Leicester Marathon 2011

Running to stand still

I e-mailed the organisers last week to enquire about the start time and was advised 09:30, but it now seems that it's actually 09:15.  Not a good sign for the organisation of this event!

Still waiting for my number etc, are we all still waiting or have some been received?

Hallucyn8

Still not had my race pack either!

[Deleted User]

Organisers sent out an email yesterday to say that the race packs would be hitting your letterboxes in the next day or two (don't panic!) and that you need to be at Victoria Park by 0915.

Not sure if that means a 0915 or 0930 start.

Hallucyn8

Just had a text from my wife to say my race pack has just been delivered so hopefully everyone will be getting theirs as well.

The following is new information from the Leicester Marathon website which should clear up timing questions:

"START VENUE: Victoria Park, Leicester LE1 7RY

Programme



8.00am Enquiry desk and on the day entries opens (£50 per person entry fee) in the Charles Wilson Building, University Campus

9.00am On the day entries close

9.10am START- Wheelchair

9.15am START - Leicester Full and Half Marathon and Freeth Cartwright Corporate Relay

9.30am START - Ted Toft Mile For Young People

10:00am Awards presented to the Ted Toft Mile winners on Memorial Walk
10.15am First Half Marathon finisher expected at Victoria Park

11.00am Awards presented to the Half Marathon winners on Memorial Walk

11.45am First Full Marathon runner expected back at Victoria Park

12.15pm Last Half Marathon runner expected in Victoria Park

12.30pm Awards presented to the Full Marathon winners on Memorial Walk

3.15pm Last Leicester Marathon runner expected in Victoria Park



ROUTE There are no major climbs during the course, only gradual inclines, but the last mile is uphill, the first mile is downhill! The course is run in a predominately anti- clockwise direction. Please follow the instructions of the marshals and adhere to the highway rules. You should always keep to the left hand side of the road, unless otherwise instructed.


PARKING There will be plenty of roadside parking around the park and university. Please aim to arrive between 7:30am - 8am the free spaces fill up the quickest. Disabled parking will be available at the front of De Montfort Hall. Granville Road car park will be limited to pay and display.

There is an NCP Car Park on East Street, which is only a 10-15 minute walk from Victoria Park.

For extra parking - Park on Regent College's ground for £5.

NUMBER You MUST wear your race number on the front of your running top. Any altering of the number will lead to disqualification. The number is only to be worn by the person who signed the disclaimer and must not be passed to anyone else."

Nokka

My Race pack (Race No.1440) has just landed on the doormat Hooray!!

[Deleted User]

Race pack arrived, seems like they're making a point of ensuring no Ipods / MP3 players are worn, - threats of disqualification as you cross the line !!. Tend to agree with them on this issue but know they'll be plenty who will throw their toys out of their prams and go on about their human rights etc etc. Should be fun.

SHADES

Got my race pack today too.

Runner888 - agree with you about wearing headphones.   I have vowed that the next time a runner wearing headphones impedes me I will get them disqualified.    I can't understand why they want to miss the most important part of a race and that's the atmosphere and socialising.  

Am looking forward to Sunday, I love this course

MACb

I've never used an mp3 player in a race before, but I can see some logic to it, it would drown out the sound of my gasping and heavy breathing! got my race number too, 2771 I think.

Impish37

My number's here - 3849 - don't know whether to worry, panic or just get excited

WarrenK78

Still no number for me. Hopefully today as I am heading up to Leicester tomorrow.

Douglas

Got mine yesterday.

@ Warren, hope to see you before the start on Sunday, I think you will be long gone by the time I finish .

WarrenK78

Hey Douglas. I will look out for you at the start. Good luck for the race if I don't see you.

MACb

Well that went quite well, decent weather and well organised. The 2nd half is quite a bit slower i think, more twists and turns and the uphill final mile, but good fun nevertheless.

WarrenK78

Yes, that was pretty good in the end. Thankfully the weather was pretty good. A little bit windy in parts in the second half, but can't complain after winning the race. Ran negative splits and finished in 2:45:12 or so. A pretty slow winning time so the organisers probably won't be too pleased but I am pretty chuffed

I wonder how long it will take for the results to come up?

Ben Davies 15

I think this event is finally starting to fulfill its full potential. 

MACb

Warren, nice one, still a pretty good time. I did the half and was waiting for the first marathoner at the end, so I was amongst those giving you a good clap at the end, you look pretty comfortable. I remember you looking behind you about 100 yards from the end, the next guy was a good few mins after you. I was running the first 6 miles with the first lady marathoner, then we went our seperate ways. Maybe one day i'll try the full marathon.

