Anyway, all this to say, you should sign up and I promise you'll have the best time ever: www.beerloversmarathon.be/en

Yet they have tons of people finish the race, including many first-time marathoners, and go from the finish line straight to the dance floor. Because of course they have a dance floor at the end. Running's all in your head, and it can be pure, unadulterated joy.

What they don't advertise is that running in fancy dress, in the May heat, on hilly terrain and up Montagne de Bueren is much, MUCH harder and more impressive than running a nice and flat London marathon, for example.

Also, they know that whether or not a race is "beginner-friendly" is only about marketing, nothing else. They put on a race that is good vibes only, advertise it as a fun run, and then get loads of people have a brilliant time running their first marathon every year.

#Running 42.2km in one go is an impressive feat, and at the same it's profoundly silly. The silliness doesn't undermine the achievement, and vice versa. The organisers of the Beer Lovers' Marathon capture this uniquely well, among all the races I've done, trail or road.

Thank you!

The *only* other times I can recall being emailed with updated travel guidance like this (outside covid-19, obv.), have been about active military conflict.

As ever I’m deeply impressed with Ukraine maintaining a “1 - will it work? 2 - is it funny?” strategy

Took an Oxford university spot off a good Eton boy. 🤷‍♀️