Bob

So anyone taking part? Anyone else have to endure it?

We used to live right on the route and it was a ball ache...we don't anymore, but this year as the missus has to do a bit of cover down there for work, we'll be stuck for the morning, so will be watching.

Unfortunately, we'll be stuck on the wrong side of the road to get to the town green, which will be a bugger and the library will probably closed.

Expected to be 90F tomorrow too, which won't be fun

lansbury

For a minute there Bob I thought you were running it, then common sense kicked back in.

Bob

Yeah, sod that effort for a laugh

Though the missus was induced for our first kid because of the marathon as it would have left us stranded and not able to get to any of the local hospitals at the time if we didn't go before hand

SarahG

I'd like to do a marathon here at some point. I did London twice (2006 & 2009) but I am nowhere near fit enough to do one again any time soon. I think I'd want to do either NY, Chicago or Boston but then again, they are the only major ones I have heard of. Maybe by the time I'm 40 I'll do another one. (Gives me 4 years to get my arse in gear then!)

Bob

I wonder how much they all stack up for cost? Friend did the NY one and said it was pretty pricey entry fee.

The Boston one also seems to be pretty serious, well there doesn't seem to be nearly as much fun as the London one with people doing it in silly costumes and the like. Also starts in a bit of a shitter, but some really nice places along the route.

SarahG

The NY one is pricey. I looked at doing it in 2010 but the entry fee etc was just stupid although not as high as if I'd been an international runner. The entry fee for London was much more reasonable. Damn it. I'm going to have to look into it all now!

Lion in Winter

That's hot There are going to be some casualties - people will not have been able to train for heat this early in the year. I did the New York one a couple of times, but never fast enough for Boston, or even close. In any temperature.

Hiro11

You probably know this, but you have to qualify for Boston. The times can be pretty stringent depending on your age. Because of this, it tends to attract more serious runners who are shooting for a specific time. Lots of people run Boston every year. New York is a bit more laid back, Chicago is as well. There are tons of other marathons that are even more informal, check out active.com.

Uncle Ebenezer

"Fun" and "Marathon" are mutually exclusive.

zargof

Marianne Faithfull may disagree. Oh wait, that was a Mars...

Bob

Loads didn't run it this year because of the heat and the times were put out of whack because of it.

I do know it's a pretty serious one, but all the same, kind of fun to have some fun characters at the back of the marathon

denzil75

My friend's husband ran it, who is a serious runner. He said they were advising that only experienced marathon runners take part because of the heat. I stepped out the house for about 20 mins yesterday and that was enough for me

Bob

Aye, anyone who qualified but didn't want to run will get to automatically qualify for next year with their number and not have to pay entry.