Ok, after watching the Brighton marathon from the sidelines having been struck down with injury in February, I'm determined to give myself something to focus on sooner rather than later, and more importantly to become the first of my friends to crack the elusive 4-hour marathon barrier!

I can see a few marathons around September/October - but Loch Ness would be too expensive to travel to from London, while New Forest and Kent Costal seem very stringent on banning headphones - might seem like a small point but I really can't run without music! Oh, and preferably road-based. I'm not asking much... :-)

So - does anyone know of any road-based marathons, in autumn, south of Scotland, where headphones are permitted!?

Cheers!

Burtie,
The New Balance English Half Marathon takes place on October 3rd in Warrington.
I took part in last years and can safely say there where plenty of runners with headphones.
I've registered again for this years event. Its about £30..ish (cant remember exact.)

They have a website if you want to register.....www.english-half.co.uk

Craig

Thanks Craig, it looks like a good one. It's the full 26.2m that I'm really after though! Myself and two friends have done a couple each in the last few years and nobody's quite managed 4 hours - I'm desperate to be the first!

Thanks Lisa too - Mablethorpe looks like it might be a possibility!

Congratulations on Brighton Kate, it WAS great - I enjoyed being a spectator (with regular pub stops) more than I probably would've done if I'd been running, but I guess it doesn't give quite the same sense of achievement... :-)

Yes, I saw the same about headphones being banned, but like you, saw plenty of people wearing them. At Kent Costal they seem very strict though. I suppose it's a comfort blanket for me!

I've just discovered that there's apparently a Nottingham Marathon http://www.experianfestivalofrunning.co.uk/index.htm in September. This sounds promising - has anyone got any experience of having run it?