Chester Marathon - May 2010

In terms of marathon running the last 7 weeks have been tough but a personal goal has been achieved with 4 runs being completed in that period…

The next couple of months will be spent putting in the miles with the odd race preferably the Cliffe Woods 10k given it’s a local race and I’ve completed it annually since I started running back in 2005…

Back to the race…

As most will know or be aware, Chester is deemed a lovely city which initially led me to believe the race itself would take in the scenic routes of the area but how wrong could I have been…???

The race itself started at Chester Rugby Club and was well organised with a good atmosphere but the biggest let down for me was to be the route… As most would know the thought of running 26miles is daunting enough but to run along an out and back course for me was a killer…

The first few miles were along (as with the end) your typical country lane route but then you hit the cycle / bridle path which was an out and back course with the odd climb... An ideal route for some given the flatness if you could deal with the boredom…

For me, the first 13miles were run at a strong pace but then as the miles ticked by I found the going mentally tough given 1) it was at the end of a busy 7 wks and 2) the fact there was nothing to keep you occupied a long the route…

Mile 19 came along with an attempt, why I do not know, to try some energy jelly beans… Shortly followed by the feeling that my stomach felt the need to dispose of these in the direction from which they came… A quick gulp of water prevented any such embarrassment..!!!

The last remaining miles ticked by slowly and finally after what seemed an eternity the finishing line was crossed in 03:34:31

Marathon #6 of the challenge had been completed in a strange old fashion and now I had the summer to look forward to until starting the remainder of the challenge in the Autumn

Apologies for a short blog on this occasion but the content sums up the race itself... Please do not let this put you off running in Chester as the organisation was second to none given it’s a new event and there is even talk of next years race being routed around the actual city…