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MBNA Chester Marathon
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Comments
Chris- Thanks for that, I knew the Ladies had won but wasn't sure about the men's team
Please come and say hello at the Stockport 10
I'd agree great course, great set up, well marshalled on the course and and at the start and finish, but they need to sort out car parking, more specifically getting out, it nearly took as long to get out of the race course as it did for the first finisher to get round ( bit of an exergeration), it took me 1hour 40 minutes to get out. Not funny when you have run 26.2 miles and have a 3 hour journey home!
Here is my feedback from Sundays race:
Chester was my 2nd marathon and I thought the organisation was second to none, no problems getting in or out of the Racecourse, friendly Marshall's, great good bag, love the running top! I had a stinker so my next comments may be clouded somewhat but while I did think the course was quite scenic I wouldn't bill it as the most scenic marathon in England and although not mountainous it wasn't as flat as billed either. I don't think I would do it again although that is not a slant on the race organisers, just wasn't for me and IF I ever do another marathon I would like to try a different one.
I think on the whole it was reasonably flat (although not pancake like VLM). You ought to try and do races in Leicestershire! I suppose it depends on what you are used to running on.
Park & ride is the way to go I think for parking Chester. My wife & kids met me at the end and they parked in the Brougham car park. Just a shame it didn't open earlier like the other 2 Park & Rides. There was a very bad bottle neck at the beginning of the race and as I was being dropped off we got caught up in this too.
This was my first marathon, finished in 3:41. Overall pleased with the time, even though the last 6 miles were very slow going…
The encouragement from fellow runners, spectators and the really friendly guys on the bikes giving support really helped!!
It was strange to hear your name being called out by strangers, but also a nice touch having names on the numbers I thought...
Thanks to the organisers – there was plenty of water stations and even a beach bar half way round
The route was pleasant and relatively flat (compared to the Lancashire Valleys!) but the couple of slight hills towards the end of the race felt 100 times worse than they would be on a normal training run as I was completely gone at that point!
As for parking, we parked in the Market car park and had no problems.
LOL kevin, i guess the garmin sattellite in orbit a few hundred miles above earth randomly pinging onto your cheap sportswatch is more accurate than the guys who planned this and actually mapped the run on their legs
just like those GPS sat navs never go wrong
those hills were great at the end, gave you something to fight for. especially with all the crowds on them... sped me up no probs
keep it real bro
nice time tho, makes me ashamed of my 3.34 first time
I got a 3.32.54 and yes that was me puking at mile 25. There was something about the 24 mile water station followed by that 'massive'* hill that didn't suit me.
I've left my runners world feedback for this race and would urge everybody else to do the same so the organisers get the credit they deserve.
* When I say massive, my garmin actually said 45 feet. So I guess it's just perspective.
stayed at Brought permier inn the best one I think in a quiet area and will use it again
Legs still stiff today, but went out for a very slow 4m and stretched afterwrds- much better for it
Now then, attention on Snowdonia
I had an enforced cycle ride. Had to drop my van off at garage so chucked a bike in the bike and cycled from the garage to work and then home, only about 3/4 miles in total but I think it had a beneficial effect
Edit read 3 to 4 miles
Evening all
Legs not to bad today 4 mile recovery run planned for morning, just want to thank you all for the banter, tips, highs, lows and every thing else we shared on this journey!! Top bunch of runners you all are!!
Will catch the usual suspects back on Snowdonia thread and in less than 3 weeks running round those "hills" and hopefully catch up with you all on some road, trail, hill soon!!
Good running one and all
Feeling worse today than yesterday which was easier than I thought. Cold compress on ankle after ungaimly crack whilst standing up and swelling! No Biggy! Off to bed as I have a plane taking me to sunny Majorca for 10 days so thanks for the company over the last 3 months guys, been a blast
Stay healthy and catch you all in a couple of weeks.
Genius moment whoever thought of the names on the bibs, so many people used them it was like having friends & family all the way round! Chester has alot to be proud of & they can add a first class marathon to that now.
