Marathons abroad
106 watchers
Nov 2024
5:40pm, 11 Nov 2024
4,195 posts
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Big_G
OuchOuch, I’m the same. I’ve planned a few trips where I’ve seen a list of marathons and though ‘oh, that sounds interesting’ and I’ve travelled there and enjoyed the city, as well as the race. I’ve done European marathons in Spain (4 events) Germany (2 events), Netherlands (2 events), France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Austria, Malta, Portugal and Latvia. A couple maybe not so obvious like Leiden in NL, and Bruges in Belgium. Some I’ve travelled my own (Salzburg, Bruges, Seville, Malta) some with my club (Nice-Cannes, Majorca, Munich), a couple with non-running friends (Barcelona and Riga), and the rest with my partner. I’ve enjoyed them all in their own way. Barcelona is just a great city, Seville flat and fast, as well as being a great city. Bruges I love the city and have been many times, so had to do the marathon one year. Sofia and Marrakech (obviously not Europe but actually easy to get to, and cheap) not necessarily great marathons, but again really good trips and interesting cities. Sofia in particular wasn’t a great course as it was 2x out-and-back to the airport, so I’d be unlikely to do it again, but I’m still glad I went if that makes sense. Riga and Salzburg (both two-lappers) just places I probably wouldn’t have gone otherwise, but again overall great trips and Salzburg also has a parkrun, which is always a bonus for me. Personally I would be unlikely to do Rotterdam again, although I know some love it. I did Madeira, which again is not the most inspiring of courses (multiple laps to keep it relatively flat as the island is very hilly), but it’s a lovely island, cheap as chips, with accommodation right near the start line, and for some winter sun I’d go back and do it again. We hired a car on that one and would do so again if we went back. |
Nov 2024
10:08am, 13 Nov 2024
88 posts
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OuchOuch
Big_G - An adventurous list of marathons run in Europe and also notice the ones you've run in the US & Japan. Same here, I've loved each overseas races for the adventure and the challenge and like you, tend to go with family & friends though have also gone solo for a few too. I've done some of the ones you mention - Munich, Barcelona & Madeira - same thought on Madeira, a great chance also for winter sun. Munich was great for the city, the actual race itself (I did OK) and its start and finish in the Olympic Stadium, the history of the city was interesting too : re beer halls and its political history. As luck had it, I run a lot of the race with a guy from the RAF running team whose running vest was RAF roundels - interesting considering the wartime bombing of Munich - he/ we got a big cheer when we ran through the city centre square with that large clock! I am recently retired and hope to do more, and also eyeing up Basle in May, which as a fellow SW runner is easy to get to/ from Bristol, and starts in Switzerland and goes through France & Germany, but I am forever updating and changing plans. Bruges is a good shout for a Belgian marathon. I've been told that too about Rotterdam. Just packing now for Verona. Fly from Bristol into Venice on Friday afternoon, 24 hours in Venice, have breakfast in the worlds oldest cafe - Cafe Florian - train to Verona in time for the number collection. Supper, rest and run, with the race finishing in front of the large Roman ampi theatre in the city. Warm its not going to be, 4-8C! Whats next for you? |
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Nov 2024
12:56pm, 13 Nov 2024
4,201 posts
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Big_G
OuchOuch, I’m in NL over Xmas so I’ve got a small Dutch one pencilled in although I’ve not yet entered it, so it’s not a definite - Leeuwarden. It’s quite a small event, but a single lapper. Don’t really know much about it but I spotted it’s on when we’re there, hence it was added to ‘the list’. Copenhagen is a definite next year as I’m going with my club, and I’ll tick off a Danish parkrun. I’m considering Cyprus and Vilnius next year as well, but I also change my mind fairly often. There are just so many out there. Vilnius was added to the list as my mate and I enjoyed Riga a lot, and it’s the same main sponsors, and we’re keen to go. Plus there’s also a parkrun there now so it ticks that box as well. Just need to get ourselves organised. Good luck in Verona. I actually have an entry for it this year, but I’m not able to go. OH is away for work, and we don’t want to have someone looking after the dog again so soon after New York. Plus, I found New York really tough - I loved it, but it took me a week to start feeling normal again! I have been to Verona though as a friend of ours got married at her small, hometown in the Dolomites a couple of hours away, and we stayed in Verona beforehand and really enjoyed it there. |
Nov 2024
2:55pm, 14 Nov 2024
35,057 posts
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Foxy
Good to have some fresh blood in the group - Welcome OuchOuch. Enjoy Verona  I don't run as much as I used to but have 41 in Continental Europe, many of which cheaper than UK trains !! Spain - Malaga, Sevilla, Madrid & Barcelona Netherlands - Amsterdam (4 times) Rotterdam (Twice) Germany - Berlin (4 times) & Freiburg Austria - Salzburg (Twice) Italy - Florence (Twice) & Rome France - Paris Poland - Solidarirty Marathon, Gdansk (3 times) Belgium - Night of Flanders, Tourhout & LPM Genk Malta - Malta ! Cyprus - Larnaka Estonia - Talinn Norway - Oslo Czechia - Prague Slovakia - Bratislava Turkey - Istanbul Greece - Athens Portugal - Lisbon Iceland - Reykjavik Switzerland - Zurich New Years (twice) Hungary - Budapest Ireland - Cork, Two Mile Bridge (twice) |
Nov 2024
3:57pm, 14 Nov 2024
22,275 posts
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Cerrertonia
Foxy wrote: Yes, I realised that I could fly to Barcelona, stay in a decent hotel near the start, pay for the marathon entry, have a couple of meals and fly home again more cheaply than I could get a train to do Manchester marathon on the same date. Not great in terms of CO2 emissions, obviously.
