Benidorm 10K - 26th November 2017
By Cherokee Wells
I've never been to Benidorm before and the thought of some winter sun definitely appealed, along with a few days away to relax before Christmas so we decided to go for it.
I'm so glad we did this wasn't just a 10k run this was a running experience.
13 Wrekin Road Runners flew to Benidorm to be part of 900 others running on Sunday 26th November 2017.
The fun starts way before the race (depending on when you land) but we all met up the evening before at the Town Hall to collect our race numbers. This was a good opportunity to check out the finish area – I noted a bit of a hill or slope in Steve Gill's eyes.
There was a stage and podium being set up with tables full of trophies, we saw the huge goody bags, this year containing the legendary chicken soup and a new edition of pasta! Race numbers and t-shirts collected, an obligatory photoshoot on stage followed (See pics below). We found a map of the course, which is always comforting as I like to know where I'm heading as it can get lonely at the back - you can't rely on there being someone in front to follow! There is gentle slope at the 5km mark – what goes up must surely come down, but other than a small slope at the end it’s a flat course.
I've never been to Benidorm before and the thought of some winter sun definitely appealed, along with a few days away to relax before Christmas so we decided to go for it.
I'm so glad we did this wasn't just a 10k run this was a running experience.
13 Wrekin Road Runners flew to Benidorm to be part of 900 others running on Sunday 26th November 2017.
The fun starts way before the race (depending on when you land) but we all met up the evening before at the Town Hall to collect our race numbers. This was a good opportunity to check out the finish area – I noted a bit of a hill or slope in Steve Gill's eyes.
There was a stage and podium being set up with tables full of trophies, we saw the huge goody bags, this year containing the legendary chicken soup and a new edition of pasta! Race numbers and t-shirts collected, an obligatory photoshoot on stage followed (See pics below). We found a map of the course, which is always comforting as I like to know where I'm heading as it can get lonely at the back - you can't rely on there being someone in front to follow! There is gentle slope at the 5km mark – what goes up must surely come down, but other than a small slope at the end it’s a flat course.
Being sensible, serious runners we went for an Italian for dinner (carbing up) and planned to be sound asleep by midnight, however, it was 4 a.m. when the stag party next door finally passed out long enough for us to get a couple of hours sleep. After a light breakfast we walked along the bay to the Town Hall to meet up with everyone.
The nerves were kicking in but thankfully not as bad as previous races. There could have been more toilets and a water station at the start would have been really useful as it was starting to get hot.
With only a few moments to go, we wished each other luck and went to the start line. BANG! The start gun went off and so did we.
Wow, what a start, there were a lot of supporters both side of us and even above on bridges. I was carried along with the other runners when I realised I had started too fast. I slowed down as there's a really cute pet store on the right - I always like to have a look around as I'm running, to let my mind wander.
We were heading along the inner road I, was concentrating on my breathing and it felt good, relaxed even. I knew at the end of this road we were going to go around the roundabout and come back on ourselves. I was only part way up the road when I could already see the lead runners heading my way. I shouted out "well done" and cheered and clapped them on - I got a few strange looks from them! I also thanked every Marshall I passed, these were the local police and civil protection units and as the route takes you along the inner road 3 times I was getting to recognise some of the Marshalls.
After looping back down the inner road I'd been running in the shade but when we turned on to the seafront there was no escaping the sun.
I really wanted some water, I even started asking random strangers if anybody had any spare water. I didn't think I'd be able to go on. Thankfully, somebody pointed to blue flags at the end of the bay where the water station was. I made it.
Now I got my second wind, I was at the 5k mark so technically on the way back. I just had to get around the corner then up cardiac hill to the roundabout at the top and then it was downhill. To be honest, I didn't think the hill was that bad, it was a bit gusty but it was ok. I was really pleased to hear my name and saw my dad, stepmum and sister cheering me on. They've never seen me run before, feeling cheered I powered on. I also really liked seeing the other runners coming down the hill as I was going up, I saw all our WRR who were absolutely brilliant and spotted running tops from familiar clubs Badgers, Dudley, Skegness to name a few.
Taadaaa! Top of the hill reached, now I'm definitely on my way back! I keep trying to spot my dad on the way down the hill but can't see him anywhere, turns out he didn't think I'd make it down for a while so he went to the market!
