Steyning Stinger Marathon
7/3/2010 - 26.2 Miles
Not sure why I thought I should do this marathon. As it was only my second marathon probably not the best of choices considering it is off road and up and down hills.
I knew this marathon was going to be tough as it is off road and up and down the South Downs. Therefore, the plan was to treat it as a training run and not to be concerned about a time. The main aim was to finish it. Told to add 30 minutes to 1 hour to my marathon time. Therefore, if I did it in less that 6 hours I would be happy, less than 5 very happy, less than my previous marathon time I would be ecstatic.
Marathon day and woke up and encountered 2 two problems. Firstly, I had not packed any contact lenses and second I had picked up two short shelve t-shirts rather than one short and one long. Had taken my running kit bag and luckily I always have a couple of spare lenses in there.
Looking out of the window it looked cold, frost on the car windows and on the ground. So hoped I could buy a top there.
Set off at just after 7:00am for the short drive as I needed to be there an hour before the 8:30am start. The car temperature gauge was reading -4c.
Arrived at race control and there was surprisingly few people there. Also, nobody is selling kit. Therefore, decide to wear my Montana Marathon Jacket and pack my Adidas Jacket into my Camelbak in case I got too cold. Had decided to wear a Camelbak as the water station are not at regular intervals (difficult to put a water station on a hill I suppose), and I always train for water stops every 2.5 - 3 miles and didn't want to get caught out.
They announced that slower marathon runners can start early so I made my way to the start 20 minutes early to be ahead of the mass start at 8:30am.
Start was on a farm track between 2 fields, ground was frozen and a bit rutted up. Very clear sign posting pointing you in the right direction. Farm track to small section of road up to Wiston House. Around the back of the house and into the woods.
Had not really noticed it was all uphill so far until I got to the first steep hill. Noticed everyone else was walking up it. My plan was to walk up the worst of the hills to ensure I would actual make it to the finish so started walking. Top of the hill started running again until I reached a steep downhill. Carefully picked my way down and across the style. Ran across the field only to find out it was mostly frozen water. Nice, icy water in your shoes and still 22 miles to go. Across another style and back onto the roads, through the village and across the bridge onto farm tracks again.
Despite the terrain I was actually making good progress and was keeping to a good pace, not to fast. Through another field and steepish downhill to another style straight onto a road. Followed the road around the corner over the bridge and into a farm yard for the second water station. Didn't stop just ensure the marshals had noted my number. Then up the long hill to the highest point on the course. Walked up the hill to the 5 mile mark to find the photographer there.
Top of the hill and the most amazing views over the countryside. Tempted to stop and take some photos but resisted the urge.
Followed the South Downs Way along to the half way point at 13 miles. Arrived there to find my family there. Got there in just under 2 hours, great pace and feeling strong, could I set a PB on this course or even brake the magic 4 hours?
I had heard that the bottom bit of this course was very muddy but so far it was ok under foot. Until I hit the chalk path at around mile 15. This path was a slight uphill and under normal conditions not to steep so run able. However, the previous wet weather had turned it into a chalk mud and this is very slippy and clogs your shoes. Played it safe and decided to walk until it became run able.
Path was so bad I walked past a group of mountain bikes who where pushing there bikes as the back wheels where clogged with mud. When they asked me how far the race was and I told them it was a marathon there comment was "A marathon on this!" Path didn't really clear up until mile 18 where I saw my family again (same point as mile 13).
Then got slight confused as lots of people running towards me. Either I was really quick, or these people where doing half marathon, not sure what is going on. Then I notice a couple of the people that had passed me earlier.
Through a gate to a very difficult path. Flat but deep ruts and slippy mud so had to be careful. Then down another steep short hill, slipping and sliding all over the place. Needed a wee so stopped at the bottom to the hill and found a bush.
Up hill section along another farm track between two fields of sheep and lambs. From this point on it seemed to be continuation up hill so walked up the hill and ran the small downhill and flat section.
At mile 23 was the final water station. Asked the marshal if it was all downhill from here. He said it was so 25 minutes left to try and break the 5 hour mark. Decided to give it a go and I just about had enough energy left.
Downhill section was through the woods to start with. Loads of tree roots, holes, and massive lumps of flint to avoid. Out to the woods and back onto farm tracks with icy puddles and ruts to avoid. Back onto roads for a short bit and yet another hill. 5 minutes to break the 5 hour mark and around 1.5 miles to go. Not going to happen to walked up the hill. Running again and around the corner to the 26 mile mark. Around the corner and I could see the finish. Crossed the line in just over 5 hour so given the condition very happy with that.
In all a very difficult race, made even more so by the mud. Great route, marshalling and sign posting.
Time: 5:06:17