The Final Three, Eight, Nine and Ten Marathons

The Three Lake Challenge

Well the final three Marathons were three lakes in Milton Keynes, one each day. The first was Willen Lake on a nice hot day. 7 laps around the Lake. 

The Runners started outside the main outlets that overlooked the Lake in the Sun and we were ready for the off. There were around 30 runners and for the first few laps we more or less had the track around the lake to ourselves apart from a few dog walkers. But as the day went on the it got hotter more and more people came out to play as it was Half Term week. This meant dodging kids on bikes, go-carts and scooters. 

The Runners

Water Station and Cheer Point

 This was the Official Birthday of the Royal Marines, 350 years old so when I had finished got a phot done with the famous Flag that first saw light at Glasto and Blondie's opening not to mention Dolly.

 My official time for the first marathon 3:28:59.

The Second Marathon was Furzton Lake, a lot smaller than the other two at so it was 17 laps. Sadily in the rain/drizzle and a lot colder than the previous day.

At least there were not many people to run around. Overall another good day I felt ok but legs did feel it slightly. My overall time was 3:37:07 

The Last lake was the famous Caldercotte Lake another 7 lap race around a picturesque Lake. 

The Last Medal

 Ran most of this on my own and my legs were starting to feel it more. Still enjoyed the day and just stuck with it as I made my way around. Finally finishing the 10 Marathon Challenge in a time of 3:46:53. The Full Results from all three days can be found here.

It was a great three days and I met some wonderful people who I will see again at some start line in some marathon. Thanks to Paul Allen who ran all of them with me about from one. 

Thanks as well to all that donated and I raised £460 for the RMCTF.

Palma Marathon Number Seven

Palma Marathon 

Well Palma was the hottest Marathon I have ever done, we flew out on the Friday and made our way to the Hotel. 

The view from the room on the 12th Floor was stunning.

 Booked in and then set off into town for some food and drink. It got hotter and hotter we decided to go for a run along the beach on the Saturday to get use to the heat and managed a 5 mile jog. 

The aim on the Sunday would be to get round in one piece so we could enjoy the beer after. The day started just right for running at 08:45 as we were in the pen ready for the off.

The Race started and it was a 6 mile run out pass our hotel and then turn around and head back into the town. The first half was Ok not to hot and the 3 miles around the town were nice well supported and in the shade.

 But as we finished the first half and lost the Half Marathon runners the heat went up, no shade and no wind, it was gonna be tough. 

The last 5 mile is back along the beach and again plenty of support and there was even the odd shout out of Come on Yeovil from the Brits in the crowd. The water stations were a godsend as I just poured the first bottle over my head and then drank.

 At the finish there was an extra loop to get the 26.2 distance in on the tarmac that was melting, it was then a slight incline to the finishing line.

I crossed the line in 3hr 42 mins and 28 seconds finishing 206 out of 1018 male runners. Got the medal and the LA Beer and enjoyed a sit down in the sun with the team Paul Allen, Jane Allen and Pete Jakeman who came in first in his age group.

Barnstaple Marathon Number Six

Barnstaple's First Marathon

Well the Sun decided to come out for this first ever Marathon in Barnstaple, with 200 runners and another 300 doing a half. I decided to wear my Royal Marine Charitable Trust Fund vest as we were running through RM Chivenor.

The Route

  It is a flat fast course and and was going to take it easy but from the off I started with eight miles under 7:30 pace but sadly this did not last and I was soon going over with a few just over and a couple in the 8's. 

It got hot for the end of September and there was no breeze as we ran along the trail with some good support on the way. It took you pass the Camp around the 20 mile point and then through the Camp around the airfield with a few of the RMA and serving Bootnecks around the Airfield which was good to see. I came in with a time os 3 hrs 26 mins and 24th place out of 188 runners. 

Now looking forward to Palma for the 7th Marathon. Results can be found Here

SLaMM Marathon Number Five

South Somerset and Moors Marathon

A nice local marathon near Langport and eight members of YTRRC also ran the race. Nice a cheap entry and how a race should be run. The weather stared cloudy with a bit of rain but then the sun came out and it got nice and hot.

I ran round with three others Pete, Paul and Lauren and took it easy but it did get tough towards the end with a large hill at the 25 mile point. The course is multi terrain and the odd corn field thrown in and loads of gates to climb over. Sill five now completed and I was suppose to have a break till the Barnstaple Marathon on the 28th but I am now doing another local Marathon in Weymouth followed by the Bristol Half. So three and a half Marathons this month.

Team Marathon

The Start Line

Leila's Run Marathon Four

Marathon Number Four

I headed off to Luton and a Village called Wheathampstead. This is a low key Marathon to raise money for Michael Sobell hospice. To see more on Leila please click here.

At the start line a mention of the seven runners was made who would receive a glass plaque for their achievement of running over 500 marathons and one runner this marathon was going to be number 999.  An awesome  achievement. 

90% of the Runners were members of the 100 Marathon Club so sod knows how many mad been completed if you added all the numbers up. I would say that this event must have the most marathon runners in the world that have completed the 26.2 distance. And there is me on number 21.

The Start Line

The race it self  was a four lap course and was a nice loop which was well marked and plenty of water, food and encouragement. It was an honour to run with these runners and I did well finishing 6th. The medal was very good and one of the best so far I have managed to get.  The full results can be found here.

Once again Paul Allen was with me and paced us round the first 3 laps. 

Paul and I with the Medals 

  Now I have a three week gap till the South Somerset and Moors Marathon (number 5).

54321 Marathon Number Three

54321 is a Race Organised by the Fire Brigade and has a 10k, 21.1k, 30k,42.2k and a 50k race. It is mainly off road and undulating taking in 5 Rivers, 4 Hills, 3 large Country Estates, 2 Castles and 1 Cathedral.

It was a wet start and so decided to use a Jacket but soon had to take this off as the Sun came out, I found the course tough and didn't think I had a good run but managed to finish in 24th place and my time is here.

Bath Off Road Marathon. Number Two

The Relish Running Races

This Marathon should be the hardest out of the ten, it started at the University's World Class Facility, the Sports Training Village. The Route took a loop at the Uni before going down the hill and towards Bath and the Canal. 

As I ran down the hill I thought then that I would have to run back up this at the 25 mile point, what I didn't realise was that there was worse to come and twice. The route hit the Canal and then ran along it before hitting the hills for the first loop. The Half Marathon (all 15 miles of it) started 15 min before us and we soon caught the back of them. 

The views were stunning and the Aid Stations were the best I have come across on a Marathon with loads of drink, food and cheer. As I finished the first loop you had to take an arm band to prove you did the loop again and then set off for the lovely hills again. 

I was glad to see the canal again for the second time as it was flat and managed to get some sub 8 min miles in before the last hill back up to the finish line.

Paul Allen (Center) Darren Atyeo and Myself

I came in 27th out of 141 finishers and 4th for my age group.

Results