Now it really is the final stretch, just a couple of kilometres to go back down the inner road and the familiar marshals.
I'm hot and tired but tell myself it's less than the big loop of Parkrun to go. There are still supporters in the street wishing us well and encouraging us along the final mile.
I can do this. I hear an engine behind me and the tail rider comes along side. I realise I'm last and feel a bit disheartened but try to pick up the pace - they probably want to go home now.
I squint my eyes, yep, I can see my Ade running to meet me, surely he's got to be tired. Then I see Rich, Darren and Paul running towards me too. I cannot believe how brilliant it was to have such support. I heard a siren close by so ran to the side to let them pass. I had to chuckle when Darren told me to keep running as they were for me - a full police and ambulance escort, I must look really bad! A thumbs up from a marshal and I've finally just a few hundred yards and a slope to get over. I start to speed up, I think about Hampton Hill, I turn the corner and I'm gobsmacked, my fellow WRR are cheering and the crowd is roaring and I'm sprinting over the line. I'm shaking, that was amazing.
The finishing arena was really well organised, there were plenty of drinks and fruit with sports massages on offer.
I found our group and loved hearing their race experiences. Everyone had a great race and I really want to do it all again next year! Are you joining us?
The nerves were kicking in but thankfully not as bad as previous races. There could have been more toilets and a water station at the start would have been really useful as it was starting to get hot.
With only a few moments to go, we wished each other luck and went to the start line. BANG! The start gun went off and so did we.
Wow, what a start, there were a lot of supporters both side of us and even above on bridges. I was carried along with the other runners when I realised I had started too fast. I slowed down as there's a really cute pet store on the right - I always like to have a look around as I'm running, to let my mind wander.
We were heading along the inner road I, was concentrating on my breathing and it felt good, relaxed even. I knew at the end of this road we were going to go around the roundabout and come back on ourselves. I was only part way up the road when I could already see the lead runners heading my way. I shouted out "well done" and cheered and clapped them on - I got a few strange looks from them! I also thanked every Marshall I passed, these were the local police and civil protection units and as the route takes you along the inner road 3 times I was getting to recognise some of the Marshalls.
After looping back down the inner road I'd been running in the shade but when we turned on to the seafront there was no escaping the sun.
I really wanted some water, I even started asking random strangers if anybody had any spare water. I didn't think I'd be able to go on. Thankfully, somebody pointed to blue flags at the end of the bay where the water station was. I made it.
Now I got my second wind, I was at the 5k mark so technically on the way back. I just had to get around the corner then up cardiac hill to the roundabout at the top and then it was downhill. To be honest, I didn't think the hill was that bad, it was a bit gusty but it was ok. I was really pleased to hear my name and saw my dad, stepmum and sister cheering me on. They've never seen me run before, feeling cheered I powered on. I also really liked seeing the other runners coming down the hill as I was going up, I saw all our WRR who were absolutely brilliant and spotted running tops from familiar clubs Badgers, Dudley, Skegness to name a few.
Taadaaa! Top of the hill reached, now I'm definitely on my way back! I keep trying to spot my dad on the way down the hill but can't see him anywhere, turns out he didn't think I'd make it down for a while so he went to the market!
Now it really is the final stretch, just a couple of kilometres to go back down the inner road and the familiar marshals.
I'm hot and tired but tell myself it's less than the big loop of Parkrun to go. There are still supporters in the street wishing us well and encouraging us along the final mile.
I can do this. I hear an engine behind me and the tail rider comes along side. I realise I'm last and feel a bit disheartened but try to pick up the pace - they probably want to go home now.
I squint my eyes, yep, I can see my Ade running to meet me, surely he's got to be tired. Then I see Rich, Darren and Paul running towards me too. I cannot believe how brilliant it was to have such support. I heard a siren close by so ran to the side to let them pass. I had to chuckle when Darren told me to keep running as they were for me - a full police and ambulance escort, I must look really bad! A thumbs up from a marshal and I've finally just a few hundred yards and a slope to get over. I start to speed up, I think about Hampton Hill, I turn the corner and I'm gobsmacked, my fellow WRR are cheering and the crowd is roaring and I'm sprinting over the line. I'm shaking, that was amazing.
