The race started with me and Rik leading the way
Since Traviss and Rachel started arranging their array of Saxon Shore marathons, I’ve kept hearing great reports from runners about these friendly events with a wonderful goodie bag and massive medals. For these reasons I’ve been longing to sample one of these events myself but the long trip to the Kent coast has been putting me off.
When the Leap Year 6 hour challenge came along on 29th February, a day that only appears once every 4 years, I saw the justifiable excuse to finally make the journey. It might have been a Monday and mean a day off work but once I’d seen a photo on Facebook of a large leaping frog medal, I was hooked and had to enter.
Due to the long distance to get there I elected to drive down on the Sunday and stay the evening before in a Premier Inn near the race. I’d estimated the journey at 250 miles but even that was conservative and then actual distance turned out to be 280 miles which is the furthest I’ve ever driven in one go.
There was a number of runners staying at the same place and I enjoyed a pleasant evening with friends in the adjoining pub.
Next morning and race day with an early race start of 8:30am. The race wasn’t a simply a marathon event, it was a 6 hour challenge over a 3.28 mile course on the Kent coast at the Pagnell Bay Country Park. Runners were allowed to run any number of laps from a minimum of 1, to 4 for a half marathon, 8 for a full marathon or as many as possible in the time limit of 6 hours. I suppose it goes without saying I plumbed for 8 and the standard marathon distance.
It had been suggested to me in the pub the night before that I was favourite to win. I didn’t like this as it sort of put some pressure on me to perform. I’ve hardly ever won anything and didn’t believe it was really going to happen. I had dismissed this but on the race morning I had Traviss approach me just before the race start asking whether I knew what the course was and then he went on the try and explain it to me as he was expecting me to be leading from the start. I didn’t need this pressure! Normally I follow many runners at the start of the race. In the corner of my eye I recognised my 10in10 room-mate from 2013 Rik. I pointed out to Traviss that Rik was here and he was quicker than me but Rik explained he was here only for 1 lap as he had to go to work. Luckily he knew the course so as the race started we teamed up.
As others had suggested and to my surprise Rik and I lead from the start doing nothing more than my normal marathon pace. It was nice to see Rik and we enjoyed running the first lap together having a catch up chat while he showed me the course. It was a pleasant course, traffic free on good firm paths around the country park with a loop up a hill round a lovely preserved Viking ship erected for show in a field overlooking the Bay. After the first lap Rik peeled off and I was left out in front.
During the second lap and the second place runner caught me up and I had visions of quickly losing my lead. The runner stayed with me for less than a mile. I could hear his heavy breathing and could tell he was struggling to keep up with me. I think he must have pushed himself too hard catching me up and he slowly fell back to my relief.
Kermit guarding the medals at the finish
I continued for the next 5 laps lapping the slower runners, feeling strong and under control with 2nd and 3rd places a good distance behind. As I got into my 6th lap the cold wind and the hill up to the Viking ship on each lap was starting to tire me. I was almost managing to hold a consistent pace but could feel the extra effort building up mile by mile as I tried to do this. Once again I started to become conscious of the 2 runners behind me and wonder if they were strong enough to catch me. On lap 7 as I passed them on an out back section of the course near the Viking ship. I felt they were catching me and I began to doubt whether I could hold on to my first place so dug in hard over the last lap only to realise I actually increase the gap. Finally I finished, first in 3 hours 20 minutes 9 seconds, some 8 or 9 minutes in front of 2nd and 3rd who had a battle during the last lap and were only seconds apart as they crossed the finishing line.
AT the finish: Rachel, me, Gary and Traviss
It has been such an effort to travel so far for a race but winning and receiving the wonder huge Leap Year Frog medal and generous goodie bag has made it all worthwhile. I hope to get the opportunity to do more of Traviss and Rachel’s events in the future but I know the distance will restrict this.
Thank you Travis, Rachel and all you helpers for a very enjoyable day and if you are reading this and fancy a friendly Kent marathon then follow this link:-
www.saxon-shore.com
