Shakespeare Marathon
On Sunday 25th April four Stubbies - Euan McGrath (doing his first road marathon), Annie Tomlinson, Richard Snell and myself - decided to run the alternative marathon to London - the Shakespeare marathon. Graham Bell more sensibly opted for the half marathon (I think he was the only one who knew what the course was really like having run the marathon previously!).
The weather was worryingly hot and sunny the day before but we needn’t have worried too much as Sunday dawned with a light drizzle followed by cloud interspersed with sunny spells. The only problem then was do I or don’t I wear my sunnies!
The two-lap course started with a circle of the streets of Stratford Upon Avon with lots of encouraging cheer and support from the crowds that had gathered. The marathon is part of the Shakespeare festival with events and entertainment going on throughout the weekend so it drew a lot of people into the town.
We then headed off through quiet roads and villages where the local people came out with their much appreciated music, banners, cheer, hoses and water guns! The route was pleasant, flat in places, undulating in others with a couple of hills thrown in for good measure (the full marathoners had to do these twice of course!).
After running for a couple of miles along The Greenway, an old disused railway track, we said farewell to our half marathon comrades who wished us well and headed back round for a second time.
The sun kept popping its head out but thankfully disappeared behind the clouds again as it was too hot when it was there. The last 5 miles are run mostly along the old railway track (with signs everywhere warning of rabbit holes!) and seems to go on forever when your energy levels are depleting rapidly and your legs are painful and threatening to seize up!
Then you are on the road for a short spell followed by a sharp right hand turn down onto a narrow track that heads towards the river. Another sharp right turn (which really takes it out of you when you have run that far) and we were back on the river heading towards the cheering crowds and the end. A final right turn onto the grass and a sprint finish to the end (okay I lied about the sprint).
Euan, back from a skiing injury that hampered his training, suffered a strain to his abductor at about mile 18. He says, “I was running so well up to 18 miles, with a sub 1hrs 30min ½ marathon time. I felt strong even though it was hot, and I really thought I was going to achieve my goal. After the water stop just at about 18 miles I felt I could pick up the pace, then I just felt my muscle pull, managed to get to 20 miles before it was walk 200m, run ½ mile stretch, walk again etc…I finished feeling I still had loads of energy but tight and starting to cramp in my left leg”.
But despite all this and only getting in 10 weeks of training he still pulled off a finish time of 3:30! Euan, disappointed that he missed his sub 3hrs 15min goal just about concedes that considering all the facts “3hrs 30min might be acceptable-ish”!
It was great to have Andy Tomlinson cycling around the course meeting us at various points for cheer and offers of refreshments and then another friendly face in Graham at about mile 23.
I would recommend this marathon to anyone – despite the usual pain and battles of a marathon, both physical and mental, I really enjoyed it. It was well organised and the crowds were great. Euan says, “Great day, great race, must do better!” Rich says, “ I’m very pleased at reaching my target of getting under 4 hours and not finishing too far behind Gill and Annie”.
When asked to comment on her experience of the marathon Annie said, “on the plus side I enjoyed myself, I was very pleased with my time, got a new pb and I appreciated the support and encouragement of Andy en-route”. And having gone over on that ankle (again!) the down side was, “not being able to finish a marathon without falling over”! One day…
A very good friend of Euan’s always says ‘Pain is only weakness leaving the body’. His comforting text to him after the Shakespeare Marathon read ‘At least you will feel better having shed some pain’!
If it weren’t for the pain and penguin like walk for two days afterwards (which entertained my clients at work no end) I wouldn’t have believed the time I managed to pull off. I am absolutely thrilled!
And Annie and I are officially “good for age”!! (Which means we can get a good for age place at the London marathon).
Euan Mc Grath 3:30:52/3:31:11
Gill Rose 3:42:15/3:43:03 (PB)
Annie Tomlinson 3:47:22/3:48:10 (PB)
Richard Snell 3:53:18/3:54:07 (PB)
Graham Bell (half marathon) 1:24:15/1:24:20
Gill Rose.
Click here for photos.