From a great marathon to another…Well done OK Chris and Andrea, both PB’ing at Stratford-upon-Avon.
| Overall Position | Name | Chip Time |
| 40 | Christopher Lydon | 03:11:44 |
| 165 | Andrea Sullivan | 03:38:36 |
Andrea reports:
“We arrived in Stratford upon Avon early Saturday evening to a warm welcome at our B&B. Then a short walk into the centre for a fantastic Italian and some essential carb loading. Sunday morning there was a great atmosphere in the breakfast room as the runners prepared for the race ahead.
The race start goes from the centre of the town. I felt very relaxed leaving 30 mins before the start. With around 3500 runners there isn’t the pressure to get to the start early. John was my support crew having pulled out the half. He reminded me of my race strategy – first 5 miles steady! Yep – no prob. The gun went off and we did a lap of the town. I got carried away with the excitement and a quick check at mile one said 7.5 min mile – well up on the 8.5 intended. Thankful for the Garmin I made a conscious effort to slow down. At about 3 miles Chris came past me which was another reminder to me to slow down!
The course goes straight out into beautiful country side. Feeling strong with no real crowds to contend with, there was time to enjoy the scenery and settle onto a nice rhythm.
At 4 miles there’s a nice climb to contend with – matched with a growing head wind this was enough to get the legs well warmed up. The course notes say ‘predominately flat route’. There are 3 climbs within the first 8 miles, followed by a nice flat run into the end of lap one, where the 1/2 marathon runners branch off at 12 miles.
Then onto lap 2 I got a feeling this was where the work was about to begin – back onto the hills. The head wind had really picked up and maintaining pace was starting to feel like much more work. I was doing well holding 8 min miles and keeping a nice tempo going. More runners started to overtake me clearly doing well on a negative split plan. By mile 17 I started to pick off a few runners walking up the last hill. This was a mental boost. At mile 20 I was still running but slowing. A bit of encouragement from a Marshall said 9th lady so far. For me it was now a case of hanging in. My legs started to cramp up after 21. I held back on the pace and managed to prevent it taking over. The head wind was now a tail wind. – much appreciated and definitely a boost as the pace got slower. Lots of runners now passed me as they pushed on to the finish, although I did pass a few now walking. The last few miles were a mental battle to keep going. I did and was chuffed to finish well ahead of my sub 3.45 target. The Beckenham Crew (John, Chris and Debbie) cheered me over the finish line at 3hr 38.36. We regrouped and off to the local cafe for the important refuelling.
I loved the simplicity of the race. You don’t get the fanfare of the big races, but everything was so accessible from the race start to the local pub. With the 1/2 marathon option also available it’s got everything for a great weekend.”
OK Chris reports:
“Leaving our comfortable guest house having enjoyed an early morning bowl of porridge prepared at 7:15 by our highly verbose Parisian host Pascal, I made my way to the running village with Debbie. Debs was struggling with a calf niggle but was looking forward to the challenge of her first half marathon. We spotted John and Andrea ahead but lost them in the town centre crowds.
We allowed ourselves half an hour to get to the start; the baggage drop was around 10 minutes from our accommodation. On route we passed the start already busy with runners and spectators crammed into the narrow Tudor street. With our kit deposited and the obligatory multiple toilet stops completed we jogged our way to the start line.
By now the street was packed sardine tight. Debs did the sensible thing and wandered up to the rear of the random throng of athletes and charity runners. I could not see convenient break in the crowd of spectators so I respectfully requested passage to the crowd barriers and jumped over to join the runners.
The start was the usual blast of a horn and off we went. Unfortunately I was so far back in the field that the first two minutes or so were just a shuffle forward. The trudge was briefly interrupted by rolling with the punches attempting to avoid the woman beside me flailing her arms around waving to the crowd.
I was restricted to 8:00-8:30 mileing for the first couple of miles due to congestion but soon fell into a nice steady pace. My steady initial trot helped me to hear the encouragement of our one-man support team John on my run through the town centre.
A few miles in I noticed the easy and relaxed style of Andrea in front of me, we had a brief chat and then passed like ships in the night.
I had mentally prepared myself for the first 3 hills on the route between mile 4 and mile 8 on the first circuit, the third hill being the steepest. My strategy had been made easier by catching up with a runner from Stratford upon Avon AC who let me know how to best cope with each hill. I think the runner’s name was Jimmy as every time we reached a small crowd of people I heard, ‘guuuuooon Jimmy.’
The decline off the top of hill 3 at 8 miles was quite severe so I slowed down to protect my knees. I was feeling quite easy at this stage and had reached 10 miles onto Greenway, a long flattish 3 mile path made of grit and stone scalpings. I had now had a chance to interrogate Jimmy enough to find out he was looking for 3:15 ish for his marathon, a good man to stay with, especially with his local knowledge.
Half marathon complete 1:33 and feeling easy now for the 3 hills again. Around 15 –16 miles Jimmy told me to go on he was feeling a bit rough and the breeze was starting to have an effect on him. On to 18 miles and the final hill, no problem on the incline but I decided to do the decline without breaking stride; bad choice, a real knee crippler.
At around 21 miles a runner from Shropshire Shufflers passed me closely followed by one from Almost Athletes. OK so I’m not having that, don’t mind being passed by clubs suffixed Joggers, Striders or even Stragglers but not Shufflers, so I try and push a bit harder. 22 miles and back onto Greenway, at this stage the calf muscles are really starting to cramp and this becomes gradually more acute as I proceed. At around 24 miles the pain is so severe in all leg muscles I have started to do walk, jog, walk reps.
I’m really hanging on now, were is that bouncy castle on the finish line. I see the finish through the trees but my Garmin only says 24.5 miles. I then notice a runner in front of me who is no one’s idea of svelte, how did they get in front of me? Think the pain in my legs is making me start to whinge.
Another short and painful loop of Stratford to go and then I limp into the finish with a 9:45 last mile.”
My verdict on the race:
- Rotary Club organization – Very good and helpful.
- Scenery on run – Beautiful
- PB potential –not as much as the flatter more popular marathons.
- Would I do it again? Yes but I think I may need a patella transplant from a rhinoceros first.
- Company of John and Andrea post race – Brill
Summary
Event was non-commercial and relaxed with a familiar ambience to some of our local races. Over half the proceeds went to charity. Stratford upon Avon, a great place to hang out, fantastic surrounding countryside and a challenging place to run a marathon.
Any disappointments?
- Debs was not able to finish.
- My last 4 miles were a bit J Arthur
