New Forest Half Marathon - 18 Sept 2005
THE New Forest Half Marathon - it's big, it's bad, and it's bloody hot!
This annual 13.1 mile grand tour of the forest attracts a large field. The half marathon on Sunday drew 1,422 runners, and was sold out by June.
Organisers, the New Forest Runners, argue they have an early cut-off date for entries because they have just one lady to process the applications during the summer. But frustrating as the deadline is, they can fill the race, so you can't argue with the logic.
What is noticeable, however, is how few of the regular Hampshire runners race there. Most of the familiar faces you see at Hampshire Road Race League meets seemed to be racing the Bishop's Waltham 5, and instead the field consisted of a technicolour array of unfamiliar running vests. Many clubs, such as Tavistock AC and Epsom & Ewell Harriers, had decided to make a day of it and came down to the New Forest en masse.
Therefore Stubbington was represented in the half marathon by three muskateers - Dave King, Nick Kimber and Lauren Coates.
What makes the New Forest such a good race is the fantastic scenery - heading out of New Milton through Bashley, up towards Wootton where the half marathon and marathon courses divide. While the marathon runners tag on their extra 13 miles through Burley, up towards Ornamental Drive and Rhinefield House and through Brockenhurst, the halfers cut across country to rejoin the marathon route at Marlpit Oak. It's then an undulating run-in through Sway and Tiptoe and into New Milton for the finish at Arnewood School.
The countryside is breathtaking, and the course, which can be demanding in places with some testing hills, is well supported with large crowds, not surprisingly gathered around the half a dozen pubs which line the route.
Never have there been so many water stations along a half marathon course - water and sponges seemed to be thrust in your face every few miles, but on such a hot day, when temperatures soared into the 80s, they came as a much welcome relief.
Dave King was the first Stubbington runner to finish in 1hr 31min 34sec for 65th place overall, and not far behind was Nick Kimber with 1:35.29 for 116th. Lauren placed 378th with a very respectable 1:47.16.
The race was won by Winchester & District's Andrew Greenleaf in 1:13.45. Marie Synnot-Wells from Ranelagh Harriers in Essex won the women's half marathon in 1:24.33.
Some 430 runners took part in the full marathon. Andrew Robbins from the London-based Serpentine Running Club won the race in 2:51.14, with Jenny Moore from Yeovil Town Road Runners the best placed woman in 3:08.10. There were no Stubbington runners in the marathon which acted as a Hampshire championship race.
St John Ambulance were kept busy during the day dealing with a number of cases of dehydration in the warm weather. One person was taken to hospital but was later released.
Photos are courtesy of the Southern Daily Echo.