Beautiful Bath is justifiably famous for its Roman and Georgian heritage.
The Royal Crescent, The Circus and Pulteney Bridge are among the architectural treasures which have made the entire city centre a World Heritage Site.
But my visit on a mid-March weekend wasn’t about sightseeing. I was there to take part in the annual Bath Half Marathon with 10,000 other runners.
I had been training for months but knew that my preparation in the 24 hours leading up to the race would be critical. I had a four-point check list…
- 1) I needed to stay the night before the race close to the start in Pulteney Street in the city centre. Check. The Serviced Apartments Company (SACO), in St James Place, is just a five-minute walk from the river and all the sights, including the abbey and the Roman baths.
- 2) I needed space to unwind with all the comforts of home. Check. My contemporary, one-bedroomed apartment, decorated in stylish neutral colours, had a flatscreen TV with DVD player, a sofa and dining table and chairs.
- 3) I needed to be able to prepare an energy-boosting evening meal and have my breakfast at least three hours before the start of the morning race. Check. The apartment’s fully-equipped kitchen had enough crocks for a party of six, plus a dishwasher, washer-drier and welcome pack.
- 4) I needed a good night’s sleep before the race. Check. The king-sized bed was dreamy. There was none of the door slamming and wheeling of suitcases you get in hotels. And despite being in the city centre on a Saturday night, I wasn’t woken by any loudmouthed revellers.
Runners waiting to start of the 2008 Bath Half Marathon
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All this for less than the cost of many city centre hotels. And, unlike many other apartments, I wasn’t required to stay two or more nights.
All in all, my preparation could not have been better. The proof? I completed the half marathon – my first – in a much faster time than I believed possible.
Travel file
SACO has over 11,000 serviced apartments in more than 100 destinations in 35 countries. Rates at SACO Bath start from £61 for a studio apartment £134 for a 1-bed apartment, and £229 for a 2-bed apartment. Stay Friday and Saturday and you can have the apartment for just £61 on the Sunday night. For more information visit SACO
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Holidaying Hack 