BY ECK WE DID IT

The six Harriers who completed the Chester marathon last year decided they would undertake the marathon challenge again this year by doing the Yorkshire marathon.  However due to injury Frances would not be able to replicate her fine run last year when she represented Scotland as part of the Celtic nations team.  However she still came to York to support us as did Kevin who had also signed up for the marathon this year but had to pull out as well.  Our club chairman Kenny therefore stepped into Frances’s ‘trainers’ this year and wore the Scotland vest as part of the Celtic nations team.  Also joining the Yorkshire team of Harriers this year was a late entry from Billy who would run the 10 mile race.

Upon arrival at York Kenny made a quick exit as he needed to go to the university to register, part of being an elite athlete.  The rest of the party headed into York city centre for some site seeing.  While browsing ‘The Trembling Madness’ an establishment which sold alcoholic drinks (don’t ask Alan why the Harriers would be in such a place the day before a race) we were given the surprise of bumping into Seonaid and Ian.  Seonaid was another Harrier who was also signed up for the marathon but also had to pull out too.  Seonaid had sent us all a message the night before wishing us luck and sorry she would not be with us in York.  So imagine our surprise when we bumped into them in the shop.  We regrouped in the evening where Kenny joined us having been driven to the dinner location by chauffeur, Billy - the perks of being an elite athlete.

Race morning was a bit of a rush as we had to get a bus from the train station to the university.  By the time we waited for the bus and then waited in the toilet queue it was fast approaching the start time.  Luckily we had Frances and Kevin who took all the bags to the baggage drop off for us.  This saved us all valuable time as it was a bit of a walk up to the start line.  Even when we got up there it was like an obstacle course for Andrew and I as we tried to reach starting pen 1, climbing over a wall, through thick grass and then dodging in and out of the crowds of spectators gathering at the side as we tried to reach the start.  I hope Lorraine, Sharon and Julie had a better route to their starting pen.  We got in just as the race was starting.  Not ideal preparations for the start of the marathon.

Miles 1 - 3 see you leave the university and head towards the city centre passing by York Minster.  After this you head into the countryside.  You pass through a village called Stockton on the Forest where there was a vicar giving out ‘high 5s’.  I am sure it was around about this point that Kenny had remarked on one (of two ) pipe bands out in the course starting up as he passed by in his Scotland vest.  At just around about the half way point you come to a village called Stamford Bridge (no we hadn’t run off course and ended up in London as some football fans might have thought).  It is at this point you come to the first of two turns - essentially an out and back stretch.  I particularly did not like this - seeing other runners coming back as you were heading out and also the turns as well.  The second turning point at about mile 18 was worse as it was a long out and back section and by this stage in the marathon I felt it was hard to slow down at the turn and move off again.  When I reached mile 25 I was greeted by Kevin who gave some much needed support for the final mile and I think Kevin stayed at this point to help all the Harriers.  It may have been the final mile but I personally found it the hardest mile.  The sting in the tail was still to come with about half a mile out when I encountered a hill to climb.  Yet again our Harriers supporters were there to spur us on as Frances and Billy were stood half the way up the hill.  After gathering my breath at the top of the hill it was then a case of mustering what energy I had left to run the short distance to the finish line.  Yet again more support from the Harriers could be found with Seonaid and Ian stood near to the finish line.

For anyone thinking of running the Yorkshire marathon I would say it is a relatively flat course and the field was a decent enough size that I always had other runners around about me.  High 5 gels were handed out during the race and it was the first time I had been given an electrolyte drink during the race (high 5).  There is also a 10 mile race which takes place on the same day as well.

The finishing times for the Harriers were:

Julie Beveridge - 3:12:30
Andrew Buchanan - 3:19:06
Kenny Leinster - 3:29:09
Lorrain Buchanan - 4:20:29
Sharon Gregg - 4:20:36
Julie Thomson - 4:20:37

As mentioned earlier Billy Buchanan had taken part in the 10 mile race and his time was 1:20:22.

I would like to say thanks to the Harriers that all went to York.  I had a great weekend and it is trips like this which emphasise the club spirit,  I think if you are going to tackle the marathon it is best done with friends.  Thanks to Frances, Kevin and Billy for their support over the weekend and Seonaid and Ian on surprising us all by turning up in York.

All the photos from Frances are in this album.

Julie