WindermereMarathon2008

This was the aim of my winter's training, something to get out of the house for on those dark wet evenings and here it is. We made a long weekend of it with family and friends at Brotherswater. On Saturday Lynne, Rani and I watched the Fairfield Horseshoe race start and finish and were surprised to see Elsie running, though not as surprised as she looked when the call of "WESTIES!" went out a third of the way up the first big climb. I'll let her write her own report but it was nice to see them off, stop for a coffee and cake and still catch the end. This is what hill running should be about! We dropped off Arrochar flyers at Pete Bland and Lakes Runner and I only had one beer that night! Thinking of you Muffy.

The Marathon was on Sunday, and it dawned bright and sunny as my brother in law and I had a not too early breakfast.

The race was well organised, and the whole atmosphere made perfect by good weather, not too hot for the runners nor too cool for the spectators. 817 or so of us turned up for a briefing on the lawn of Brathay Hall and were told this was the 2nd hilliest road marathon in the uk in terms of total ascent after Snowdonia, but we weren't told what this was. Then we marched down to the start behind a drum band and without waiting too long we were off.

The route is hilly, and I had hear that you can add 15-20 minutes for the middle grade runner, less at the front, more at the back. We ran anticlockwise from the top, so the first half had a lot of short sharp undulations. Nothing too big but rarely flat. I let people hare off feeling confidant in my plan of 8 minute miles on this course. There were drinks every 3-4 miles, clear mile markers and good crowds throughout.

Well I can't tell you how many people I saw nipping into the bushes in this first half, but it did mean I was moving up the field with no effort. I was catching people easily from 8-13 miles and still feeling very fresh, though a couple of minute under target already. On the way back there is more traffic and the hills are fewer but longer. Now the sun was shining and I was pouring as much water over my head as in me (normally the problem with beer), and feeding every 4 miles and still feeling good.

I pushed on from 13 and was reeling them in and had a big buzz when "Westies" banners were unrolled at 16 by the family, and then at 19 someone from the FRA forum shouted "Trossachs!" (which I think was supportive!), but then I came unglued at 18 when it suddenly felt like hard work. The biggest hill is at 21 or so miles and it hurt in parts of my thighs I didn't know had muscles.

From 23 I slowed each mile and didn't feel good but in the end, and after a steep climb up the Hall's drive I finished happy and knackered in 3:36:04, so only just over my aim and I am not sure I could have done more.

For the record the race stats were:

1st Mohammed Manir-Jolley 2:44:29

44 (1st F) Sarah Quantrill 3:19:10

113 (28V40) Jason Kaushal 3:36:04

Also running were 11 people who did the same course 10 times in 10 consecutive days,and the winner was:

Paul Adams avg time: 05:52:51 total time: 58:48:26

So something to aim for next year then!

Now is it too early to ask anyone about Ennerdale?

Posted by Jason Kaushal on Tue 20 May 2008 | 7 comments

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