This year’s Wissey Half Marathon took place in warm temperatures at the start of September. The warmer temperatures compared to the previous couple of weeks ensured that it was tough going but the course itself provided an enjoyable route starting in Oxborough and passing through several local villages. The first half of the course is progressively uphill with a few little climbs before a big incline around the 8-9 mile point. After setting off a bit too fast I was starting to struggle at this point and very much appreciated the downhill part of the course from 9-10 miles before a final push towards the finish. Although I did not manage to secure the PB I was aiming for, I did manage to hold on for a new age category record. Five other Jags ran this race with Rod Bye and Ellie Gaskins both achieving PBs and an age category record for Ellie. Jackie Bye completed the family success by claiming first place in her age category and Iwona Litwiniec and Stephen Brown also produced excellent runs on this nice but challenging course! The race is very well organised by Ryston runners with good marshalling along the route.
After more than a 2 year absence it was
great to have the London Marathon taking place again for mass runners around
its usual course. Although crowds around the course were not at their usual
levels, there was still tremendous support all along the route and this
support, with crowds shouting your name and cheering you along every step of
the way, makes such a difference. The London Marathon really is such a unique
and special event and I highly recommend it if you are lucky enough to earn a
ballot place or prepared to raise money for a charity place!
Covid restrictions meant that all runners
had to show proof of a negative lateral flow test on entry to the holding pens
at each of the three different start areas. After that it was a nervous wait in
the start area waiting for the race to begin! The weather was almost perfect
with cloudy conditions and cool temperatures ideal for running. Once the race
began it was difficult not to set off too fast with the cheers of the crowd and
the downhill section in the first 3 miles. At around the 6 mile point we
encountered the first Jags supporters in the crowd with Hattie and Hayley
cheering all of the Jags on! Shortly after you reach Cutty Sark, one of the
best sections of the course where the cheers and support from the crowd
provided a great boost. Similarly, just before halfway crossing Tower Bridge is
another very special moment with amazing crowd support and is undoubtedly my
favourite part of the course. After feeling fairly comfortable beyond halfway,
around the 16-18 mile mark was where things started to get tough and as I
passed 20 miles on track for my target time my pace started to drop. It was at
this point that we turned back into the wind, which had started to pick up. The
stretch along the River Thames back towards Big Ben seemed to go on forever!
But eventually we reached the turn near Big Ben and the end was near, with just
over a mile to go. Despite feeling the pain of over 25 miles of running, this
last stretch was enjoyable as the cheers of the crowd spurred me on again to push
towards the finish line. The site of Buckingham Palace and taking the final
turn towards the finish line was such a tremendous feeling and as I crossed the
finish line I was delighted to have held on to achieve a new PB time!
Nine Coltishall Jaguars took part in this race with Ellie Gaskins and myself both achieving new club records. Rod Bye achieved a new age category record and Stephen Pointer and Jackie Bye achieved PBs. Jack Stuttle produced an amazing run to go sub 3 hours in his first ever marathon, Stephen Brown completed his first marathon as a Jag in a great time and Ruth Steele also achieved an excellent time. Neil Button ran a tremendous race and was on track for a sub 3:10 and good for age time until he took a very unfortunate fall in the last few miles. I know that Neil will be back and will achieve this time very soon! All in all an excellent day with brilliant performances from all Jags involved!
The Wymondham 20 mile race is the ideal preparation for upcoming marathons and the change in date to mid September for this year’s race was perfect for this year’s Autumn marathons. Starting in Wymondham market place, the first part of the course takes you round and out of the town centre before two laps of country lanes. Conditions were good, although the temperature started to pick up on the second lap which made the later miles a struggle. The route was very well marshalled and four water stations on each lap was ideal. Good support was provided out on the course and in the final uphill section along Lady’s Lane heading towards the finish line. Overall this is an excellent race organised by Wymondham AC and it is great to have the opportunity of running a 20 mile race locally. Six Jags took part in this race, all producing excellent runs in readiness for their Autumn marathons to come with Phil Henry and Emma Penfold completing their first 20 mile races for the club. I was also very pleased to achieve a club record for the 20 mile distance.
