Spring Marathons

RacoonQueen

Well, most of us would have finished up the marathons yesterday and will be mulling over what comes next. I'm already registered for the Conn Ultra buuuut now I really want an early Spring marathon to have a lash at. Soooo...what do people recommend? I've been having a look at Rotterdam(same day as Connemara) and Paris and Blackpool are the same day, Blackpool is one I want to run just because Blackpool is a random location for a marathon and there's a marathon in Brighton on the 18th. Barca early March as a ahem 'training run' for Connemara?

Is it too soon to be talking about whats next after yesterday?

Woddle

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Is it too soon to be talking about whats next after yesterday?

No it's exactly the right time and you have to pick Rotterdam, I'm making it compulsive to all boardsies cause I'm going and I want company
Well done yesterday by the way and an even better well done on trying to avoid my camera

RacoonQueen

Rotterdam would mean sacrificing Connemara though, have been mulling over Rotterdam since some on here did it this year. I don't really mind sacrificing Connemara mind, running Barca though would mean starting an 18 week training schedule next Monday

Bambaata

I am thinking of Paris too but after reading the report on it by --amadeus-- i'm not so sure. It's supposedly a bit cramped and i will be aiming for a sub 3:10 in my next marathon so that might not help my attempt.

I did Barcelona this year. I found it good enough but not amazing. I really love the city but there are a few out and back loops which i didn't really like. It is a great city though and quite cheap to stay in for a few days. That's the other thing holding me back with Paris, its an expensive city and i don't fancy shelling out a fortune on it. I'll need quite a bit saved for entering next years triathlons around then as they open for registration. I have two friends doing Paris so i might still as i dont fancy travelling abroad to some other one alone.

RacoonQueen

Bambaata wrote: »

I have two friends doing Paris so i might still as i dont fancy travelling abroad to some other one alone.

You could always come to Rotterdam with me and Woddle.

Rotterdam is winning out for me at the moment especially since you mentioned out and backs in Barcelona, I'm not fond of laps and the like.

Woddle

Bambaata wrote: »

I am thinking of Paris too but after reading the report on it by --amadeus-- i'm not so sure. It's supposedly a bit cramped and i will be aiming for a sub 3:10 in my next marathon so that might not help my attempt..

For me bambaata it was the worst marathon I've ever been apart of , I hated everything about it, I have a report done somewhere if you want to search for it but if your looking for a quick time, apparently Rotterdam

jlang

I had a good time there this year so I should put in a plug for Vienna as a late spring option - 18th April 2010.

Site: http://www.vienna-marathon.com/?lang=en
Report: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=59914558

Pisco Sour

Woddle wrote: »

No it's exactly the right time and you have to pick Rotterdam, I'm making it compulsive to all boardsies cause I'm going and I want company
Well done yesterday by the way and an even better well done on trying to avoid my camera

I agree with Woddle. Rotterdam is where its at

RacoonQueen

Hmmmm....this is more Winter, buuuuut http://www.absoluterunning.com/price/800/neujahrs-zurich-marathon/

or

Malta
Rome
Monaco

Anyone ever done any of these?

The Rook

I'm planning on doing Barcelona ... when I say "planning on doing t" I mean I have registered and I have booked the flights ... so I guess any injuries aside what I'm trying to say is .. I'm doing Barcelona !!

happygoose

32 hours after running my first and swearing blind I would never run one again I'd exactly the same thoughts today, what next

village runner

RacoonQueen wrote: »

You could always come to Rotterdam with me and Woddle.

Rotterdam is winning out for me at the moment especially since you mentioned out and backs in Barcelona, I'm not fond of laps and the like.

Only drawback is 11am start in the heat. Lonely from 33 to 39km where i really started struggling. I have done both. And its Rotterdam if you want a time. Sat is plenty of time ot go as you can collect oyur number morning of the race.

chinguetti

Was having the same thoughts yesterday when watching the marathon, what marathon to do next year. Thinking of Edinburgh or Belfast but heard that Belfast is quite boring so any thoughts on Edinburgh, folks.

Don't think i would be confident enough of doing a marathon in mainland Europe yet, not experienced enough.

Slogger Jogger

An 11am start time is pretty good. Beats having to wake up at the crack of dawn to cram in a breakfast, thats if you can sleep pre marathon :rolleyes:

Pisco Sour

Speaking of Rotterdam, the online registration just opened today. I've just registered there. An eager beaver first timer here

Oisin11178

Im doing Blackpool. Registered a few weeks back. Going to stay there for a few days after the race. Always wanted to go there:D

RacoonQueen

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Im doing Blackpool. Registered a few weeks back. Going to stay there for a few days after the race. Always wanted to go there:D

Yeah I noticed you were doing it. I was going to do it this year, I look forward to you report on it now I'm jealous that you're doing it. I want to go a bit further out though so it'll probably be Paris or Rotterdam for me.

ironmonkey

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Hmmmm....this is more Winter, buuuuut http://www.absoluterunning.com/price/800/neujahrs-zurich-marathon/

or

Malta
Rome
Monaco

Anyone ever done any of these?