The finishing arena was really well organised, there were plenty of drinks and fruit with sports massages on offer.
I found our group and loved hearing their race experiences. Everyone had a great race and I really want to do it all again next year! Are you joining us?
North Wales Cross Country – Bangor 25th November
By Steve Gill
Race three of the series and the furthest to travel so understandingly the numbers were low. It’s a long way for a few miles of racing.
After missing the last race through transport failure I was looking forward to this.
The location is a playing field smack in the middle of the old and new menai bridges. The course is usually very damp under foot in the bottom field where you start and it didn’t disappoint us again.
The ladies did two full laps and a small lap. The course soon got worse through wear and tear and looking at it it was overall worse than last year for wet areas and ankle deep mud. Just how us XC lovers like it.
Charlotte and the two Sam’s had great races and returned with mud splattered all over their legs.
I was the one and only runner for the men’s team but wouldn’t have missed it for the world. We had one small lap followed by three big laps and to finish it off another small lap.
Mud, Mud glorious mud is the best way to describe the course. I played my normal tactic of starting near the back and picking people off as their legs tired (hopefully before mine gave in).
The last two races are local at Shrewsbury and Oswestry so hopefully we can get a larger representative.
Race three of the series and the furthest to travel so understandingly the numbers were low. It’s a long way for a few miles of racing.
After missing the last race through transport failure I was looking forward to this.
The location is a playing field smack in the middle of the old and new menai bridges. The course is usually very damp under foot in the bottom field where you start and it didn’t disappoint us again.
The ladies did two full laps and a small lap. The course soon got worse through wear and tear and looking at it it was overall worse than last year for wet areas and ankle deep mud. Just how us XC lovers like it.
Charlotte and the two Sam’s had great races and returned with mud splattered all over their legs.
I was the one and only runner for the men’s team but wouldn’t have missed it for the world. We had one small lap followed by three big laps and to finish it off another small lap.
Mud, Mud glorious mud is the best way to describe the course. I played my normal tactic of starting near the back and picking people off as their legs tired (hopefully before mine gave in).
The last two races are local at Shrewsbury and Oswestry so hopefully we can get a larger representative.
Wrekin Wrecker 19th November
By Steve Gill
If ever there was a race titled better I would like to hear about it. Just like the Hammerite advert – it does exact what it says on the tin.
The route is two and half times up the Wrekin. The profile of the race means your either going up or going down.
It went up, it went down, it went up and around, more up, more down, more up, more down, and finally an undulating uppy downy bit. Yes you get the picture.
I have decided after today there are two main types of runners in this race that I saw, those that are strong at going up and those that are better at going down. I believe I am an upper as a good few times people were flying past on the downs only to overtake them on the ups.
It is a difficult one to pace but my advice is take it slow otherwise you will die a painful death.
There was a bit that made me chuckle though and its when your going up a steep climb at your best walking pace. A picture on a tree of a Goat, yep we were on the goaty trail. Lee Rudd (AKA the goat for his climbing skills mainly) must have laughed at this. He is also known as the Goat Boy to his friends so please do ask him why 😊.
The scenery was great and the support was brilliant.
This for me was part of a bigger plan for 2018 but will I be back next year? Providing the beer I am drinking numbs the memories yes.
I was Wrecked at the end just like the aptly named race.
If ever there was a race titled better I would like to hear about it. Just like the Hammerite advert – it does exact what it says on the tin.
The route is two and half times up the Wrekin. The profile of the race means your either going up or going down.
It went up, it went down, it went up and around, more up, more down, more up, more down, and finally an undulating uppy downy bit. Yes you get the picture.
I have decided after today there are two main types of runners in this race that I saw, those that are strong at going up and those that are better at going down. I believe I am an upper as a good few times people were flying past on the downs only to overtake them on the ups.
It is a difficult one to pace but my advice is take it slow otherwise you will die a painful death.
There was a bit that made me chuckle though and its when your going up a steep climb at your best walking pace. A picture on a tree of a Goat, yep we were on the goaty trail. Lee Rudd (AKA the goat for his climbing skills mainly) must have laughed at this. He is also known as the Goat Boy to his friends so please do ask him why 😊.
The scenery was great and the support was brilliant.
