Which of these marathons would you chose?

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Hallucyn8 Jan 2017 4:01pm, 3 Jan 2017 222 posts	0 Hallucyn8 I keep threatening that I'm going to do a marathon this year and have come up with the following shortlist: Wolverhampton Robin Hood Birmingham International The only criteria that has gone into this list is that they're Autumn marathons and within 40 miles of me (North West Leicestershire). I realise that Birmingham is a new one so no one will have any direct experience but can the wonderful world of Fetch let me know their thoughts and opinions on which of these to pick (or even if you would avoid all three!). I was going to set up a poll but I thought this way people can give reasons for or against.
TrickyRed Jan 2017 4:11pm, 3 Jan 2017 3 posts	0 TrickyRed I can recommend the robin hood half but never done the full. The second half of the race can be a bit low on crowd support from what I gave heard.
Hallucyn8 Jan 2017 1:21pm, 4 Jan 2017 223 posts	0 Hallucyn8 Thanks TrickyRed, I had heard the same about the support. Anyone else?
Nicholls595 Jan 2017 1:26pm, 4 Jan 2017 9,594 posts	0 Nicholls595 I've run Nottingham a few times (always the half), despite regular route changes, the full is always a bit sparsely supported. Slightly more than 40 miles, but I did my first marathon at Mablethorpe. Small low key event, but pancake flat and an excuse for a weekend at the seaside. Usually first weekend in October.
becca7 Jan 2017 1:44pm, 4 Jan 2017 6,987 posts	0 becca7 You are not going to get massive support the whole way around at most marathons outside London. A lot depends on how the city gets behind the Birmingham one. I've heard that Wolverhampton is well supported locally. It's not one that I've done myself, though. I've always enjoyed Leicester Marathon, although the organisation isn't the best.
ndellar Jan 2017 1:55pm, 4 Jan 2017 3,366 posts	0 ndellar I didn't much like the version of the Robin Hood half I did but that was several years ago so I'm probably out of date there and it didn't include the Marathon bit. Used to live in Wolverhampton - it is OK support wise but it's two identical laps and I think on the second marathon lap the support can be a bit sparse. Birmingham is an unknown but looking at course the map I'm not sure the support will be there in Perry Barr, Handsworth, Newtown (it looks like the route of the very first Birmingham Half) but it should be good in Edgbaston, Selly Oak, Bournville which is the later part of the course as the current Birmingham Half goes through those areas and is well supported. I think if it was me I'd give Birmingham a go.
Hallucyn8 Jan 2017 2:07pm, 4 Jan 2017 224 posts	0 Hallucyn8 Thanks for the comments guys. I had intentionally left Leicester off the list as it's the only marathon I've done before (and wanted to do a different one) and also by the time I was getting to the closing stages there were shoppers just milling across the course and I literally couldn't see another runner in front or behind which was massively demotivating. Admittedly that's probably at least in part to not being particularly quick but it definitely put me off. I think I'm leaning towards Birmingham (despite it being nearly twice as expensive as Wolverhampton!) but happy to hear any more thoughts and opinions
Silkman Jan 2017 2:10pm, 4 Jan 2017 219 posts	0 Silkman No experience of those races but the two marathons I've done (Shakespeare and Blackpool) were both half and full marathons combined with 2 laps for the full. Would not recommend any event that does the same as 90% of the field disappeared after the first lap leaving it a lonely second half when you need the support to keep going to the end. In the unlikely event I do another it will be a race that is just a full marathon.
ndellar Jan 2017 2:12pm, 4 Jan 2017 3,367 posts	0 ndellar Yes that is the only issue I have with Birmingham, it's a Great Run event ££££ but I would hope that would mean it would have proper organization, marshaling, feed stations, finish support etc.
Nelly Jan 2017 2:36pm, 4 Jan 2017 3,677 posts	0 Nelly ""I literally couldn't see another runner in front or behind which was massively demotivating"" On that basis I would rule out Robin Hood then. In 2016, at about mile 21, I ran a mile alongside the river (into the wind) without seeing a single person in front or behind me (runner, marshal, or dog-walker!), and that's where my race fell to pieces.