Chester Marathon – 9th October

Chester Marathon – 9th October

Well organised, flat course, starting and finishing at the racecourse and following some of the Chester half route.  Glad I hadn’t run the Liverpool marathon when I heard that they delayed their start by 45 minutes.

The forecast wasn’t good, but there was only a bit of wind and no rain until after the race.

I guess unhappiness with one’s performance is a runner’s occupational hazard, but I was initially very disappointed not to run under 2.50.  On reflection, I was pleased to get round injury free, (just) get a PB and break 3 hours – Take the positives as our chairman would say.

My training had gone well, but I sprained my ankle 3 weeks ago and only managed 4 runs in that time.  I approached half way at 2.50 pace, but then as we crossed into Wales I must have taken the subliminal message from the road signs telling me to SLOW / ARAF in two languages.

I started to suffer and watched my average pace come down and down, being overtaken by about 20 runners and ending up with a disappointing positive split of 1.26/1.32.

I was really glad my brother had come with me (to run his 150th Marathon !), as I wasn’t able to drive home – I couldn’t feel sorry for myself though when I saw someone insist on stopping the people supporting her to the car and lying down to curl up in a ball.

I had been told that I was mad to celebrate my 50th by running a Marathon

1       Ben Fish              2:27:24

53     Trevor Morris        2:57:58

204   Jonny Dunkley       3:16:44

3151 Gareth Trimble      4:18:03

4604 Sarah Miles            4:19:36

2385 finishers

Full results – http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=57151

Trev