I did Monaco in 2006 - it is a nice race, a bit hilly. It was my third marathon and I was looking for a sub 4 time - which I got - barely. You run out towards the Italian border and have a turn around at half way. It was warm enough - about 24c - nice finish into the Stade Louis stadium and a decent medal! The atmosphere was pretty good and although I wasn't particularly thrilled about Monaco we had a laugh in the casinos afterward - in all I'd recommend it 7/10.

Bambaata

Paris is out for me now. Last few spaces are available but at €90! I think i might do the sensible thing and not do one ahead of the tri's.

Woddle

Rotterdam opened yesterday and its 40 euro

In the Woods

Any direct flights to Rotterdam?

Woddle

In the Woods wrote: »

Any direct flights to Rotterdam?

No you fly to Amsterdam and then get the train for an hour.

How Strange

I booked the Bilderberg Hotel in Rotterdam this morning for €205, 2 nights incl breakfast. I'd previously booked in the same hotel as Woddle but then realised it was a bit pricey. From what I could see on the map the Bilderberg is quite central too.

Woddle

I got mine for 180 for 2 nights

RJC

village runner wrote: »

Only drawback is 11am start in the heat. Lonely from 33 to 39km where i really started struggling. I have done both. And its Rotterdam if you want a time. Sat is plenty of time ot go as you can collect oyur number morning of the race.

Here's a trivial thing about Rotterdam that I noticed - The start is 11:00am and it will be warmer than your training (you'll have trained through the cold). The big problem I found was that there was no shade- the leaves are not on the trees by that stage and the streets are so wide there is no building shade. You'll spot this when you are rejoicing at the shade that an underpass will give you.

All marathons are hell from 30km on (mile 18/19) so the scenery doesn't matter - you're in your own hell anyway.

Also, I would say that Rotterdam is not as flat as you might dream. It's not beach front promenade flat. It has low rolling hills and underpasses. What it doesn't have (and is a great trick in most marathons) is the 3 mile climb followed by the 1/2 mile fall - i.e. no recovery. From that point of view it is a 'fair course' with the climbs and the falls being of equal length.

Good luck with it - it's easy to get to through Schipol - the main train station is about 800m from the registration/expo and the start is even closer. There are enclosed changing rooms and your bags are guarded during the run. What I wasn't ready for was the communal European changing facilities (for the showers and changing afterwards ) although I was in no state to take notice!

Oisin11178

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Yeah I noticed you were doing it. I was going to do it this year, I look forward to you report on it now I'm jealous that you're doing it. I want to go a bit further out though so it'll probably be Paris or Rotterdam for me.

A mate who is doing his first is doing paris on the same day, i think they actually start at similar times. I said to him to come to Blackpool and i would pace him around like i did in the Dublin half marathon but its not fancy enough for him:D
Im deffo going to do a big marathon next year like Berlin but its so close to Dublin and i never wanna miss Dublin as monday was absolutly fantastic.
Ohh also doing Draycote water marathon in late feb.

Pisco Sour

Woddle wrote: »

No you fly to Amsterdam and then get the train for an hour.

Actually Ryanair seems to be a better option as it leaves you in Eindhoven which is closer to Rotterdam than Amsterdam is (I think). Flight out Saturday morning and flight home monday night. Is there a train from Eindhoven airport to Rotterdam?

Woddle

Not too sure I would assume there would be but I went with what was suggested to me apparently the train station from the airport leaves me very close to my hotel.
How much were the ryanair flights?
I got my return flights for 180, I thought it was a bit pricey but I like to have everything done and dusted.

RacoonQueen

Oisin11178 wrote: »

A mate who is doing his first is doing paris on the same day, i think they actually start at similar times. I said to him to come to Blackpool and i would pace him around like i did in the Dublin half marathon but its not fancy enough for him:D
Im deffo going to do a big marathon next year like Berlin but its so close to Dublin and i never wanna miss Dublin as monday was absolutly fantastic.
Ohh also doing Draycote water marathon in late feb.

Yeah I have guaranteed entry to New York next year but I REALLY love Dublin. I think there are two weeks between Dublin and New York next year though so it's slightly better than the 6 days we had this year(dropping out of NY was clearly a good idea given whats happened to me). Maybe I can convince someone to run Dublin next year and I can 'pace' them and then go all out in NY.

