Blackpool Festival of Running
Blackpool, United Kingdom · Sunday 21 April 2024
This marathon takes place in Blackpool, a classic English seaside town on the northwest coast. The race unfolds against the backdrop of the coastal landscape, with the town's famous promenade and seafront providing a distinctive atmosphere. Blackpool's character as a traditional holiday destination gives the event a relaxed, community-focused feel, drawing runners and spectators alike to celebrate together along the shore. The course is a trail-based route that stays mercifully flat to gently rolling throughout its 42.2 kilometre length. With only 114 metres of elevation gain spread across the entire distance and the course never climbing higher than 26 metres above sea level, runners won't face any significant climbs. This is a course designed to reward steady effort and consistent pacing rather than test your hill fitness. The trail surface provides a welcome change from pavement, though runners should be prepared for whatever terrain conditions the British coast can throw at them in late April.
Difficulty Calculator
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:m
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Adjusted Time
4:33:55
Time difference: +33.9 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Course Details
Elevation Gain114m
Elevation High26m
Elevation Low6m
Blackpool Festival of Running 2024 Course Analysis
Blackpool Festival of Running is a full marathon held in Blackpool, United Kingdom, scheduled for Sunday 21 April 2024. The course is run on trail surface with 114m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 26m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Blackpool Festival of Running website.
Elevation Profile
With 114m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 6m to 26m above sea level (20m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Surface Type: Trail
Blackpool Festival of Running is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
How Difficult Is Blackpool Festival of Running?
Our difficulty rating for Blackpool Festival of Running is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Blackpool Festival of Running against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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