This for me was part of a bigger plan for 2018 but will I be back next year? Providing the beer I am drinking numbs the memories yes.
I was Wrecked at the end just like the aptly named race.
THE MARATHON - Athens
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By Jon Aston
For our second winter marathon adventure Sarah and I took ourselves off to Athens in order to take part in ‘The Authentic’ marathon which for me would mean ticking off one of the major goals on my bucket list. We flew out on the Friday before the race from London Gatwick, landing in Athens at about 7 pm, it was already dark so we took the train from the airport right into the centre of the city and made the short walk to our hotel.. We were awestruck on opening the blinds off our room to look out upon the Acropolis Hill and the flood lit Parthenon, the view from the hotels roof top terrace was even better. |
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On Saturday we took the tram out to the Faliro Olympic Hall, the Taekwondo arena from the 2004 Olympics in the southern suburbs of the city right next the coast which was the venue for the marathon expo. We arrived early as we expected the expo to get busier later in the day, there was an air of excitement as most of the other passengers on our tram were also runners on their way to expo. We collected our race numbers and technical race shirts and spent a couple of hours looking around the many trade stands, the Athens expo was one of the biggest I have ever seen, it was easily on a par with London and probably only surpassed in size by New York. When we left in the late morning the queue of runners waiting to go into the expo was very long, our decision to go early was definitely a good one. After lunch we spent a little time enjoying the sunshine and warmth on the beach. Saturday afternoon saw us doing a bit of sightseeing in the city centre before enjoying a meal in the evening and an early night as Sunday was going to be an early start.
The alarm woke us at 5:00 am on Sunday, we were up and dressed quickly and out of the hotel within a few minutes of waking. We made the short walk to the Sygrou Fix metro station where a fleet of coaches was waiting to take athletes to the marathon start at Marathon. We were amongst the first runners to arrive at the coach pick up point and were soon boarded and on our way. There were four pick up points in central Athens and within a few minutes were passing the main bus pick up point at Syntagma Square where I counted over 50 coaches waiting in line to convey runners. The coach transfer system worked like clockwork and was the first indication of the brilliant organisation behind the race. I estimate that across the city about 300 coaches would have been used to transport all of the runners. Shortly after boarding the coach the driver switched on a recording which gave us lots of information about the history of the race and technical information about the logistics and organisation including the procedure at the start area, what would available at the 15 aid stations and how the finish area is organised.
We arrived at Marathon just before dawn and were dropped off on the outskirts from where we had a short walk to the start area, on the way we passed a fleet of 70 DHL delivery trucks that would later take runners kit bags back to Athens. The name Marathon in Greek translate as fields of fennel, which once grew in abundance in the area and actually has nothing to do with long endurance events with which the name is now synonymous. The start area is alongside an old athletics stadium which has seen better days, but all around the perimeter of the track and in adjacent areas were some 300 portaloos, I never saw any queue at any of these. We took a walk around the track and then found a nearby cafe where we grabbed a quick coffee. I was getting concerned about how I was going to run a marathon without my morning coffee, but all was now good. The Athens Marathon is the only marathon in the world which has its own purpose built infrastructure at its start, which was built originally for the marathon of the Olympic games in 2004. There is a long raised plinth adjacent to the starting area on which the flags of all nation’s of the competing athletes proudly fly, and there is a second raised plinth with steps leading up to an alter and cauldron in which the marathon flame burns. Following from the tradition of the Olympic flame, The Athens Marathon features the Marathon Flame, which is lit at the Tomb of the Battle of Marathon and carried to the stadium in Marathon where the cauldron is lit on the eve of the race in the opening ceremony. Sarah and I joined the short queue to wait our turn to climb up to the cauldron, have a photograph taken with the flame and pay our respects to the ethos of the race and those who ran before us. The flame is said to symbolise to our struggle to gain control of our internal strength, the breath, the vision and the ardour we need not only to run the marathon, but also the marathon that is everyday life. Just beneath the flame plinth stands a stone which marks the start position of the 1986 Olympic marathon, more about which I will write later.