[Deleted User]

Well done all, you lot are bloody quick !! - I manage a marathon PB by 21 minutes so well pleased. Very well organised on the day, lovely marshals, good support in the towns and villages, a bit lonely out in the sticks but enjoyed it all. Same again next year anyone ??

Hallucyn8

Well that's my first marathon completed! I finished about 10 minutes slower than I was hoping for but still pleased with the achievement. I knew I wasn't going to make my target time at about 16 miles and the last 3 or so miles were a real slog.

Suffering a bit today but enjoying the attention at work as I hobble round the office!!

[Deleted User]

WarrenK78 - very impressive. Well done. Was only about an hour behind you.

My slowest Leicester Marathon by over 20 minutes but given my schedule its not unsurprising.

Well done to everyone who ran yesterday.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like you all had a good time

Here are some photos of the event:

http://en.sportsnaps.com/photos/search/gb/leicester-marathon_128/2011-10-09/leicester//?country=GB&date=10-09-2011&eventid=128

[Deleted User]

 Well done all of you who completed The Leicester Marathon this year .Hope i managed to call out your name over the last few meters at the finish line we were trying a new way of doing it picking up your details on a live I Pad link as you crossed over a timing mat 4mtrs out from the finish .Yes i was the guy making all the noise on the mike .I am sure the organisers will be taking your comments on board ready for Leicester Marathon 2012 Look forward to seeing even more of you next year

Nokka

TS3,

  Thank you for the encouragement across the line, I was the chap in the England vest crossing the line with my son, Jack (aged 6). Hopefully, in a few years time he'll be running the Marathon!!

I thought it was a fantastic event, well organised, Marshalls were wonderfull, drinks stations were superb.I had travelled from Staines to take part and all being well I will enter again next year.

 Thank you Leicester

[Deleted User]

 Hi Nokka ,thhanks for your comments I will pass them on .and if you come next year come on over and say hello ,dont forget the Ted Toft mile for your lad just to get him going while your out on the course.we ran it this year in memory of his fantastic work for athletics and it was well supported it will become a fixture i hope in the future

Hallucyn8

Hi Terry

I thought calling out the names of the runners was a nice touch.

Certainly gave me some encouragement and made the finish that bit more special.

[Deleted User]

Well Done to everyone that took part. My first ever marathon, hit the wall hard at mile 20. I still have unfinished business. Will be back stronger next year.

MACb

Thanks Terry, you may have called my name out (since I was finishing almost alone) but to be honest I was breathing too loudly to hear it! Really good half marathon, must make sure that next year I have more than 16 seconds in the bank before starting the long slog up New Walk if I want a sub 1:30 time!

[Deleted User]

 It seems the last bit of the course up Newalk is a bit trying for tired legs ,maybe do a bit of interval hill training and the end of your training runs will help prepare you for that last mile .Look forward to seeing you back next year with that bit extra in your legs and a bit more capacity in your lungs enough so you can say hi when you finish

[Deleted User]

 Hi hallucyn8 Glad it helped make it a bit more special for you .make sure you come over and say hi next year .

[Deleted User]

Terry, i heard you call my name out. It is a nice touch. The marshalling was also very good. I was 11mins outside my 4hr target but i cant blame that on Newalk.

However, the crowds in the city centre could have been more enthusiastic and i think many people felt we were a bit of a hindrance to their sunday shopping (i had to swerve around a few shoppers who were loitering in the middle of the route). I also heard a motorist shouting at a marshall whilst he held the traffic up for us.

Better publicity would probably address a lot of these concerns. I dont think the event was listed on the runners world event list, whish has to be a starting place for getting more runners racing. More runners then makes the event much more of a spectacle so that it becomes bigger than sunday shopping and doesnt have to compete with it. More runners also means more funds which might allow a few more roads to be closed so that you dont rely on marshalls to be traffic police. Finally, the event website was shockingly bad with very little information on it, untill late in the day. Again a schoolboy error.

Im not ranting. I just think it was a good event that could be very very good with little extra effort.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Andy for your comments they are all very constructive ,re the local publicity are local paper the Leicester Mercury gave out pre race information for motorists and general public well in advance and there was some very good articles a few days before the event and in mondays addition there was a 12 page supplement of photos and a full list of finishers with times .Think generally its a question of time we will get the Leicester Public behind all of you i am sure .I will certainly bring your comments to the debrief meeting when it is arranged