Stubbington Green Runners

IT'S halfway in Paul Hammond's schedule to the Marathon De La Baie - and his wife still thinks he is mad!

Paul is into week nine of 18 in his schedule to take part in the tough 26-miler which is based around Mont St Michel in Brittany, Northern France.

"Last Sunday, I ran the Reading half, which made three races in three weekends, so my wife does think I'm mad," he said.

First up in the schedule was the Two Saints 10km which was Paul's first outing since October.

"I had been suffering with a dickey knee, so I was hoping to get round in a half decent time and in one bit," explained Paul. "No real problems, except I hadn't realised that inner Southampton was so hilly. I was 25th on the day in 42min 12sec, which was okay by me."

Next up for the Stubbington runner was the South Coast Half Marathon at Seaford near Newhaven. "Both the Bournemouth and White Horse races were full when I applied, so it was off to East Sussex," he added.

"This was the inaugural half for them which was run after a 10km and 5km. It was advertised as a four-lap circuit along and back on the promenade with a 'short, but steep climb'. The four laps were testing, as the outward leg was headfirst into a gale force hooligan, the return leg was easier though.

"Then the hill; once was okay, twice was testing, three times was tricky and the fourth was a nice gentle stroll - must tackle the Titchfield dips more often!"

Paul was very happy with his eighth place in 1hr 34min 14sec - don't mention the relatively small field!

The third race was the Reading Half, a far larger race than the week before with 13,000 entries, although only 9,500 took part.

Paul described the race as reminiscent of the Great South Run with competitors in fancy dress, charity runners, serious runners, fun runners, club runners, sprinters at the start who you passed after about two miles and Kenyans who made the rest of us look like we were walking backwards. It was bright but chilly waiting at the start line beside Reading Football Club's impressive Madjeski Stadium.

Paul added: "Just before the start there were masses of competitors milling about in black bin liners to keep the chill off - me included. I have never seen such a ridiculous sight in my life. It looked like a gathering of prunes that had sprouted heads and legs, some with and some without arms!

"Once away it was the usual scrum over the first mile before settling into race pace; the whole course was well policed and marshalled, there were regular water stations and an enthusiastic crowd.

"It does make a difference to have people clapping and cheering, none more so than at the end of this race in the Madjeski stadium.

"The finish line was in front of the West Stand, which meant you had to run almost a half lap in the stadium; they were all cheering me honest!

"I finished with a gun time of 1:32:11 and a chip time of 1:30:11, the chip time is a PB for me so that is the one on my list."

Paul said that shortly after he had finished, one runner collapsed about ten yards from the line, race officials went to help him but he insisted on finishing on his own. He crawled on his hands and knees for about eight yards before heaving himself up and wobbling over the line into the arms of the St Johns Ambulance where he got his time and medal.

This year's Marathon de la Baie takes place on Saturday, June 17, and Paul will be hoping to improve on last year's run when he clocked 4hrs 18min 52sec.

He added: "I've now got to find another race or two to fit in with my training schedule. At present, next up is the D-Day 10k. Look out for me at the weekends running various distances between Locks Heath and Gillkicker."