A while ago I discussed how to choose the right race. That post was prompted by negotiations between me and a friend about what autumn marathon we would take on this year. It’s his first marathon and it’s my second – he’s looking to get round in one piece and I’m looking to knock half an hour off my time, so we both want different things from a race.

Loch Ness marathon, Berlin marathon and New York all got a mention during several days of email chat. But we ended up signing up for the Robin Hood marathon in Nottingham. It’s not on everyone’s to-do list of marathons but here’s why we picked it.

1) Local crowd support – it’s close enough to lots of family and friends who have promised to stamp their feet, clap their hands and generally make some noise whenever they see us.

2) Cost – for about £30 you too can experience the blisters and aching legs of the marathon. OK we all know that the entry fee is not the only price tag on a marathon – there’s accomodation and travel too. Staying in the UK cut down those cost and besides, Nottingham is the New York of the East Midlands.

3) What other runners have said – reviews of previous Robin Hood marathons were pretty much unanimous that, while it has it’s hills and bleak stretches, it’s good marathon. And that comes from people that have run far more marathons than I have or probably ever will.

4) Date – it’s on 11 September this year which is perfect for other committments we have this year. I’m very much looking forward to being able to train through the summer this time rather than in the cold, dark depths of winter.

UPDATE: Here’s how it went.