On Sunday, David Brown of Newport & District Running Club made the trip to Warwickshire to take part in the Shakespeare Marathon, in Stratford. Afterwards, having finished 191st (out of 751 runners) in a time of 3 hours, 46 minutes and 3 seconds, he sent us this report of how it went on race day:
It was very nice in Stratford on Sunday. The weather was fine and the people were going to the recreation ground for the big event. It was the Shakespeare Marathon and Half Marathon. I’ve never been to Stratford before; what a nice place it is, with its history and heritage.
We all filed round to the start like penguins in such a tight narrow winding passage – it took me 3 minutes to cross the start mat! At last we were running, and on the first lap I could admire the architecture around the historic town, and then the beautiful scenic Warwickshire countryside.
The second lap was a bit different. People tell me the race in a marathon starts at 20 miles. Oh yes – that’s about halfway round the second lap! At this point I’m reminded just how hard a marathon can be. I had already done 23 miles three weeks earlier and getting up to 23 miles in the race was still like a new experience.
The last five and a half miles up a hardcore track seemed to go on for an eternity. When you get to the last half mile you know you are going to make it. Then you are greeted by the cheering crowds at the finish, it really gives you a lift at the end.
Newport & District Running Club 