The next big thing
I’m in the process of entering races for the summer – you might notice more events lining up in the Forthcoming Fixtures box to the right. It’s the start of the 10k road-racing season, and there are lots of different local small- to medium-sized events. However, I’m looking for something that will give me the same kind of buzz as the Bath Half Marathon and the Paris Marathon.
Few things match the excitement and anticipation of a major race.
What made these events so different? Partly the size of the crowd – 11,000 for Bath and 34,000 for Paris – and consequent atmosphere, the excitement of running the same race as genuinely exceptional athletes, the little details (race supplements in the paper, some media coverage, etc.) that follow a major running event.
And so, over the next few weeks, I’m going to be looking for the next major race. I don’t know the distance, I don’t know how far I’ll travel for it, and I don’t know precisely what I’m looking for.
If you have any recommendations for big races, or any you particularly rate from previous years, please let me know.
If funds and time will allow it the New York marathon or the Berlin marathon are events every bit as exciting as the Paris marathon. I have done both a couple of times and I have to say that whilst the London marathon is my favourite race, Berlin comes close and New York would be the best marathon in my books if it weren’t for some (probably misguided) loyalty to my home town.
Whatever you choose, good luck and well done again for your Paris result.