Race Reports and Member Marathon Results
Race Report by Kate Groundsell
Race : Brighton Marathon Race Date: 18th April 2010
After loving doing the London Marathon last year on a charity place, I was hoping I’d be a lucky ballot winner this time. It was not to be, however, so I decided to run Brighton’s first marathon instead.
The morning itself started at 3am for me. I had set the alarm for 5am but the excitement got me up early! We set off for Brighton after my usual trusty bowl of porridge.
The race began in Preston Park. As seems compulsory for any race there was the normal hopping on the spot whilst queuing for the loos- even an hour beforehand. There was a warm up by one of the local gyms to get people in the mood, then we all got into our colour coded areas, mine being pink (4.00-4.15 hours). I was hoping to finish faster than this but didn’t want to set out too fast, as last year I seriously hit the wall after 22 miles. There was a nice atmosphere whilst we waited. We were due to set off at 9am but the gun finally went off at 9.15 (due to a car on the course that needed moving), then it took another 5 minutes to get over the starting line. As far as the eye could see there were runners waiting to cross the start line. Over 7600 started the race.
The first mile was slightly undulating and slow but I stayed calm and opted not to waste energy trying to get round people. The course was always twisting and changing direction which I wasn’t looking forward to, but I knew a few people running so spent the time looking out for them. I kept a close eye on my pace using my Garmin FR60 and maintained an average of 9min/miles.
The sun shined down on us for the duration of the race which brought out the crowds. There were very few areas of the course where there were no supporters at all. I knew that around the power station, at about 21 miles, it would be sparse of people and it's also a time where most runners start to struggle. There was even a pretend ‘wall’ to cross through, but it was wasted on me, I didn’t click at all that that was the infamous wall you have to cross at roughly 20+ miles into the race. There were regular drink stations of either water or Powerade and at mile 17 they were handing out Clif shot bloks, little chunks of jelly like energy bites. I guzzled more powerade than I had planned to but it was necessary in the heat. I do feel though, that another couple of shot blok stations would have been beneficial.
The last mile was extremely tough. I could see the West Pier and the Palace Pier, which was shortly before the finish line, but they never seemed to get nearer. The promenade hadn’t been roped off fully for the runners which seemed ok when I was running but I imagine at times the crowds will have made it too narrow.
I finally made it through the finish line on the dot of 3hrs 50, knocking 33 minutes off last year’s London. I was buzzing and had a smile on my face for the next couple of days.
Two and a half weeks on I still have the horrendous blisters due to the sweat and have lost a toenail or two. But that’s all part of the fun. My legs took 3 days for the stiffness to subside and for the mild sunburn to calm down. I can’t wait for next year to run this race again. There were a few glitches that I ‘m sure they’ll sort for next year. We were sent a questionnaire asking about our experiences within a day or two. Its nowhere near the size of London, but the atmosphere was just as brilliant and next week I’ll be booking my place for 2011. I can’t wait!!
The following are the results for GRG league members who also completed the first Brighton Marathon
Daniel Doherty |
2:44:30 |
Andrew Classey |
3:41:00 |
Richard Wiles |
3:47:38 |
Kate Groundsell |
3:50:00 |
Helen Fitzgerald |
4:08:23 |
Anthony Lowe |
4:11:02 |
Nick Andrews-Faulkner |
4:18:17 |
Michael Saunders |
4:21:35 |
Gillian Marston |
5:00:23 |
Yannick Vuillemey |
6:49:22 |
Race Report by Steve Foster
My first Marathon
Race: The London Marathon Race Date: 25th April 2010 Age: Old enough to know better
Well it all started about a year ago. A guy at work did the London Marathon and even though I’m at least twice his age I thought ‘I reckon I could do that’ and promptly applied for the London Marathon – a ‘major’. Couldn’t even call it a mid life crisis really – I’m too old for that. Got myself down to the running shop at Bluewater and bought some expensive trainers and overpriced socks. Had never even been on a treadmill before!
