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What are the flattest / fastest marathon and half marathon courses

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Wirral Dave Oct 2014 5:44pm, 22 Oct 2014 277 posts	0 Wirral Dave I'd guess the precise answer to the flattest question would be track (half) marathons, but doubt this is a scientific question. The flattest I've ran is Blackpool, but there is the potential for six miles of headwind and six miles of tailwind on each lap, which might not make it the fastest. In terms of world records, it's worth remembering that London has the women's world record and 3 of the fastest 4 times ever recorded. But London wouldn't be thought of as a flat course. Berlin isn't necessarily the fastest marathon course - just the fastest with the prize money and prestige to justify a world record attempt. Perhaps this question could be a data-mining exercise for Lord Fetch - which races are the PB route for the highest proportion of runners who have completed 5 or more races at each distance.
pedro Oct 2014 6:01pm, 22 Oct 2014 81 posts	0 pedro Jacdaw/Nelly, I think you will struggle to find a flatter, faster UK marathon course than Greater Manchester. It's not the prettiest but if your after a fast time I would highly recommend. There are pacers so you don't even have to worry about pacing yourself. It's easy to get to. Parking at MUFC ground right next to start/finish. Lots of supporters and field growing year on year. There is a thread already started for the 2015 race
The_Saint Oct 2014 6:05pm, 22 Oct 2014 5,657 posts	0 The_Saint Amusingly this is one of the many subjects in running forums where opinons appear to be immune to data.
Reinhold Messner Oct 2014 7:01pm, 22 Oct 2014 554 posts	0 Reinhold Messner Science is just an opinion, if you think about it.
runningmumof3boys Oct 2014 7:06pm, 22 Oct 2014 3,788 posts	0 runningmumof3boys Another vote for great eastern half which is peterborough in October. And Wokingham which is feb
MzG Oct 2014 7:35pm, 22 Oct 2014 192 posts	0 MzG Grunty fen is pretty flat (near Ely, so the fens). As with the others it's subject to headwind and crosswinds, also September's temps are quite variable. This year it was quite warm in places.
Spanners99 Oct 2014 8:00pm, 22 Oct 2014 22 posts	0 Spanners99 Did Wirral Half marathon the weekend before last. It is very very flat. Lovely run along the coastline most of the way. Well organised but is point to point which might suit everyone. Short train ride back to car no probs for me though.
Storey Oct 2014 6:23am, 24 Oct 2014 93 posts	0 Storey I just ran the Busselton Spring Running Festival Half Marathon in Western Australia. I don't thing I've run anything as flat as that before. Over the 13.1 miles my garmin registered 8metres of ascent/descent over the entire course. There was also a marathon which was run over the same course.
DeeGee Oct 2014 8:35am, 24 Oct 2014 16,171 posts	0 DeeGee Scunthorpe. The sum total of gradient is two motorway bridges, one of which is almost inperceptible. You don't have the vagaries of the weather that you have at Mablethorpe. Mablethorpe is flat but there's wind to contend with, same as Friskney.
DeeGee Oct 2014 8:41am, 24 Oct 2014 16,172 posts	0 DeeGee Compare Scunthorpe Half: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/route-1310022 With Berlin Marathon: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/route-1720479 In fact, Scunny is net downhill.