Re Rotterdam: The absoluterunning website have a package for Rotterdam but the carrier they use fly you from London straight to Rotterdam? http://www.absoluterunning.com/price/350-499/rotterdam-marathon/

Woddle

That would be close to my price, I got entry,flights and accom for 400 euro and they have 330 sterling so they probably just about win.

Pisco Sour

Woddle wrote: »

Not too sure I would assume there would be but I went with what was suggested to me apparently the train station from the airport leaves me very close to my hotel.
How much were the ryanair flights?
I got my return flights for 180, I thought it was a bit pricey but I like to have everything done and dusted.

Think they were around 110, excluding baggage fees. If theres an easy way of getting to Rotterdam from Eindhoven Airport i'll go for that. Are you going on the friday or the saturday?

Pisco Sour

Woddle wrote: »

That would be close to my price, I got entry,flights and accom for 400 euro and they have 330 sterling so they probably just about win.

Heres some good info I found

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081117155303AAk94kG

toomuchdetail

Connemara V's Rotterdam for a marathon first timer ? loved the conn half last year for the Atmosphere .
Conn is expensive but unique and lonely I expect .

willowthewisp

Im going for Belfast myself. Mad to do one in Spring.

jrar

Oisin11178 wrote: »

A mate who is doing his first is doing paris on the same day, i think they actually start at similar times. I said to him to come to Blackpool and i would pace him around like i did in the Dublin half marathon but its not fancy enough for him:D
Im deffo going to do a big marathon next year like Berlin but its so close to Dublin and i never wanna miss Dublin as monday was absolutly fantastic.
Ohh also doing Draycote water marathon in late feb.

I'm an acccidental marathon runner (as in it was never on my list of things to do before I die etc.) but having done Dublin the last 2 years, I really fancied the idea of seeing a different city whilst I ran 42 kms around it.

Hadn't been to Berlin in years and entry was straightforward but like you, I was worried about it being just 5 weeks before Dublin. Noticed from posts last year that Woddle had done both in 2008 so PM'ed him and he gave me some good advice, told me he'd actually done a PB in Dublin, and basically convinced me (easily) that it was do-able.

A mate signed up also, and I set about the 1000 mile challenge for the year, upped my training intensity 5/6 weeks earlier than normal, and went to Berlin. Did a 3'53" in 25/26C heat so my summer training certainly helped there, and I tried mentally to think of it overall as just an extra-long LSR for Dublin. Went out on Mon. and ended up doing a "woddle" with a PB of 3'47", so trust me, it's absolutely possible to do both with the right training approach.

And if you liked Dublin on Monday with great crowds, think 3 times the competitors and about 10 times the crowd and you're getting some idea of Berlin.

Whilst I'm thinking of doing a Spring marathon, deep down, I think I'll end up doing Berlin and Dublin as my 2 marathons in 2010.

Woddle

Great stuff Jrar, I'll see you in Berlin
I love that marathon

Woddle

04072511 wrote: »

Think they were around 110, excluding baggage fees. If theres an easy way of getting to Rotterdam from Eindhoven Airport i'll go for that. Are you going on the friday or the saturday?

The wife is giving this one a miss, so I'm going to head on the Saturday and home Monday lunch time.

Peckham

It's London for me (which is two weeks after Rotterdam). Not sure if anyone else from here has a London place. My first spring marathon and am dreading the tempo sessions on the dark cold wet winter nights...so will be good to have some (virtual) training company!

Think some of the lads here have some good restaurant recommendations in Rotterdam for carb-loading.

--amadeus--

toomuchdetail wrote: »

Connemara V's Rotterdam for a marathon first timer ? loved the conn half last year for the Atmosphere .
Conn is expensive but unique and lonely I expect .

Rotterdam is great but is a very foccussed marathon - tight enough cut off time and fairly serious. Great marathon if you're thing 4:30 or less.

Conn I've never done but by all accounts it cannot be compared to any other race. Very tough course, no support but great scenery.

I'm thinking Valencia thise Spring since *someone* has booked a wedding the weekend of Rotterdam :mad:

Moycullen1

I am doing Rotterdam because of the PB potential but I am dissappointed to learn it starts at 11am. For alternatives I would still regard Barcelona very highly. The switch backs aren't really that bad. In fact they are more than compensated for by the beautiful scenery. It is primarily an urban route taking in loads of the main landmarks. The start and finish area is very impressive. I also really enjoyed Vienna. It too is another amazing city. Both courses are relatively flat.

I am however surprised that the serious runners among you arent talking extensively about Valencia(21/02/2010). I havent done it but have spoken to people who have. It is a seroius PB marathon with a small field of about 2700 entrants most of whom are serious runners. 3:30 would just about get you in the first half of the field. The course isnt particularly scenic but is very flat. I spent two weeks in Valencia and really thought it was a beautiful city.

