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Anyone doing/ done the Two Tunnels Marathon, Bath?

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DiscoMoo Jan 2015 7:49pm, 10 Jan 2015 4 posts	Quote Pin DiscoMoo I'm looking to run my first marathon towards the end of this year, and the Two Tunnels marathon has caught my eye. It's a choice between the Two Tunnels and the Bristol-Bath, and to help me decide I wondered if anyone had any experience of this one. I'm not familiar with the area but like the sound of the route. Is it a big marathon? Any good or bad points? TIA for any information!
BarefootEm Apr 2015 2:05pm, 17 Apr 2015 61 posts	Quote Pin BarefootEm I was photographer at the Two Tunnels last year, and it looked lovely! It is 2 laps though which some people don't like. Relish are a great team to run with, it's low key, low cost and basic, but friendly, and you have everything you need! Because you run it with half marathon, 10km and 5km runners, there is a lot of people about, but not many doing the full. Hope this helps x
Spleen Apr 2015 2:47pm, 17 Apr 2015 1,058 posts	Quote Pin Spleen Haven't done it myself but a number of my clubmates did the Two Tunnels half marathon and were very positive about it. That said, personally if I was doing my first marathon and choosing from those two I would do the Bristol-Bath. Two-lap marathons are, in my opinion, strictly for the ultras and masochists (not that there's anything wrong with masochism). Marathons are difficult enough without adding repetition and loneliness into the mix. In a normal marathon everyone else is sharing your pain and going all the way with you - in a two-lap marathon you have to cope with the fact that most of the other runners will finish after one lap and the second lap will feel very lonely, and possibly dull (YMMV). Plus the Bristol-Bath promises to be extra-special as it's the very first one. There is a big hill between Bristol and Bath, but that just makes your second marathon a guaranteed PB
Josh_hand Aug 2019 3:58pm, 1 Aug 2019 16 posts	Quote Pin Josh_hand Hi everyone. I realise this is an old thread, but it seemed an appropriate place to ask: For anyone who has done the Bath Two Tunnels marathon, how hilly is it? I have asked the organisers and they say they aren’t sure - due to bridges, tunnels (obvs) etc. Just trying to work out a suitable target time.
Big_G Jul 2021 3:49pm, 28 Jul 2021 1,008 posts	Quote Pin Big_G Hi all, I realise this is an old thread, but I was wondering if anyone has done this? Looking at the race info, the route crosses some roads that aren't closed, and I was wondering if that caused any issues or not on race day? Happy to treat it as a 'day out' as opposed to racing it, but ideally I would like to be able to run without worrying too much about traffic.
Shades Jul 2021 4:00pm, 28 Jul 2021 473 posts	Quote Pin Shades Big G - I did the 50k there a few years ago, it's flat and mostly tarmac/very good trail. Assuming the courses are still the same I believe the marathon is a mixture of the good running surface used for the 50km plus some off road and not flat. I'd opt for the 50km if I were you, the tunnels are lovely and cool.
Shades Jul 2021 4:02pm, 28 Jul 2021 474 posts	Quote Pin Shades No traffic or roads to cross in the 50km. I would imagine that any road crossings in the marathon would be well marshalled, race organisation is very good.
Big_G Jul 2021 4:32pm, 28 Jul 2021 1,009 posts	Quote Pin Big_G OK, thanks Shades. I'll give it some thought
Josh_hand Jul 2021 6:00pm, 28 Jul 2021 17 posts	Quote Pin Josh_hand Hi Big G. I did it in 2019. Nice course. Either very, very quiet roads (10% max?) or canal paths, tunnels, Nike paths. Enjoyable route, although a good few mins off a PB course - and slightly long.