From Dublin to the Desert.

Marathon Eryri – Snowdonia Marathon.

Report – Tim Hutchinson.

I don’t usually check the forecast until a day or two before the race but this year I looked early in the week. The forecast was for 18mph winds, showers and 12 degrees, at least one bit was good, it would have been a perfect running temperature! This forecast changed many times to include torrential rain, hail, 5 degrees and worst of all 47 mph winds.

By Friday this had settled to being 5-6 degrees, 7 mph wind but 100% chance of heavy rain until 1.00 pm.

As it turned out the forecast got the temperature right, although it did rain heavily but only for the first 5 miles.

A year of continuing injury meant training had not been the best. I had several goals this year and these were;

1 Get around the full course – tick

2 Get to the top of Pen y Pass in the same time as the last couple of years – tick ( I did this again for the third year running with a runner from Worcester Athletic club ).

3 Sub 90 minute first half – tick

4 Finish in or under 3:15 – tick (almost – 3:16.17)

5 top 100 finish – tick ( 79th overall – 11th in my age category )

So all in all it was a good day of racing. It was made so much better due to having not just the usual support on the course, which is brilliant but also my daughter Edie had come down from Bangor Uni with a friend and supported me near Nant Peris and at the finish. Also Emma and Dave Parkin were there. Emma unfortunately couldn’t run due to injury but as they were there they came to support. Hopefully Emma will be ok for next year!

It really does makes a difference knowing that you have your own support on the course.

The race was won by Callum Rowlinson in 2:34.15 and 2317 runners completed the course.

Fingers crossed for getting an entry next year, as once again the entry system is changing, this time to a ballot. To be honest I liked the old system of midnight on New Years eve!

The 40th Dublin Marathon was a massive affair, with over 22,000 entries and big crowd support.

Three of the club’s best distance runners took on the challenge.

The near-zero temperatures and avoidable delays before the start didn’t help but all three managed praiseworthy performances.

James Cusack, running in his hometown, was delighted with a 3:18:45, just outside his London time but he felt the pain in the later stages.

Emma Bexson is probably one of the few people who would even start a marathon with a chest infection, but even she had to adjust her goals after 10 miles, settling for a “slow” 3:45:50.

Emily Adams struggled to get a rhythm in the beginning. She was happy with the vocal support which helped her through the later stages and more than happy with a finishing time of 3:52:43.

Midland Racewalk League 10k.

Report – Sally Bliss.

Paul Hawkins was once again in action on Sunday at Warwick University.

It was 10 laps of 1k including a couple of tight turns. Unfortunately, he was full of cold so not at his best but decided to give it a go.

Paul was fifth early on then and overtook John Constandinou from Birchfield after 6k and on the last lap moved into third place to finish in 63.17.

He was pleased to be only seven seconds slower than two weeks ago.

The race was won by Graham Chapman of Headington in 58.44.