really have run it much faster"

epocian · #24 19th Jun 09, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBBury

want flat as a pancake but with some nice down hills.

That's a contradiction in terms!

hot foot · #25 19th Jun 09, 05:19 PM

I agree with Rob.

I got a P.B. at the Halstead marathon, not an easy course.

I have wondered since what I could have done at Edinburgh with it being the fastest marathon course in the country. I doubt whether I'd have been as satisfied even with a quicker time there.

annyhous · #26 1st Jul 09, 07:02 PM

I have just entered Peterborough half marathon on the recommendation of a friend who is a bit of a running fiend - her car number plate even has 'run' on it! It is apparently as flat as a pancake and she gained her personal best there. ( I must add that she really is pretty damn good, did the London marathon in just under 3.5 hours).