I was a late entry for Milton Keynes.  Having run the Paris marathon in just over 4 hours a few weeks ago I really wanted to try for under 4 hours and Milton Keynes was a marathon not too far from home and on a good weekend. Picking up my number at the stadium was fine - the queue wasn't too long.  The course was way better than I expected. Most of it is on off road wide paths through parkland and because the weather was nice there were loads of families out and plenty of kids offering jelly babies to tired runners.  It's quite a scenic route and I like the signs pointing out the points of interest to runners.  The thing I really liked about this marathon is that because it's quite small I was able to run at the pace I wanted to all the way round, no bottle necks or places with too many people walking to get past. There were loads of drinks stations and the marshalls were all friendly and supportive.  Parking in the industrial estate near the stadium worked out fine for us.

I didn't enjoy the long lap round the carpark at the end  - I just wanted to get to the finish and it was tantalisingly close for ages it seemed!  I also think the start pens could have been a bit bigger. With a kind of wave start there was no need to cramp people so close together.  And the course is definitely more undulating than flat - which proved surprisingly tiring.

Overall I had a great race and would definitley consider this one again.  It's not Paris (if you have the chance then Paris still rates as my top marathon) but it's a really good small marathon.  And to top it all I did get in under 4 hours so hopefully get a good for age for London now - wahoo!