A recent study by New Balance has revealed the toughest UK marathons in the UK based on the number of runners that failed to finish the races.
So, whether you are a seasoned professional looking for a challenge or are an amateur looking to complete a marathon in 2023 and wonder which ones to avoid, these are the UK’s eight toughest marathons.
The data revealed that Langdale Marathon is the UK’s toughest with the highest percentage of DNFs. The study found that 15% of runners that entered Langdale failed to finish the race. The race is situated in the heart of the Lake District with runners facing an elevation gain of 1036m (3399ft), ranging from mild up- and down-hills, to steep climbs and drops, and no flat terrain.
In second place was the ABP Southampton Marathon, which has a DNF percentage of 5.3% and in third was the Abingdon marathon where 4.8% of runners failed to cross the finish line.
The UKs eight toughest marathons
Rank Marathon name Percentage of DNF all
1 Langdale Marathon 15%
2 ABP Southampton Marathon,
Half Marathon & 10k 2023 5.30%
3 Abingdon Marathon 4.80%
4 Snowdonia Marathon Eryri 2.50%
5 Milton Keynes Marathon 2.37%
6 The Greater Manchester
Marathon 2.05%
7 Mash Direct Belfast
City Marathon 1,47%
8 Asics Windermere Marathon 0.84%
The halfway hurdle takes out over half of those that don’t finish the marathons
The research also revealed that over 65% of people that drop out will do so after the halfway point (13.11 miles). After this, the most significant marker for participants dropping out was mile 23.
Numbers suggest that female runners may be more resilient when it comes close to the finish line, with 16% of men that DNF dropping off just 3 miles before the finish line compared to 5.4% of women.
Typically, after the halfway point, the human body has used up all the stored carbohydrates and glycogen and begins using fat as energy. The body having depleted all reserves of glycogen instigates feelings of physical and mental exhaustion, this phenomenon is called “hitting the wall”, and it happens to amateur runners more when they enter a race without serious preparation.
Jonny Mellor, a New Balance marathon runner explains: “There’s a big difference between running a half marathon and a marathon. There are a lot of reasons why people can’t get to the finish line. Often, the reason behind it is the lack of energy. If runners aren’t fueled enough, they can reach the half distance, but after that, they can no longer continue.
“Another reason for not finishing is not respecting the distance. Marathon is a hard race and requires a firm training plan that includes recovery time and resting. Not preparing seriously leads to not finishing.”
But amateurs should not take off their running shoes and be deterred by the possibility of not finishing. In this year’s London Marathon, even a quarter of elite runners did not finish the race.
Mellor highlights the weather conditions and the “hilliness” as crucial factors for success or failure.
Conditions are a huge contributing factor to success or failure
Elevation is not just a toughness factor in Langdale, another national park offers a similar challenge – at Snowdonia Eyri Marathon there is an elevation gain of 933 meters (3061 ft).
Mellor commented that “Whether it’s a hilly course opposed to a flat one, that makes a difference. This summer I was running the Commonwealth Marathon in Birmingham where I had to bear in mind the last 5 kilometres are all uphill. It makes a race harder.”
If a runner has only trained on track and flat road, hills can wear them down physically and mentally. On the way up, more energy is used; and different muscles are worked between going up and down.
According to researchers, a perfect marathon day has temperatures between 10 and 17.5 C. Any temperature that’s higher than that declines performance by 0.3% to 0.4%. Wind and heavy rain are also factors which can affect performance.