We arrived at Marathon just before dawn and were dropped off on the outskirts from where we had a short walk to the start area, on the way we passed a fleet of 70 DHL delivery trucks that would later take runners kit bags back to Athens. The name Marathon in Greek translate as fields of fennel, which once grew in abundance in the area and actually has nothing to do with long endurance events with which the name is now synonymous. The start area is alongside an old athletics stadium which has seen better days, but all around the perimeter of the track and in adjacent areas were some 300 portaloos, I never saw any queue at any of these. We took a walk around the track and then found a nearby cafe where we grabbed a quick coffee. I was getting concerned about how I was going to run a marathon without my morning coffee, but all was now good. The Athens Marathon is the only marathon in the world which has its own purpose built infrastructure at its start, which was built originally for the marathon of the Olympic games in 2004. There is a long raised plinth adjacent to the starting area on which the flags of all nation’s of the competing athletes proudly fly, and there is a second raised plinth with steps leading up to an alter and cauldron in which the marathon flame burns. Following from the tradition of the Olympic flame, The Athens Marathon features the Marathon Flame, which is lit at the Tomb of the Battle of Marathon and carried to the stadium in Marathon where the cauldron is lit on the eve of the race in the opening ceremony. Sarah and I joined the short queue to wait our turn to climb up to the cauldron, have a photograph taken with the flame and pay our respects to the ethos of the race and those who ran before us. The flame is said to symbolise to our struggle to gain control of our internal strength, the breath, the vision and the ardour we need not only to run the marathon, but also the marathon that is everyday life. Just beneath the flame plinth stands a stone which marks the start position of the 1986 Olympic marathon, more about which I will write later.
At a few minutes before the start time Sarah and I separated as we were in different starting pens. With a few minutes to go athletes were asked to raise right arm in the air whilst the athletes oath was read out first in Greek and then English, whilst my right arm was aloft I felt a sharp and sudden pain on my forearm, I looked up to find a wasp sitting on my arm having just stung me. The race was then started by the firing of a gun, the race was started in 11 waves, with a couple of thousand athletes in each wave. The allocation of pens was supposedly done by previous best times, each wave was started by different dignatories and past prominent athletes. I was in wave 5 which as far as I can remember was started by the Japanese ambassador to Greece and the great Portuguese marathon and distance runner Rosa Mota. I was on my way and feeling a sense of occasion and connection to history unlike anything I have previously experienced in a race. I was following in the footsteps of the legendary Athenian Herald Pheidippides, who some 2,507 years previously ran from Marathon to Athens carrying news of the Athenian victory over the massive Persian army. Legend has it that upon reaching Athens and exclaiming ‘Nike’ (VICTORY) that he dropped down dead. I hoped that I would manage to avoid a similar fate.
Despite the wave start the early few kilometres was very busy and quite congested and was passing slower runners and walkers very early even though the waved start was meant to have been based on previous marathon finish times. After 5km we reached the first aid station and ran past the tomb of the Battle of Marathon. It was by now warming up with the temperature reaching a high of 20 degrees centigrade. I was amused by a loose dog which had been milling around the starting and which started running with us, he was still with at 5k and doing a good job of pacing me. The first 12 kilometres of the route was pretty flat and I ran at a reasonable pace, then the climb started. From the 12th kilometre until the 31st is one long uphill, nothing too steep but a gradual climb up which certainly sapped my energy, strength and caused me to slow. From the 32st km to the finish is essentially 11 km of downhill, but by now the legs are tired from the climb and I found it difficult to fully utilise the gravity of going down to help me run faster. The Athens Marathon is said to be the toughest of the IAAF gold label marathons.
Despite the wave start the early few kilometres was very busy and quite congested and was passing slower runners and walkers very early even though the waved start was meant to have been based on previous marathon finish times. After 5km we reached the first aid station and ran past the tomb of the Battle of Marathon. It was by now warming up with the temperature reaching a high of 20 degrees centigrade. I was amused by a loose dog which had been milling around the starting and which started running with us, he was still with at 5k and doing a good job of pacing me. The first 12 kilometres of the route was pretty flat and I ran at a reasonable pace, then the climb started. From the 12th kilometre until the 31st is one long uphill, nothing too steep but a gradual climb up which certainly sapped my energy, strength and caused me to slow. From the 32st km to the finish is essentially 11 km of downhill, but by now the legs are tired from the climb and I found it difficult to fully utilise the gravity of going down to help me run faster. The Athens Marathon is said to be the toughest of the IAAF gold label marathons.
