Not done it, but I’m pretty sure I heard Abingdon is pretty flat, and a quick Google shows it on the UKs top 10 flattest marathons:
Yeah Abingdon has a good reputation, and a lot of autumn marathoners head there chasing quali times and the like.
Don’t know anything about Chelmsford.
1 Like
I think there’s another one at Dorney in early October. Was looking at a backup in case I can’t get to Boston.
Fancied a go at a London GFA, it’s the last qualifying day I think, but it’s 3:15 cutoff and more likely sub 3:10, even with the Nike’s that will be a tough ask.
1 Like
Chelmsford has a few drags in it
1 Like
Manchester was quite flat, but a bit twisty in places and if you are in a crowd you need to be wary of not twisting your ankle on a pothole!
It’s not very scenic either, a lot of housing estates.
But if you are looking for something well organised and flat it ticks the boxes.
1 Like
But you just recommended Eton! 
That place is lifeless. A half mara there was bad enough.
2 Likes
Haha, that wasn’t a recommendation, just that it was on and is supposed to be flat?
It looks absolutely tedious though 
1 Like
When is the last qualifying date for London GFA? My big plan has always been doing Manc Mara.
Yeah Eton is up there with HPP for relentless running around a bloody lake
I may well be wrong but didn’t @twhat run Chelmsford in autumn 2019?
The qualifying period for the 2022 London Marathon began on 5 October 2020 and will end on 3 October 2021.
That’s on the website, 3rd is Dorney I think.
Yeah, I’m not sure I could do a mara at Dorney, dull multi-lap races don’t do it for me. Mrs did a half there and said it was bad enough.
I’m going to use Dorney for a GWR HM attempt.
Flat and dull = perfect
1 Like
I have run Abingdon twice, it is flat, from memory there can be a headwind on the second half of each lap. Some of it is not on tarmac either, which means your super shoe is less effective. Also you cannot run with headphones, this may or may not worry you.
Do they use both sides of the lake or one? If it’s only on side then that must be a 10-11 lapper?
I did and yes it does have long sections of uphill drags… nothing ridiculous but it isnt a flat course… probably about +10mins worth over a 4hr marathon. Its a nice event and nice course though. I’d take it over laps of Dorney all day long. F*%k that 
2 Likes
I haven’t done it but think it was only about 4 or 5 laps on the one that got cancelled last November? So I’m guessing full laps.
I don’t love multilappers but don’t hate them either. Might keep an eye on it.
Same here, it would be a race with a reason and hopefully just over 3 hours or I’d probably walk off the course
At least with a lapped course it’ not far to the car.
For me the thing with Eton was the 100m signs all along the lake. I was dying on the last 5 km, and those 100m, 200m, 300m signs were just taunting me as to how slow i was going! It was horrendous!
We started on one side of the lake, did a little out and back then headed to the other side. Then it was a couple of laps on the one side i.e. out along an access road, back along the lake itself. Cold and wet in Nov from memory.
2 Likes
Had my finger hovering over the entry button to Manchester, checked calendar and realised I’ve got a 100mile sportive 2 weeks before, that’ll be alright…right?
7 Likes