New Forest Marathon
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Official Results |
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New Forest Marathon, Sunday, 17 September 2006
Peter Gillott reports on the race:
I really should get my act together. If I communicated a little more, I might not have been surprised to meet Colin Bennetts as I walked from the car park in New Milton to the start of this race. As it was, I was amazed to see a fellow Harrier a hundred miles away from home. It just goes to show that wherever you are racing in the world, you are likely to meet another club member. Colin was there to support Cliff Smith but kindly hung around to take some photos of me as I plodded round.
The race itself was really enjoyable with some beautiful New Forest Scenery around Brockenhurst and Sway. I said hello to Cliff at the start line.. I knew I wouldn't be seeing him again that day! The first half went very well in very warm sunshine with the chance to cool down a little as the course went through the trees. For those who don't know the Forest, it isn't all trees. It's mostly gorse, heather and grassland with occasional spectacular views, but the race organisers found a route with enough trees that my Garmin got utterly confused with weak signals that it was next to useless. No problem, distances were clearly marked. The marshalling was good and cheerful and water stations were at every three miles. Just about right really, just like a Harriers race.
At nineteen miles there is a morale sapping hill that goes on for about half a mile and it's along a dead straight road. You come round a bend and there is this enormous long hill in front of you which seems to go on forever. After that there is a series of hills until you get about a mile from the finish in New Milton, when you get a long downhill stretch where you can pick up a little pace for a fast finish to impress the spectators and in my case get a little self respect back after the wheels came off and I had to walk up some of those hills .
All in all, a great race and I'll let you know now, I think I'll do it again next year, although I'll be doing a lot of hill training. Say hello if you see me there.
Peter Gillott