LONDON MARATHON

"If you want to win something, run 100 meters. 

If you want to experience something, run a marathon." 



Emil Zatopek, 1952 Olympic marathon winner. 

Yes the London Marathon has a new main sponsor from 2010.

Flora, having sponsored the race for 14 years, decided to withdraw after the 2009 race.

FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE 2013 RACE, GO TO :

http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/

LONDON MARATHON 2013

We now have the names of Harriers who are in this years London Marathon. If you are running please let us know so that we can add your name to the list and we can all look out for you on the day.

So far in alphabetical order we now have nineteen runners.

Karen Davies

Rob Eley

Frank Evans

Carmel Forrest

Samantha Gill

Ian Hodkinson

Chris Hollinshead

Neil Martin

Rachel Marsden

Darren Mattocks

Chris Owen

Karen Sabin

Rob Simpson

Tom Sandy

Kirsty Stevenson

Steve Vaughan

Bill Whitworth

Bernard Wilkes

Holly Wright

For those interested the County Staff Club are for 2013 just doing a one night stay in London for the Marathon.

If you are interested in going on this trip then get in touch with the Staff Club on 01785 276048.

 

Karen Sabin is running the Virgin London Marathon 2013 for MS-UK, formerly MSRC, which is dedicated to supporting anyone affected by Multiple Sclerosis.  

She has a just giving page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KarenSabin.  

All donations would be greatly appreciated and many thanks.

Please support this amazing charity which can help pull women back from the brink. My fundraising page is at:



LONDON MARATHON 2012

LONDON MARATHON  17/4/11

Report from Liz Stanyer

At 5:30am I forced a large bowl of porridge down, sitting with all the other runners at breakfast. Some were more nervous than others judging by what breakfasts were eaten. Mick insisted his wasn't a fry up, but it looked mighty like it to me.

Then off on the coach to the start, where we were so early there wasn't a single queue for the porta loos. Not often you can say that. We sat around chatting, relaxing then with half an hour to go, it was all systems go. Queue to put your baggage on, massive queue for the porta loos, even a massive queue for the 'ladies urinals'!! No thanks!

Then, due to some ingenious engineering on the coach journey to the start by a certain Harrier, myself, Dave Preece, Dave Chittem, Mick Jones, Rob Proctor, and Frank Evans waltzed into pen 2 to give ourselves a good start. What we didn't account for was pen 2 was full and we were actually ushered into pen 1 which was the mens elite pen. So there we all were, me, the only woman, Frank Evans with a bright blue curly wig on and the rest of the Harrier brigade, mixing with the South African national team, several Kenyans and a mass of super fit, very serious, competitive young men. We didn't stand out at all, not even when we were discussing the effects of immodium, urinating into a sponge whilst running, and how we should position ourselves to get on the telly. Good job we didn't notice the dirty looks, it could have put us off our race.

It took us just about 30 seconds from the gun to cross the start line. Job done!

The start was a bit fast and frantic for me, I wonder why! However it did mean we could get get straight into our running, as we all split up and set off for our own 26 miles.

I loved the marathon. Yes it was hot and yes it was very congested at times, but with that comes an atmosphere I can't quite describe. The miles just tick away as there is always something to see and hear and there were sights that made me laugh out loud. The hardest part for me was Canary Wharf as it was very hot and there are lots of twists and turns, and its just about the 20 miles when you feel you are flagging a bit.

The crowd support is well documented but it really is awesome, and very loud. Well done to all the spectating Harriers and families of Harriers who made it along several parts of the course to cheer us on. It really gave me such a boost to see you all. Running along Embankment Big Ben seemed forever in the distance, but the crowds are willing you on. I saw so many people get the jelly legs and just keel over along Embankment, which I thought was awful as they were so close.

Running down The Mall to the finish line was something special and will be replayed in my mind for a long time. I was very emotional crossing the line, (must have been the immodium), and a bit delirious as I waved, gave the thumbs up and a demented smile to a bemused James Cracknell, who I think thought I was a little mad. Still, Richard Branson thinks another Harrier is a bit mad, doesn't he Dave?

Well done to Mick on finishing his 100th marathon, driven on by his desire to get to the Stoke match. We were all kindly reminded of the score on several occasions over the weekend.

A top weekend, great company and a wonderful marathon experience.

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Here are the Harriers times.

Interesting story from Chris Hollinshead. You may be aware that he has had a foot injury for a while and at 17 miles he decided to call it a day. He found the tube station but couldn't get on the tube so thought "blow it I'll carry on". So thats what he did.



LONDON MARATHON 2011

Here is a list of the Harriers who are running in the 2011 London Marathon. If your name is not on it then let me know as we want as many people as possible watching out for your yellow vests on the tele. We have 16 so far. Anyone else?

Steve Babb

Mark Bentley

Dave Chittem

Frank Evans

Mike Jones

Chris Hollinshead

Sally Gray

Karen D Murray

Chris Owen

Lisa Percox

Dave Preece

Kim Preece

Rob Proctor

Liz Stanyer

Kirsty Sephenson

Bernard Wilkes

Bill Whitworth

To see how they got on and read a report with photos go to the Race reports page. HERE

THE LONDON MARATHON IN 2010

Fairly humid conditions provided an extra challenge for the runners competing in 2010 and a few of our contingent suffered disappointing runs for other reasons: But well done to everyone who

finished, particularly Chris Hollinshead who bettered his 2009 time by more than 6 minutes.

London 2009

Race Day Checklist

Race day is approaching rapidly so you need to have a checklist of things to think of and take with you on the day:

1. Make sure your travel arrangements and travel has been booked in advance, it saves last minute panic's.
2. Kit - prepare your race day kit in advance (see check list below), never wear new kit or shoes on the day, it may look good but if you get blisters it will hurt a lot in the latter stages.
3. Eat well, plenty of carbohydrates in the last 3 days and drink lots of water, have a good pasta meal early on Saturday evening and just a light breakfast 2/3 hours before the start.
4. Get a massage during the week before the race if you can.
5. Do not panic if you missed some training last minute cramming does not work.
6. Avoid alcohol in the last week, plenty of time to celebrate after the race.
7. Rehearse your race mentally, be positive and confident.
8. Get to the start nice and early.
9. Use the loo's early and avoid an unpleasant delay.
10. Drink a little at each water/sports drink station.
11. Warm up lightly, jog for 15 mins or so to get your muscles warmed up.
12. Find your start place early, wear an old T.shirt that you can throw away once you get started, there is nothing worse than being freezing cold before you start.
13. Don't go too fast in the first few miles, it is far better to be slightly slower in the early stages than to be infront of your target plan.
14. Make use of all aid stations on route, if your vest is chaffing get vaseline from the St Johns helpers it will make life more comfortable.
15. Enjoy the experience - not many people will ever have the guts to do what your doing - be proud.
16. When you start to get tired focus on the reason for doing this and think of the money you will have raised - enjoy the crowd and soon you'll see that finishing line!
17. After the race take a carbo snack or sandwich as soon as possible it will really start to aid recovery.
18. If post race massage is available be sure to use it as it helps recovery.
19. Try to collect your sponsorship monies as quickly as possible, show your medal to your sponsors and be proud of a wonderful achievement.
    
    

Kit checklist for race day

• tracksuit
• hat and gloves
• sweatshirt
• umbrella
• vest or t-shirt
• vaseline
• pants & shorts
• number and pins
• socks
• waterproofs
• race shoes
• directions
• dry socks for after race
• money for phone OR mobile phone, to give everyone the good news when you've finished
• towel
• shampoo
• food
• plasters
• kitbag