When standing on the start line of a marathon, almost everyone has a target time in mind. Some will be gunning for sub-three hours; others dreaming of ducking under five. But no matter what time you have in your sights, there are certain courses that will give you the best chance of hitting your target.
When searching for a fast marathon course, there are several things to look for:
- A flattish course, preferably not too exposed to the elements (we used mapmyrun.com to compare the route profiles and elevation stats).
- Plenty of other runners at your target time. This will help with pacing.
- No congestion. It’s very common for the first mile to be crowded, but too many bodies in the way will leave you behind schedule before you have really got going.
- Crowd support. Don’t underestimate the power of the crowd! It’s surprising how uplifting a cheer from a complete stranger can be when you’re at the business end of a marathon. City runs are great for this, as it’s easy for spectators.
- Choose a course that’s right for you. Those noisy crowds aren’t for everyone. Some will prefer the relatively quiet, more scenic routes offered by races such as Chester.
- Pacesetters, so you can just focus on moving your legs.
The perfect storm of all these elements can be found in the list below, the fastest courses in the UK (in no particular order):
Asics Greater Manchester marathon
The height gain of only 150 metres makes this “officially” the flattest marathon in the UK. This has been the winner of UK’s best marathon for the past two years at the Running awards. It has a great atmosphere and a memorable finish line at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.
Date: 10 April 2016
Cost: £60
greatermanchestermarathon.com
Blackpool marathon (also half marathon and 10k)
The course is along the traffic-free promenade of this famous UK holiday resort, taking in the sights of the golden mile, Blackpool Tower and the Piers. The seafront it is pretty flat, but open to the elements. In the right conditions, this is a very fast course.
Date: 24 April 2016
Cost: £32 (£30 for affiliated runners)
fyldecoastrunners.com
Milton Keynes marathon (also half marathon)
Already a fast course, but the organisers are working on a new, flatter route for 2016 with fewer city-centre loopbacks and 60% fewer underpasses, making it much more interesting. Also, no hill at mile 24! No excuses for 2016, then. Known as the “green marathon”, the route takes you on a scenic tour of 4,500 acres of woodlands, lakesides, parks and landscaped areas within the city boundary, before finishing inside Stadium mk.
Date: 2 May 2016
Cost: £42 (£40 for affiliated runners)
mkmarathon.co.uk
Edinburgh marathon
The first few miles of Edinburgh are gently downhill, the rest is undulating. This course has been described as the fastest marathon course in the UK, perfect for those chasing a PB. With distance options, junior races and a stunning backdrop, the Edinburgh marathon festival really has it all.
Date: 28 May 2016
Cost: £55 (£53 for affiliated runners)
edinburghmarathon.com
MBNA Chester marathon
Chester is one of the UK’s most popular marathons. More than two-thirds of the runners achieved a PB on this course in 2014, so it must be quick, right? A fast course through the historic city of Chester and out into the stunning Cheshire and North Wales villages and countryside.
Date: 2 October 2016
Cost: Currently £47 (£45 for affiliated runners), goes up to £49 (£47) on 1 December
activeleisureevents.co.uk/marathon
The Plusnet Yorkshire marathon
Some varying data, but this is, apparently, flatter than London, so potentially a fast course. They also have pacesetters to help you go for that PB. The Yorkshire marathon has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the White Rose county’s sporting year. The course takes runners through the heart of medieval York and past some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside, with a spectacular grand finale at the University of York
Date: 9 October 2016
Cost: Entry available from January, register your interest here
theyorkshiremarathon.com
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