If you’re planning your 2024 race calendar and want to know where the fastest and flattest races are for setting new PBs then this one’s for you! There’s a section on each distance (5k, 10k, half marathon & marathon). Enjoy!
Kit worn in the video
Thames Blue Cap https://benparkes.com/collections/23-trucker/products/gettingitdone-running-cap-1
Getting It Done Hoodie https://benparkes.com/products/2024-gettingitdone-hoodie-1
Get that PB you deserve with our amazing training plans which now come with the option to add on integrated strength routines! Check them out here:
Plans
The best running and casual gear with fast worldwide shipping! Use code YOUTUBE for 10% off your order:
Apparel
Follow along on Social Media!
Second Channel – @benparkestheextramile
Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/benparkes
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/benparkesruns
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/benparkes
Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/2310069
Join the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZPqG0yh_xPm2AyLjffbDvw/join
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:40 Things to look out for when choosing a fast race
1:39 Fastest 5Ks
3:29 Fastest 10Ks
5:26 Fastest half marathons
7:56 Fastest marathons
48 Comments
Give Boston uk in Lincolnshire some love. Supposed flattest half and full marathon course in the country. It's in April so favourable temperature and almost a parkrun vibe. Really accessible and hassle free.
Bourton is my local 10k. Very fast course. Bath is a great half to do, also the woking half marathon, both quick courses.
I absolutely love London, running my 9th next year 😀.
Love this idea!
I've run the last 6 Yorkshire Marathons, it is a great race, very well supported, there are a few hills, most are long and gradual, but there is a bit of a mean one, right at the end before it drops down to the finish! PB'd this year with a 3:23.39 !
Bourton 10k entries in for me and my running buddy!👍
Yes Bath is mostly flat but the course changed after COVID and there now is a short but absurdly steep hill at the end. Still a beautiful city though.
Not in the UK but need to mention – I've signed up for my first marathon and chosen Amsterdam because it's so flat…
Thanks Ben 🤝 totally agree with Bourton… crazy fast… Newport marathon is possibly the flattest in the county?! But minimal support so very much feels like a solo run. Only other one I can think of is Speedway 10k in January… 50ish sub 32 runners last time, 6 went sub 30!
Dewsbury 10k always first Sunday in February. Real PB course! Out and back, slightly up on the way out, thus slightly down on the return.
No mention for 2 of the 3 quickest 10K’s in the country: Trafford 10K & Ribble Valley. Mentioned Big Half and Landmarks Half(?!) but not Oxford or Cambridge Half’s. Also missed Mid-Cheshire 5K which hosts the National Champs. All this stuff is easy to find on RunBritain’s Rankings page
Also worth pointing out PUTL isn’t an organiser it was a one off event; youve confused Podium (Barrowford & Leicester) and FNUTL (Battersea)
I never normally comment on these videos but if you’re going to make money off of people watching this stuff, at least give them the right information 👍🏼
Loved this one, defo keen for a Europe version! And you have to do Cardiff half !! It’s unreal! 🏴
I got to marathon PBs this year at Newport and Chester (my first sub 4) I have Bideford 1/2 and Brighton marathon booked for next year,
For fast 5K or 10K it doesn't get much better than Battersea Park!
My tip is Cabbage Patch 10 (ten miles). Stood as the UK record course for ages.
I’m doing Telford 10K this Sunday, hoping for a PB 🤞🏻. Trying to get an Army place for London marathon, if that doesn’t happen then I’ll look at Edinburgh, thanks for this rundown on fast courses. Hopefully I can get a good for age spot for London 25 if I don’t get in next year.
Strathclyde park park run in Scotland is very flat and fast.
I've entered my first marathon next April in Elgin, starting training for it soon at 67 I know it's going to be a toughie but if it was easy everybody would be doing it.
Another enjoyable video Ben, did you ever put out a video covering Sarah,s MTB race for this year?
Hope all's well with you.
UK races are so expensive, it's bordering on rip-off. easily half the price in France;
Pegwell Bay needs to lengthen their course. 300m long. Don't even run it anymore as it just feels like cheating. Can easily be sorted but they have never adressed it for some reason
Missed the 10 milers Ben, recommend the Brampton to Carlisle in November. Hope to see you both at London, normally avoid the expo to save the legs👍
I'm running Paris in April as my debut with my sights on a September marathon to try and get a good for age time. Currently looking at Morecambe, Richmond, and Brussels (maybe considering Oslo).
