Running marathons takes a lot of preparation, both physically and mentally! Whatever your reasoning for wanting to run your first marathon, we are here to help! Luckily, there are plenty of marathons all over the UK that is beginner-friendly, thanks to their location, flat routes, and infrastructure. However, it is essential to plan your marathons to avoid injury or burnout for the coming year.

Marathon training is no small feat, and we applaud your efforts! Whether you have been running for a while now or have just started, using a good beginner marathon training plan is one of the best first steps towards your marathon goal. The next step is applying to a marathon – and being accepted! Whether as a runner or for a charity.

You don't need to have gotten a place on the London Marathon ballot to enter a marathon. There are probably many more marathons than you ever thought available! Almost every city has a marathon of worth, and after 20 weeks of marathon training, rigorous nutrition preparation and planning, kit testing and research, it would be a huge shame to miss out on a great run.

The following are set to be some of the favourite marathons for beginners in 2023. Prepare, plan and know your entry submission dates for the best chance of getting involved.

Manchester Marathon – April

The Manchester marathon is considered an excellent beginners marathon due to its super-fast course, great crowd support, infrastructure, and entertainment for all. In addition, the Manchester Marathon is well renowned for being one of the friendliest marathons in the UK and widely acclaimed as the best marathon for first-timers.

With such high acclaim as the flattest, fastest, and friendliest marathon in the UK, what's not to love? The finish line is even outside of the famous Old Trafford Stadium. With such a fast course available, there is also the opportunity to see elites as they chase for their PBs and aim to break records.

Blackpool Marathon – April

Blustery Blackpool Marathon will blow the cobwebs off your beginner marathon training plan. It will surely spice up the monotony of your long runs! You will get to run the course of Blackpool's promenade, Blackpool tower, pier and its significant coastal landmarks and tourist attractions that many people travel hours for every year. Arguably one of the favourite coastal marathons, this flat and fast route is the perfect day out for the whole family who have come along to support you.

Brighton Marathon – April

Beginner marathons rarely get better than this when it means taking a trip to the southern coast. Beginner marathon training is well rewarded at the Brighton marathon, with busy, enthusiastic crowds of runners and sporting enthusiasts supporting their peers and families. In addition, there are traditions of celebrating the completion of the Brighton marathon in the Event Village and for runners to cool off in the sea right after their run.

Edinburgh Marathon – May

Surprisingly flat, Edinburgh has gorgeous scenery along its novice-friendly route around Holyrood Park. Edinburgh's rich culture and history have made it a favourite among seasoned professionals and beginner marathon runners. In addition, you can explore the East Lothian coastline and Edinburgh city's vast amount of historical architecture.

Its flat and easy to navigate route attracts PB chasers and first-timers alike. With over 30,000 runners set to enter this year, the Edinburgh marathon is the perfect alternative to London and arguably a cheaper and more enjoyable weekend festival. So not only is it a great rival, but you also gain guaranteed entry to the Edinburgh marathon if you were denied from London.

Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon – May

This marathon boasts a brand-new route, starting and finishing at Headingly stadium. The circular route is an excellent introduction to long-distance marathon running. It takes you through Leed's scenic countryside and iconic landscapes such as Woodhouse Moore, Headingly, Adel, Bramhope, and Otley. While this marathon has more hills than the others, this fantastic awareness marathon gives you just enough of a challenge to come back for more.

Yorkshire Marathon – October

One of the big favourites, the Yorkshire Marathon, is a regular sell-out. The course boasts excellent potential for the personal best chasers, as it lacks steep climbs and hills. It is only slightly more elevated than the Manchester marathon. You will get a great view of Yorkshires' traditional architecture at the starting line, University of York. You will witness York Minister, Northwood Trail, Stamford Bridge, and much more along the route.

Our top six picks for this spring and summer are perfect routes to test your beginner marathon training. There are many incredible marathons to choose from throughout the year. However, we know that long-term training rarely goes to plan and takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and discipline. So, if you haven't managed to keep up a 20-week beginner's marathon training plan, fear not. Keep up your hard work, and more marathons will become available later in the year, which you can apply.

However, if you struggle to apply the correct times and distances to your training, consider using our app to accurately present an effective training plan. Our marathon training plans consider the date, how much time you have before your race, and the timings you are achieving to help you effectively plan and succeed in your goal of running a marathon.

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