Had no idea what I was doing but mapped out a 2k run. Ran 4 times the first week in May 2009. Ran 4 times the second week. Missed a week. Ran once the next week and pulled a muscle. Thought to myself ‘forget the Marathon you’re running nowhere’. Ran 5 times in June. Ran once in July. Ran once in August. My Excel spreadsheet ‘Joglog’ then runs out of breath. ‘
What’s wrong?’ said my wife in response to my ’Oh no!’ on arriving home from work on the 1st October 2009. I could see through the wrapper immediately that I had got place in the ballot. A one in five chance.
I found an old Guardian ‘10k in 6 weeks’. Week 1 – 4 miles. Week 2 – 15 miles. Week 3 – 20 miles. Week 4 – 22 miles. Week 5 GRG entry – 10k 01:00:12 Raining quite heavy and windy. Non stop. Felt good - well pleased!! Bought a book on nutrition - shedding too much weight.
Now what to do? The Guardian ½ Marathon looks too much. Download the Virgin Beginner 24 week training plan. 6 days a week is killing me. Enter the Swanley Christmas capers. Pull a muscle plus chest infection. Don’t run for 2 weeks. First week back pull the other calf. Starting to panic now – running out of time. Friend recommends a book. Condense the 16 week programme to the 14 weeks left.
Start to use the heart rate monitor properly. Give up golf to do my long run on Saturday. Do 12 miles on my 10 mile week. Do 14 miles on my 12 mile week. Ahead of programme. I can do this.Follow the book’s recommendation to tell people that I’m a ‘Marathoner’. How do you say that word without an American accent?
Run home from work. Poster gets put up in Office! Bit of a scare on my last 18 mile run – got to 14 miles and couldn’t put my foot down but could walk OK. Went to physio at Bluewater. Looks fine. Start taper. Long run 9 miles - OK. Long run 8 miles – feel great. Sponsorship up to £2000.
Big day – I’m so up for this. See family at 1 mile. See family at 5 miles. 9 miles – stop to pee; oh no legs won’t work. Get legs going. 14 miles - same pain in my knee as before. Start to walk. Try to run – might see friends near Asda. It hurts. Start to walk. Try to run – family will be at Cabot Square. See my sister – nearly cry. Can’t put my foot down. Ring my wife - no need to rush to the Tower. Plan B I’m walking the last 8 miles. Finish 5 Hours 40 mins – gutted.
4 May 2010 – Apply for VLM 2011 - Sponsorship upto £3500 – wife files for divorce.
Race report by GRG Member Steve Foster.
Results for GRG league members who also completed the London Marathon on April 25th 2010
Kevin Hawker |
2:51:39 |
Harry Longman |
3:07:01 |
Paul Alexander |
3:14:25 |
Graham Chesters |
3:15:26 |
Matthew Clark |
3:18:14 |
Hilary Young |
3:18:24 |
Steve Grout |
3:23:07 |
Vicky Bishop |
3:30:37 |
James Fletcher |
3:35:50 |
Craig Brailsford |
3:38:33 |
Michael Armes |
3:42:24 |
Jayne Angilley |
3:45:35 |
Rod Harrington |
3:45:39 |
Kraig Cole |
3:48:59 |
Peter Malin |
4:05:02 |
Stephanie Wood |
4:10:35 |
Ashley Banyard |
4:18:59 |
Peter Stubbs |
4:33:22 |
Michelle Stevenson |
4:40:42 |
Simon Adams |
5:07:41 |
Craig Birch |
5:07:46 |
Darren O'Driscoll |
5:16:16 |
Warwick Stafford |
5:30:00 |
Steve Foster |
5:35:55 |
Trevor Loveridge
|
5:55:08 |
Sharon Armes |
6:05:49 |
We aim to publish GRG member results for the most popular races in future newsletters, so if you would like to be included, and would also be happy to join in the members leagues, then please tick the ‘join in member leagues’ button on the Update My Details page.
back to top |