First review from me!! I booked this as plan-B for London, and of course, I recieved the inevitable 'Sorry' magazine through the post!!

On the plus-side, the entry is very reasonable, and not only that, the hotels are well-priced too, not like your usual city marathon experience. I paid £25 for a 1-night stop and was right near the start.... I got what I deserved, as it turns out a mostly stag party hotel!!! £14 for a 48-hour car park, again right near the start, so one of the most sensibly priced marathons!!

No race numbers were posted, so you have to collect. I just missed the 2pm cut-off for saturday collection, so hoped down from hotel 7am Sunday morning. Word to the wise-if you're not staying so near start, do all you can to get your race number Saturday daytime. Many were stood at 7am in the freezing cold waiting Sunday morning, not a good start!

The Marathon was 2 laps, and the buzz was great at the start-line, you head past the tower towards Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and then loop back to the other side of the coast. The route around the main part was great, lots of support (more on lap one thanks to the supporters of theHalf-Marathon) however the loop out of town round the coastline back to the Tower has no support... be warned, it's a tough section, and you'll need to do it again! Hard to see this being avoided unless they used more of the town centre, but then the extra costs for road closures may not be viable.

There was bottled water every 3 miles or so, but no snacks or energy gels. I carry all with me anyway so wasn't a problem for me.

There wasn't many toilets, so be warned!! A couple of 20p entries on route and that's about it, without relying on the kindness of the businesses in the main part!

Medal and T-Shirt at the finish, with a Banana and Chcolate too! 

Overall was a great event for the price, especially when you factor in hotels and car park costs! One I would run again.