The Sanlam Bristol + Bath Marathon took place on Sunday 25th of October. Runners everywhere had a mass nightmare that they would be late for the run due to the clocks changing so most of us had an uneasy nights sleep despite the extra hour it offered. That meant that after wolfing down porridge and honey I shoved my backpack in the transport vans and legged it to the 4:30/5 hour starting pen outside the Mud Dock.
It was already a clear and chilly autumn day of pure golden sunshine. This meant that runners were cold even before the start as we waited around the outskirts of Queen Square. The Runner’s Village was covered in a blanket of dewy autumn leaves. Some runners were even wearing knit sweaters. I didn’t blame them as my fingers were already starting to numb.
A couple stood behind me and the lady asked nervously, ‘You look like you have all the right gear. How many marathons have you won?’ Her friend in the floral sweater had pointed out my long sleeves and watch.
I count them in my head, ‘Six, this will be my seventh… provided I finish.’
‘Six! That’s a lot! This will be our first!’ She beams.
‘Good luck,’ I say, ‘Have a great race! You’ll feel great at the end!’
After some shuffling whilst the earlier pens are let loose the Mission Impossible theme tune starts us off and it begins. This reminded me of Athens Marathon where I last heard the tune play at the start. You can spot half of my body here speeding off towards the Portway.
Photographer: Michael Lloyd/Freelance
The Avon Gorge looked beautiful with the golden light illuminating the cliff edges and the trees. I ran a solid Half Marathon distance and then was joined by Matt who was running with his Southville Running Club friends Tom and Ben (running his first marathon). I saw my Dad and the dog Lilly, my Aunt Hannah down from Australia and Grandad Dennis all out to support among friends. Members of the Bristol and West Running Club that weren’t running were marshaling along route for support.
It ended up being a beautiful casual long run with friends where I didn’t worry about time just about finishing and enjoying it with them. My housemate Anna, my friends Scott and Lola and running club friend Karen also recorded their first marathon times. Some slower, some faster, all brought together by this one crazy event. It was amazing being around so many friends finding out how awesome it is to run a marathon and how much joy the victory brings at the end.
There literally couldn’t have been any more hills if they tried. From 16 miles onwards it was all elevation of pure undiluted hills until the decent into Bath at around 21 miles. This made the route so challenging for a road race. It was then a final loop around Bath center until the finish line. I feel like between this and the Relish race there isn’t a hill in the Bath area I haven’t ran up and down.
Victory lunch was at Aqua with Steven and Sarah. I was so happy by that point not to be out in the autumn chill. I wolfed down calamaris and a duck tagliatelle with a glass of wine.
Four days later I am still aching!
Happy running,
xxx
Eleanor
I set out for my Sunday long run at mid morning. It’s a chilly autumn day and the bite seeps into your fingers reminding you that summer is long gone and glove wearing season is nearly upon us. Autumn leaves that were once a curb side sprinkling now dominate the whole pavement. The jewel bright crunch is a padded musical background noise. Traffic hums by on Downs Cote Avenue. I hold a water bottle in my right hand that rhythmically sloshes with every foot fall – at least it’s not my stomach making that sound today.
Here starts the sixteen week training plan for the Portsmouth Harbour Ultra 50k.
t to start it with a new pair of Saucony Ladies Guide 8 shoes from Up and Running in Bristol on North View. The shoes are shiny and pretty. Note; they are also not ridiculously pink or anything like that. I was advised by the assistant that the soles on my old Mizuno’s had run down to nothing after a year and a half of wear. They lasted a over 700 miles in their defense. Pretty sure I’d be a bit worn down after that too.
I really have an obsession with running from one place to another and on Sunday morning I followed the signs for Heytesbury for my 5k. Not much there apart from a lovely river, a church and a friendly cyclist that said ‘good morning,’ on her way through. I thought of the meme I saw recently on Facebook that states, ‘You know you’re a runner when you look at the miles on a sign and say I can run that.’
goodies were Fudge bars, Freddos, and Bourbon bisccuits. Also that really gross coconut water. I finished in 58:30:00 so not a PB but considering how horrible I was feeling I’m surprised I did that well. Still a sub 60 Liam reminded me helpfully. Anna finished in 1:10 minutes. It’s all about personal achievements and limits and I think we both felt pretty victorious to have got through it!
ent back home to change and then I took the family out for a recovery lunch at Giraffe were I promptly downed a Mango Mama smoothie and a devoured half Piri Piri Chicken with skin on Fries. Holly was given a half dozen Giraffe’s in different colours by the waitress so as far as she was concerned it was a successful day. For desert we ventured to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts.
sense of well being identifiable. Mount Olympus and happiness are still my key motivators but you can see through the cluster that those motivations have since grown from that original acorn into something more.
Eleanor's Endeavour 