London Marathon Alternatives and Why!
London Marathon Alternatives and Why!
Another year, another painful ‘you didn’t get in’ message. It’s fine, you’re part of 100,000s who are feeling the same pain. London Marathon is the bucket list race for any runner in the UK, whether you “just” run it or are one of those trying to break a Guinness World Record - remember that guy who did it in wearing a 1940s deep-sea diving suit weighing 130lb (59kg) and it took him 5 days, 8 hours, 29 minutes and 46 seconds? But don't worry, you don't need to rip up that 16 week marathon training plan just yet.
Well the good news is that at other marathons, it’s likely you won’t waste 16 weeks on a training plan to then be stuck behind someone dressed in a crazy outfit…
London Marathon is a race with an electric atmosphere and community spirit but there are hundreds of other marathons out there which have exactly this and you can ensure you can get a place without the panic of a ballot.
With that, we’ve put together our top 3 marathons you can still do this year and with Coopah’s coaching plans, you have enough time to train for them. Our training plans are fully personalised to you, so whether you need a sub 3 hour marathon plan or a beginners marathon plan we’ve got you covered. Get your training plan
Our TOP 3 marathon alternatives
Yorkshire Marathon
If there’s one thing Yorkshire people are, it’s proud of where they come from. From the very start of the race you will experience the true Yorkshire spirit which is one of the reasons it has been a monster success since day one. This race is growing year on year and it’s no surprise. From the locals out screaming your name in force, to seeing runners from all over the world wanting to come and experience the city of York whilst running through some beautiful Yorkshire villages.
The Yorkshire Marathon is a great race to smash your PB and is the perfect marathon for the first timer through to the experienced athlete.
We spoke with Tristan Batley-Kyle, Yorkshire Marathons Head of Events about why they love this race so much:
The Yorkshire Marathon is known as one of the UK’s most picturesque marathons – and when you see the course it’s easy to see why. Taking in the sights of the historic city of York as well as stunning Yorkshire countryside through the Vale of York, the race attracts thousands of runners from across the country and overseas to experience Yorkshire’s famous friendly crowds.
Starting at the University of York, you’ll run past famous landmarks such as York Minster and the ancient city walls, before heading out into the countryside, past quiet woodland and country villages and back to the University for the big finish. If you’re looking for a PB you’ll find plenty of opportunity here, with the course offering plenty of fast and flat sections.
We always say this is a marathon for everyone – whether you are an experienced runner or have never run a marathon before, you’ll find plenty of support from friendly fellow runners and supporters cheering you on. So whether you want to chase a PB, run for charity or set yourself a new challenge, the Yorkshire Marathon is certainly one to add to your bucket list for 2022.
Don’t just take our word for it, check out why it has such a good rating on racecheck.com
Bacchus marathon
Drop those energy gels and those water bottles (Please use a bin) and replace them with wine. Yes you read that right. The Denbies Vineyard estate holds an annual marathon which is possibly the world's most fun marathon! Hit the trails and enjoy the party whilst also completing your 26.2 miles! Don’t even think about looking at the elevation of this race because you’ll be fuelled by wine and those hills will soon feel flat!
The best thing? There's an afterparty on the estate with more wine, DJs and 1000s of runners in fancy dress!
If you really need a training plan for this then we recommend just a 12 week training plan rather than a 20 week one and don’t enter a finish time which would be a PB. This is a fun run!
Loch Ness
Please note we don’t promise you will see Nessie the Monster but it is the main reason we selected this race! It has nothing to do with its stunning lake views, its incredible atmosphere or the fact you are running in a truly stunning location.
Loch Ness is a race on many runners’ bucket lists and it’s easy to see why! The race feels more like a festival than a marathon and it is unique in the fact that it is a point to point route and finishes in Inverness so you’re close to all pubs for the celebratory drink or lunch!
Training for your race
When it comes to training for your marathon, it is vital that you do the right training and we strongly recommend training for anything between 12 to 20 weeks. At Coopah our training plans range from 6-24 weeks but we recommend starting with a 16 week training plan if you are already able to run half marathon distance, a 12 week training plan if you are already an experienced runner but want to go faster or train better or a 20 week training plan if you are currently new to running. All our plans are personalised and adapt as you train meaning you get personalised coaching for a fraction of the cost!
But it’s still not London?
Yes, we know you have dreams of doing London marathon and may still be discouraged that you didn’t get in the ballot for the 9th year running but a marathon is a marathon and these are fantastic alternatives with a true homegrown atmosphere. Think about those spectators screaming your name and that medal round your neck whilst you tell everyone ‘I am a marathon runner’.
What are you waiting for?
Sign up today and experience that marathon feeling this year!
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