For a first time marathoner I wouldn't consider either Rotterdam or Connemara. Make an occasion of it and go somewhere with the 'Big Marathon' experience and reward yourself with a nice weekend away while you are at it. Rotterdam isn't a particularly pretty city by all accounts and even though I live in and love Connemara I think it is hard to beat cities like Vienna and Barcelona for the culture, architecture & atmosphere and also the marathon experience. I'll probably get stick for this!

In relation to Rotterdam I got the Hilton for 3 nights at €97 p/n B&B in a double with single occupancy. They take bookings without deposits so move fast as registrations for the marathon are open. The Hilton is very close to the start/finish area. There are 5 flights a day from Dublin into Schipol with Aer Lingus. There is a train station underneath Schipol with a direct train into the centre of Rotterdam taking 38 minutes. The Hilton is a short walk from the train station. Couldn't be easier.

RacoonQueen

Valencia is another I was looking at myself actually and Madrid which wasn't mentioned either. Barcelona is definitely one I'd like to do but with other races I want to do in 2010 Barca doesn't really slot in very well for me to give it my all.

asimonov

toomuchdetail wrote: »

Connemara V's Rotterdam for a marathon first timer ? loved the conn half last year for the Atmosphere .
Conn is expensive but unique and lonely I expect .

I did conn as my first this year after doing the half there a couple of times. it was brilliant - also because its not a 'fast course' there is no great expectation or pressure in terms of time. Also as a full marathoner you are in the minority which makes it special.

The only negative i think is that unless you are staying back in galway, once you leave the finishing area...that's it - marathon experience over.

I am thinking of doing valencia becuase it is easier to get to than seville and its an amazing city in its own right.

--amadeus--

Nice to hear so much positivity about Valencia, I'm def gunning for a good time so great news it's flat and fast.

3 of us in as maybe's - any other takers?

RacoonQueen

Valencia has good reviews on marathonguide even more reason to do it. Not many February marathons around either so it gives you plenty of time to recover and go for a late May/Early June marathon too.

Woddle

So who is doing what this Spring and maybe we can use this thread to help with our training?

Rotterdam
woddle
04072511
Moycullen1
Roddy23

Valencia
--Amadeus--

London
Peckham

Paris

Belfast
willowthewisp

Conn

Woddle

So who is doing what this Spring and maybe we can use this thread to help with our training?

Rotterdam
woddle
04072511
Moycullen1
Roddy23
How Strange

Valencia
--Amadeus--

London
Peckham

Paris

Belfast
willowthewisp

Conn

Barcelona

Blackpool

rainbow kirby

Am very tempted by Connemara... but undecided at the moment as to whether to do it, and whether to go for the half or the full if I do.

RacoonQueen

Rotterdam - 11/04/10
woddle
04072511
Moycullen1
Roddy23
How Strange

Valencia - 21/02/10
--Amadeus--

London - 25/04/10
Peckham

Paris - 11/04/10

Belfast - 03/05/10
willowthewisp

Conn - 11/04/10
RQ - Ultra

Barcelona - 07/03/10

Blackpool - 11/04/10

Just added the dates to encourage those who haven't been thinking about all this yet

The Rook

Rotterdam - 11/04/10
woddle
04072511
Moycullen1
Roddy23
How Strange

Valencia - 21/02/10
--Amadeus--

London - 25/04/10
Peckham

Paris - 11/04/10

Belfast - 03/05/10
willowthewisp

Conn - 11/04/10
RQ - Ultra

Barcelona - 07/03/10
The Rook

Blackpool - 11/04/10

SharkTale

Rotterdam - 11/04/10
woddle
04072511
Moycullen1
Roddy23
How Strange

Valencia - 21/02/10
--Amadeus--

London - 25/04/10
Peckham

Paris - 11/04/10

Belfast - 03/05/10
willowthewisp

Conn - 11/04/10
RQ - Ultra

Barcelona - 07/03/10
The Rook
Sharktale
Blackpool - 11/04/10

Just added the dates to encourage those who haven't been thinking about all this yet :

DustyBin

Rotterdam - 11/04/10
woddle
04072511
Moycullen1
Roddy23
How Strange

Valencia - 21/02/10
--Amadeus--

London - 25/04/10
Peckham

Paris - 11/04/10

Belfast - 03/05/10
willowthewisp

Conn - 11/04/10
RQ - Ultra
DustyBin - Full

Barcelona - 07/03/10
The Rook
Sharktale
Blackpool - 11/04/10

Just added the dates to encourage those who haven't been thinking about all this yet