UKC

Anyone done both and able to make a recommendation? Looking for something to give me some winter motivation to get out the door. I’ve got a 15 mile fell race in the diary for April, but fancy doing a road half relatively locally as well. Plan would probably be to just go steady and enjoy the fell race and properly race the half. 

Bath is only 3 weeks before the fell race while Bristol is 5 weeks after. From a training/not getting injured perspective Bristol probably makes more sense since a hilly 15 miler will still be a big day for me regardless of how I pace it so I want a bit of recovery time between that and any other races. Bristol has the potential to be quite hot in May though which is making me think twice.

Anyone able to make a recommendation on which is nicer/more enjoyable though? Some of the reviews I’ve found suggest Bath is 2 laps of a lot of industrial estates which doesn’t sound hugely appealing. 

In reply to Stuart Williams: I tohught Bath was OK, but that was a while ago.  I'd be of the opinion that the 1/2 would be a decent fitness test for the 15, and you'd adjust your planned pace to fit.

In reply to Stuart Williams:

I would run the road event first if that is your target event, don't want to turn an ankle on a spring soaked fell race and end up hobbling for a month. Which early April AL is the fell race, Eskdale or Llangollen?

In reply to wbo2:

Thanks, that’s a helpful way of thinking about it

In reply to tomsan91:

Well that’s a very good point and something I hadn’t really factored in. I was too busy thinking about my seeming proneness to plantar fascia problems to consider possible tussock and bog related injuries!

Neither. Unfortunately we’ve recently moved away from any proper fells so it’s The Big Cheese in Cheddar. BL but I’d say arguably more of a muddy trail race rather than a fell race. 

In reply to Stuart Williams:

What are you like in the heat? Not sure I could race a half in May. I’ve entered Cambridge Half (9 March) for a bit of winter focus.

In reply to Stuart Williams:

I'm also considering the Big Cheese. Have you any idea when entry opens?

In reply to Tony the Blade:

I think it usually opens late October/early November 

In reply to Tom Briggs:

Okay I think, but definitely better in cooler weather and I’d like to try to beat my PB from 2022. Sounds like there were a lot of casualties from the heat this year in Bristol, and it starts quite late in the morning so has the potential to be grim.

In reply to Stuart Williams:

Great - many thanks

In reply to Stuart Williams:

Both courses are pretty scenic.  I'd say that the reviews you've read about Bath are a bit unfair; there is a bit of running on the lower Bristol Road, which has got a few builders yards on it, but its a bit difficult to find 13 miles of running in any city which doesn't take in a bit of industry.  A lot of the running is in the city.  Bath is probably a slightly quicker course, but neither is a particularly good course for a PB attempt.  There are other options in the southwest in spring (Gloucester, Bath two tunnels etc) which are faster (and much cheaper)

Cardiff is a very fast course but that's now in October rather than the spring. 

In reply to gazhbo:

My PB is from a windy Conwy half, so without a lap of the Orme into a headwind I reckon I’ve got a fair chance! I’ve not raced many halves so there’s plenty of scope for gains to be made regardless of the course I think. 

Gloucester feels too close to the 15 miler for me, being the weekend before. That would be fine for many, but I reckon there would be a pretty solid chance of injury for me. The two tunnels could be a good option though on all fronts. I nearly entered that this year but life got in the way. Thanks for the suggestions  

In reply to Stuart Williams:

It’s certainly all on tracks, just a little bit to the trig on blackdown where it might be a little boggy/deep puddles. Tripping on rocks usually my biggest problem when I run up there.

In reply to Stuart Williams:

Bristol Half is a great morning to climb in the Avon Gorge as there is minimal traffic noise

Bath course is not as scenic as Bristol although the finishing straight on Great Pulteney Street is one of the classic Bath avenues 

In reply to Jezzer:

It is indeed. Ideally need to time arriving right. One year my partner was running a bit late and got there just as the main pack of runners was coming down the portway. He was stuck on the other side of the road for about half an hour waiting for a sensible chance to cross the road.