Signed up for Edinburgh. Hope the winds are calm and I can smash the 3.30.. 🤞
Cheers for giving the Abbey Dash 10k some love Ben. It’s one of my favourite events and have done it for years. It’s really well organised, has a really good vibe and it’s a great out and back to the city centre and always PB potential. And as 10ks go, if you get an early bird it’s pretty cheap too. Can’t recommend it enough!
exhibiting at the london marathon expo! congratulations, ben! that's so cool 😀
Anyone ever run the Wokingham Half? Be interested to know if that's a fast course, signed up for the one in Feb
Good vid and tips but Chester marathon whilst moderately flat has twice the elevation of London
I hate to disagree with you Ben but Chester Marathon is not flat and is very undulating at best. It makes me think that your other recommendations are rubbish too.
Hi Ben I did amserdam marathon it was amazing I going to do chester marathon 24 done it be for
Antrim looks great, I’ll see you in London!
I think I commented on a previous video that I'm planning on running my first half mara in about six months time. It won't be flat being in Sydney, but whatever time it'll be will be a PB! I doubt many, or any, races in Sydney could be considered flat or fast. Hills everywhere!
Checkout the half and full marathon in Budapest held in October. Very flat and beautiful city to run through.
Wilmslow 10k in July and Nov is fantastic, seems to be downhill all the way except a short climb after a dip about 9k
Few other fast 10ks around Yorkshire area…..Dewsbury (February), Gainsborough Morton (November), Doncaster (November). York 5k series (February to November) is 5 laps around a cycle track.
Finding fast races is great but sometimes you just need to be amped up and relaxed. Certainly for us mere mortals at the more average end of the spectrum anyway!! 🙂 I set myself a 2023 target of getting sub 50 for the 10k. My current PB was about 52 minutes. 1st Jan I ran 51 something on a tricky course with a 2 mile hill in the middle. 8th Jan I went into a race that everyone said was tricky. Lumpy and with it being January there was a section about 75m long which was over ankle deep water. It's not a PB course everyone said. So I went in for a laugh and was relaxed. I finished 47 something which was insane. Couldn't feel my feet though… lol
This year I PB’d 5k, 10k, 10 miles, half marathon but due to a serious medical issue I didn’t get to run a marathon. In 2024 I’m going to break them all!
Wilmslow 10k is a great one for a PB, I’d say it’s better than Manchester. Net downhill with one short, sharp hill. They also have pacers every 2 and a half minutes, which is a nice touch.
Ben your TV looks massive 👌
Hi Ben, love the summary – great insight – thank you. Will be doing the Reading Half (live here!) and always wanted to do Cardiff too, and of course London marathon. Just back from Valencia (what an awesome marathon!). Wondering if you'll post a Valencia review from your run ? Thanks again
Wilne 10k near Derby is very fast, good field and ripe for a PB. Well worth a look.
Would love a European version of this especially for half/full marathon
The "Fat" marathons are the best! 😅
Newport marathon for me attempting to go sub 3. Missed it by 1minute 34 seconds last year, vet 60 age group.
Manchester marathon is not flat … No way. 😂
Love a late start. 8am starts for 5Ks and 10ks should only be in the heat of summer
Manchester Marathon 👍
London Marathon 👍
The Asics 10K London is pretty fast and awesome, although there is a bit of a hill between the 4K and 5K.
Love the content as ever. You've done Wokingham Ben. Much faster than Reading 🤷
Incredible content, although I am not from the UK… It would be awesome that worldwide version that you mentioned at the start of the video. Also I couldn't help laughing out loud here 9:18, with that poor guy missing his easy target passing by a few centimetres away from the skip, and there comes Sarah throwing her bottle from a far away galaxy and whoosh!!!! right into the skip brilliant stuff !!!😂😂
Agree re: Chester marathon and ran the same year Sarah did it. Why not venture West further into North Wales one November and check out the Conwy half marathon. Great scenic route thats on my race calendar every year. A bit of a hill at mile 7 but still a PBable course because the downhill is so quick