Personally I'll always remember this one as the day I feel I really got to grips with the marathon distance, a 3:12 PB and my first negative split
I think looking at the threads it seems to pay to park outside the race course unless you finished early, I'll have to run faster!!!
Men- enjoy the holiday
Gary- thanks- will check out the photos
LOL kevin, i guess the garmin sattellite in orbit a few hundred miles above earth randomly pinging onto your cheap sportswatch is more accurate than the guys who planned this and actually mapped the run on their legs
just like those GPS sat navs never go wrong
those hills were great at the end, gave you something to fight for. especially with all the crowds on them... sped me up no probs
keep it real bro
nice time tho, makes me ashamed of my 3.34 first time
Herk
I'm not saying the "cheap sportswatch" I was wearing is 100% accurate. The course was advertised as fast and flat. Most people have come on here saying it certainly wasn't flat. It was challenging in the 2nd half of the race there can be little doubt. I can only assume the race organisers measured the course on an even cheaper watch than mine
The height gain surprised me. From the race info I understood it to be about 100 m / 300 ft.
However, my Garmin recorded +1,074 feet. So more like 300 metres.
I'm not saying the Garmin is absolutely spot on, but for the Snowdon Race, which is said to be 3,200 ft climb, it clocked +3.208 last year and +3,184 this year (I must try to find the easier route next year too!).
So I can't help but feel that the Chester course was hillier than advertised - though not so bad as Snowdonia wil be in a couple of weeks ...
Apologies if it's somebody on here.
You'd have to buy one if it was you.
just like those GPS sat navs never go wrong
those hills were great at the end, gave you something to fight for. especially with all the crowds on them... sped me up no probs
keep it real bro
nice time tho, makes me ashamed of my 3.34 first time
Herk
I'm not saying the "cheap sportswatch" I was wearing is 100% accurate. The course was advertised as fast and flat. Most people have come on here saying it certainly wasn't flat. It was challenging in the 2nd half of the race there can be little doubt. I can only assume the race organisers measured the course on an even cheaper watch than mine
the course I found to be fast the hills where not bad if runners want a flat marathon then there is Blackpool and Lancaster next year
I found the race to be not as flat as advertised, but still managed my PB.
On the subject of Garmin GPS watches, when you upload the data to Garmin Connect, you can get it to auto adjusts the elevation gain / loss stuff based on some kind of survey data (probably should provide more detail but I am guessing google will do the job) so normally the figures shown via Garmin Connect are pretty spot on. A subject covered on a blog I often read, but fear mention incase someone else gets annoyed I linked to a blog.....
For the record my Garmin 405 actually died 30 minutes beofre the race, had to rely on my normal wtach and a pacetat..... worked out well in the end though.
Apart from mybibnumber, were there any other photographers about? I thought I saw quite a few throughout the course, and the only photos I can see on mybibnumber (for me at least) are at the end. Did Mick Hall Photos cover the race as well?
Well done guys - my 3rd marathon and smashed 15 mins off London Marathon 6 months ago and was so proud to get 3.59!!
Doesnt sound a fab time to some on here lol but when you finally achieve a sub - 4 its REALLY special. I got 33rd lady in my Vet 40 category as well and 178th female in.
I so wanted it at London this year but due to the heat, the tightyl packed streets where you were forced to walk sometimes as it was so crowded. This, on the hand, was scenic, beautiful and coming into Wales was wow!
I cramped quite badly but survived ok. At mile 18, a pain on the side of my knee was really bad. Looking down there was a wasp attached to my capri's - I managed to get it off but not before it stung me twice.
I did a 1.54 first half but died a little after mile 20. The hill, especially mile 24, felt like mountains and I noted most people were walking up it rather than running - I had made a point of walking up it to have enough recovery to finish strongly. thank God for the names on the bib. Loads of people cheering made me finish with a smile and a sprint.
Highlight for me was marshalls, spectators who came out with jelly babies and the old people from the home in deckchairs/wheelchairs outside waving with big warm smiles calling my name - very special