Race report: Mike Clyne reports from the Saxon Shore Marathon - December 10 & 11, 2011
Click the 'Gallery' button above to the view photos.
The Saxon Shore Marathon is a double marathon with one race on the Saturday and one on the Sunday. The hardcore option was to do both but I opted for the Saturday race as a way to end my year. The race is organised by mega marathoner Traviss Willcox (see here and here) who wanted to stage a race that 'looked after the runners' whilst raising money for the Brathay Trust (http://www.brathay.org.uk/).
As I went to leave the house, the full moon was shining brightly casting its light on my frost covered car. The temperature showed 2 degrees below and as I drove down to the Kent coast, it didn’t get above freezing. This was to be the smallest marathon I had ever done and there were many benefits of this. I parked 50 yards from the start, 'registration' ie picking up my number took 10 seconds and I then changed and waited in my warm car until the briefing at 7.55am. Traviss assembled us all, gave us a warm welcome and outlined the course. A half mile loop around some local roads to ensure the exact race distance was achieved followed by an out and back loop to be done four times. Simple really. A quick check that everyone was ready and we set off.
The sun had risen above the horizon casting light across the cloudless sky by the time we finished the small loop and started the first of our four out and back loops. The course was along the seafront on a mixture of grass, stone trail, and private road. By the time we were into the first loop, the sun was warming us up nicely and I trotted along chatting to a couple of other runners. Unfortunately, we realised none of us had been properly listening at the briefing and thus kept running past the turn point. Eventually we realised our mistake but it wasn’t until we had added at least 8-10 minutes on our time. Lesson learnt and as we came back to the proper turn point, Traviss was there with a massive grin on his face whilst shaking his head at us!
The leaders were setting a storming pace and by the time I was heading out on my second loop, they were coming in to finish theirs. Amazing times were being set at the front but nonetheless, there were nods, smiles or words of encouragement from everyone I passed going in the opposite direction.
The tent at the end of each loop (aka Race HQ) was well stocked with drinks, food and encouragement for everyone but I was self sufficient with my trusty Camelbak and spare drink bladder in my kit bag. Along with my Powergels I was hoping to maintain a steady but slowish pace for the whole race. However, as I hit the far end turn around on the third loop, I realised that the previous 10 days of having a cold, being extremely busy, probably run down and a late night before the race; were taking their toll as my pace slowed considerably. I shuffled on determined to keep running but as I struggled through to start my fourth loop, I had to walk and run alternately. In many of my recent marathons, I had avoided walking, but on this day I didn’t have the energy in the tank to keep moving at any decent pace.
Despite my faltering steps, I was really enjoying the day. I was by the sea, the weather was lovely, running a marathon albeit slowly and the event was very friendly. I plodded on and realised my earlier plan of "whatever you do, keep under 5 hours" had slipped to "surely you can't be slower than 1997 London Marathon where I did my slowest ever time of 5.21" and then eventually became "just finish, be glad you can still walk and talk". I approached the finish without being able to muster any sort of sprint or decent jog. The two kind ladies at the end confirmed my finish time of 5.32.06 - my slowest of my 23 marathons.
I was given my medal - a great special medal with finisher badges pinned to the ribbon - as well as a great goody bag (see pictures) which contained a massive Toblerone bar! Traviss had really ensured that this tiny race sent us away well rewarded for our efforts.
Many of those running on the Saturday were to do it all again the next day (the weather wasn't as benign apparently). I drove home, pleased to have finished and vowing that my marathons in 2012 will be quicker. However quick they are, I hope they are all as enjoyable as the Saxon Shore marathon.
Men's results - Saturday
| 1 |
Jim Ashworth-Beaumont |
3.01.49 |
| 2 |
Jim Mahoney |
3.27.51 |
| 3 |
Marc Thatcher |
3.29.31 |
Women's results - Saturday
| 1 |
Sally Silver |
4.47.55 |
| 2 |
Karen Hurrell |
4.56.16 |
| 3 |
Hannah Leach |
4.59.21 |
Men's results - Sunday
| 1 |
Ian Berry |
3.13.39 |
| 2 |
Marc Thatcher |
3.27.55 |
| 3 |
David Thompson |
3.33.59 |
Women's results - Sunday
| 1 |
Kyoko Grimsey |
4.28.12 |
| 2 |
Janet Hill |
4.35.52 |
| 3 |
Rosemary Close |
4.38.43** |
(** started late - actual time 4.21.54)
Double Marathon results (total of both)
| 1 |
Men |
Marc Thatcher |
6.57.26 |
| 1 |
Women |
Karen Hurrell |
9.58.08 |
Click here for full results
About Mike: Mike Clyne was part of the adidas team at the 2011 Virgin London Marathon.
Inspired into running by the first London Marathon in 1981 Mike then trained for and completed a local 10 mile fun run in October 1982, his first half marathon in 1983 and then his first marathon (Abingdon) in May 1983, aged 16. He continued running and did his first London marathon in April 1985, in the days when the Isle of Dogs was very different and the finish was on Westminster Bridge.
To date Mike has completed 10 Ironmans (including a PB at Ironman Regensburg in August), 12 Half Ironmans, 22 Marathons (of which 12 are Londons) and many half marathons. Mike was a London Pacer for 11 min mile group in 2007 and 2009.
Click here for more articles from Mike
