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Taunton Marathon
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I was on my post at 10 and remained until the last runner came through, even when stood down(as a 5+ marathon runner myself I know the slower runners also need more our support).
Apart from 'playing' with the traffic my duties erred when cars ignored me (and the police with me), members of the public 'running' in front of runners and spectators blocking the roads, even a dog tried to 'eat' one of the runners as he passed (asked to control his dog better). I also had to field the many public questions including time of arrival of runners and what was on (my taunton marathon vest not being a good giveaway!).
The whole experience of marshall was stressful however a job that has to be done. If you are not running for whatever reason why not volunteer for marshal duties either here or at your local race?
If anybody here has any complaints then please speak up. Tell us if we have failed to meet your expectations and we will endevour to improve next time.
Lastlap>Good point I am aware of an earlier start system, unofficially, in place at several runs.
I will come and do this if there is an early start
I was thrown in the deep end as it was a triathlon and I was on the cycle route ... it was very difficult, I was in two different places for a total of about two hours - not five, dealing with traffic and fast bikes, I was exhausted! I only offered cos I knew they hadn't got enough help - and I knew I hadn't done enough training to do it that year
We just have to remind ourselves there would be no events without LOADS of volunteer helpers THANKYOU TO ALL OF YOU
(Here follows most of my post on the Dartmoor Discovery thread - sorry if you've read it already!!)
Dunnarunner - you poor (not as old me) thing!!
I did the classic "running too fast" in the first half at Taunton - you would think I'd know better! so I missed the cut-off, by 12 mins in fact, had a dreadful second half, wont bore you with the details!!
I met quite a few people (some old friends, some new) doing the Half, so ran happily along with them (sweating too much, a good indication of wrong pace, but I ignored it) - and felt "not quite right" by Mile 14 - in fact desperate for my energy drink which I'd left at mile 3-4 water stn, - mile 16-17 on the second lap. And it was so lonely! There was a strong westerly blowing for 5 miles on each lap, that was pretty tough on the second lap!
I was told my time when I finished (4:42:10, very pleased actually, it's just the "cut-off" gets in your head and makes you think you've failed - and that's DAFT!)
I said I need to have confirmation that I did in fact complete the marathon and in that time, so spoke to the Race Director and he said he will send me something
I'm not doing Neolithic! although I intend to do LONG training that weekend, might split the miles during the day or even over 2 days (it worked for Duchy - 4 wks before I ran 5+ miles to meet up with club members for 16+ miles, then after an hour, tea & toast, ran the 5 miles home)
If anyone is interested I have got an article that recommends last long run 4 weeks or a month before, concentrating on strength & speedwork in the last 4 wks,
There's a lot of sense in your startaegy of last long run 4 weeks before, it's just that we all get paranoid that we haven't done enough!
This was my first marathon and I thought that I knew what to expect, how wrong I was. I breezed through the first half in 2.01 and was well sorted for my anticipated finish time of between 4 and 4.10. Went through 19 miles at bang on three hours and then lost my thighs on the descent after the 20 mile water station. I think that battling into the wind and rain from 16 to 19 had taken more out of me than I thought. From when I lost my legs it really was a battle to get to the end, I had it in my mind that the 4.30 cutoff meant no medal or tee-shirt as well. I pushed myself beyond my known limits and struggled over the line in 4.30.16 on my watch, 4.30.40 on theirs. They gave me a medal, I burst into tears, I've never done anything so hard in all of my life. The way confidence turned into despair turned into disappointment turned into relief turned into satisfaction was unreal. Such an emotional rollercoaster.
To all the marshalls who offered encouragement - thank you, to the first aiders who asked me if I was allright and let me continue - thank you.
Slight disappointment in the fact that there were no tee shirts left but they are going to post one to me. The showers were fantastically hot.
I was fully windproofed with running gear so 'enviromentally confortable' but my chair kept blowing away :-( (rarely time to use it though).
Dragon Breath> us runners do appear to be an emotional lot??-you describe the typical 'runners hyper' felt on passing the finish line.
I am now worried over the 6hr cut off time in Three forts marathon. Need speed training :-(
THanks all.
Results are on the new official Taunton Marathon site:
www.tauntonmarathon.co.uk
I also did the classic of first half too fast (1:36) so it got tricky from 18 onwards, struggled home in 3:25:50 - almost 2 minutes slower than last year! Daft waste of a lot of training really, but on the positive side we kept the team cup and I beat my trainig partner.
Thought organisation, marshalls & police were all great.
Once the second half kicked in I felt that there was little to aim for, you really need to be ultra motivated to push yourself on especially into a strong headwind to maintain your pace.
My wife who was at the finish area said that the marathon winner was just behind the half winner at 13.1 miles, so he lost nearly 30 minutes on the second half, albeit still finishing five minutes ahead of the rest of the field.
You know you can do that 200 mins
last lap - I really think it is very hard to set off to run a marathon with almost everyone around you running at Half-M pace
the idea of an early start for some - if not ALL marathon runners - would sort it
However, there could be overtaking problems . . . as the faster marathoners would lap the slower half-marathoners, so suggest an early start for about 30 to 50 of us slower marathoners?
there are quite a lot of events with laps or different distances and the fastest front runners just get on with it - running on any routes with vehicles and pedestrians - another runner is not your biggest problem, as long as they think before they suddenly stop!
Cheers :-)
Just out of interest, here are my Half-M splits:
Duchy - 2:11, 2:17
Taunton - 2:07, 2:34 (25 secs to the start!)
We had that cold cold Easterly at Duchy, but not for SO MANY MILES as the strong Westerly at Taunton
and I reckon, if you run the first half too fast by, say, 4 mins, you'll lose TWICE that AT LEAST in the second half, plus possible objections from muscles!
Haven't seen you yet this year, what races have you got planned?
Has anyone experience of Taunton times to London? I am doing the FLM this year - my halfs (Bideford (1.39) and Blackmore Vale (1.42)) indicated 3.30ish - but thats 10 minutes away!
Like many others, I think I went off too quickly with the halfers, but I still got home in just over 3h 40m. Will definitely be back next year for this.
I guess its also how well individuals do at different distances, I am still trying to decide if I should concentrate on a certain distance, rather than trying at a few.
Anyway, in 3 weeks time I'll know....
You can hear Gobi - even if you don't see him!