Is April the best month for marathons?

Are there more marathons in April than any other month?

It certainly seems that way. Out of the big ones, we’ve already had Paris (bravo to Lonely Goat Jed, pictured above), Brighton, Rotterdam, Vienna, Connemara, Milan, Zurich and Manchester. Still to come (at the time of writing) are Hamburg, Boston (today!), London, and more.

April makes a lot of sense for marathons. In fact, it makes a lot of sense for any road race distance.

For northern and central Europe, the weather is likely to be roughly OK-ish (in theory). And it falls at a good time of year for motivation. You can start the hard training in the depths of winter and just as you’re starting to get tired of the relentless miles in the rain, spring comes along. The daffodils, tulips, lambs in the fields, bird song, longer days and the sun’s warmth on your face are nature’s mood enhancers, picking you up right when you need it the most.

Just remember to carry that spring-time smile through the taper, during the race itself, and when posing for the cameras with a hard-earned medal around your neck.

Whether you’re racing 26.2 miles this April, or you’re taking on a different challenge, please let us know how you get on by tagging us (@lonelygoatrc) into your race day photos. We always enjoy seeing your #MedalMonday or #FlyingFeet snaps!