The route along which we ran is supposed to be close to the one travelled by Pheidippides, although back then there were no nice tarmac roads to run along. The route follows the exact course of the 1896 Olympic marathon although then the marathon was only 40 km in length, the marathon did not become 42.195 km until the 1908 Olympics in London. The additional distance from the 1896 course is made up with a short out and back just out of Marathon, this is the section where we got to run past the tomb, so as well as adding distance also adds significance and yet more history to the route. The Greeks are really proud of this the original marathon route, back in 1896 the Olympics the marathon was won by the Greek runner Spyridon Louis, it was Greece’s first gold medal of the games. Our route passed through the town’s of Rafina, Pikermi, Gerkas, Agia and Paraskevi and in each of them crowds turned out to support the race and cheer on the runners. There were occassional bands, drumming groups and traditional Greek dancers to keep us entertained. I was handed an olive branch by one spectator, there were many people handing them out to runners, the olive branch being a symbol of peace and victory stemming from the customs of ancient Greece. I carried mine all the way to the finish. We ran past a statue of Pheidippides located on the central reservation of the dual carriageway road along which we were running, and another of three runners which marks the half way point of the 1896 40km marathon.
The finish of the Athens Marathon has to be one of the best of any marathon, it certainly surpasses all others that I have experienced. As you near the finish there is a downhill section where the crowds and support are amazing.. You pass beneath a banner proclaiming you have only 250 metres to go then turn left and enter the awesome Panathenaic Stadium. The stadium sits on the site of a racecourse built c. 330 BC primarily to host the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt by the Roman senator Herodes Atticus and by 144 AD had a capacity of 50,000. After the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was abandoned. The stadium was excavated in 1869 and after being refurbished hosted the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896, when it hosted both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as four of the nine sports that were contested. It is also the venue where the Olympic flame Handover ceremony to the host nation takes place. The stadium is the only one in the world built entirely of white marble. There were large crowds in the stadium when I finished, I felt really emotional. I had achieved a long standing ambition and taken part in an event that celebrates the birth of the event that I love. I don’t know if it is because of my obsession with the marathon, it's history and being an Olympic Games fan that made this marathon so special, but I loved it and would readily recommend participation to anyone.
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I finished in 4:38:20 not my best time, but the fastest since my latest bout of depression and not a bad time considering I am taking medication which slows me down and also being a stone and half heavier than I was when I ran my fastest ever marathon in April. Sarah finished a few minutes behind me in 4:47:52, a remarkable time given her foot injury and lack of training.
The day after the marathon we went onto the Acropolis where we were able to see the many ancient monuments, not a bad place for some post race photographs with our finishers medals. I really loved the race and hope to return before too long. |
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Wrekin Wrecker - Sunday 19th November
by Kris Williams
Ahead of my impending marathon debut in May, I decided that a few fell races might be a good idea to build some much needed strength in the legs.
Having never done a fell race previously, I decided to start with a nice local one…..The Wrekin Wrecker! Craig had done this one the year before, so I knew what it was a tough one.
I had 1 aim… to complete it, running as much of it as I possibly could!
The race (to cut a very long story short) goes up to half way, back the bottom, up to the top, back down, back up and over the top, down the steep hill at the back, and back around the side to the finish by the road.
At 7.5 miles, 2500ft of climbing, 2 and a half times up, down and around the Wrekin, and the infamous ‘Cardiac Hill’… the name of the race does exactly what it says on the tin! It’s a wrecker.
It was a really good turn out from WRR, with 9 of us there (well 8 and a half as Deb Millington was representing Mercia), all of whom ran fantastically:
Lee Rudd – 1:14.54
Deb Millington – 1: 20.10
Andy Duggan – 1:23.51
Steve Gill – 1:24.00
Dave Leonard – 1:26.54
Dan Pugh – 1:28.44
Craig Teckoe – 1:28.46
Kris Williams – 1:35.20
Paul Spriggs – 1:35.47
A well organised event by Mercia Fell Runners & Newport Running Club, and well marshalled throughout.
This really is a tough race, with some brutal climbs and descents, but I loved it!!
Will I be back…you bet I will!!!!