many of which cheaper than UK trains |
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Nov 2024
4:50pm, 14 Nov 2024
35,058 posts
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Foxy
I certainly did Rotterdam & Amsterdam cheaper than alternatives in the UK - out Saturday & back Sunday evening although prefer to make a few days with most trips so usually go Thursday & back Monday - that's certainly the case for US Races (unless doing multi day series).
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Nov 2024
8:55pm, 14 Nov 2024
37,361 posts
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Hills of Death (HOD)
We are gonna rename Foxy …Judith Chalmers
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Nov 2024
11:13pm, 14 Nov 2024
22,768 posts
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Gooner
Hills of Death (HOD) wrote: We are gonna rename Foxy …Judith Chalmers Ok, but what are you going to rename him? |
Nov 2024
12:24pm, 15 Nov 2024
71,998 posts
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Velociraptor
VALENCIA IS ON! Dear runner, We know you were waiting for this email. Thank you for having been so patient with us. As you well know, these have been days of great pain, fear, uncertainty and anxiety for the city of Valencia and its entire province. We would have loved for you to have heard from us sooner. But it has been impossible. We were doing everything in our power to help those who needed it most at that time. We know that, as a good athlete, you will perfectly understand the situation. Luckily, as always, after every storm comes the sunrise. That's why we want to share with you that on December 1st, Valencia awaits you to celebrate a marathon that will be much more than a race. It will be a hug to this wounded city and a promise of recovery, a moment in which sport becomes hope and help for those who need it most. This year, the record we want to beat is that of solidarity, the record of a marathon that will remind each one of us of the power of being together. The immense strength of the collective as a society, and of sport, as a vehicle for reconstruction and recovery. We want that Valencia Marathon, your race, be a symbol of support for every family that has suffered, for every street and every corner of Valencia that is in the process of reconstruction. Celebrating the Valencia Marathon is our way of saying that together, as a society, we can overcome any obstacle. We know that running means health, and it also means hope. We understand that, for some of you, it may not be the right time, and we deeply respect those feelings. We want the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich to be a powerful aid to help those who have suffered the most from the impact of DANA For this reason, we want to tell you that the Valencia Marathon will have 3 fundraising lines to help rebuild sports facilities and sports schools in the affected areas: Another relating to the organisers themselves, using their own resources, donating 3 euros for each runner who reaches the finish line on 1 December. One related to our sponsors And finally, one related to you, the runners, or anyone who wants to join in, by donating to a number zero race bib on the donation platform set up for this purpose. All the proceeds from the sponsors, the organisation's own funds and the runners will be donated in a transparent manner to one or more projects for the reconstruction of the affected areas. We will announce the exact destination in a transparent and public manner in the near future. The marathon on 1 December will be a marathon that goes far beyond its purely sporting nature. The only record we want to beat this year is the one related to our solidarity with our community. Thank you for making it possible, through your participation, for the Valencia Marathon to do its bit to help Valencia regain its social, economic and sporting vitality. And thank you for being there in the good times and the bad. See you on 1 December. And thank you for thinking so much about our land. |
Nov 2024
1:35pm, 15 Nov 2024
4,869 posts
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Shades
That's great news @Velociraptor and that is an inspiring and motivating letter/press release. I expect you to run very fast after reading that 😉 |
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