Fleetwood Marathon by Malc Collins

I’ve been at it again! I completed the Fleetwood marathon on Sunday 29th August in 3 hours 41 minutes and 2 seconds.


It’s my 5th of the year and brings my grand total to 25.

I gave a lift to David Bayley a friend of mine and seasoned marathon runner. We got to Fleetwood to be greeted with thick cloud and a very strong wind. About half an hour before the start there was even a horrible shower and things didn’t look good. The weather improved shortly into the run and the sun came out giving me sun burn on my forehead. The wind didn’t calm down and for long periods along the sea front it made running forward almost impossible. The wind whipped up the sand from the beach and it was like being sand blasted. We had to cover up our nose and mouth to stop inhaling the sand and run with one eye closed and the other half open to keep the stinging sand out. I have never experienced anything like it and would have preferred to run in hail!

Running down towards Blackpool the wind was mainly behind us but at 16 miles when we turned back towards Fleetwood it was like hitting a wall. David left me and I soldiered on mile after mile into this relentless wind.

The last mile and a half coming back into Fleetwood the coast curves to the east making the wind once again favorable. I picked up my pace and over took several runners including David , who likened me to a Gazelle when we met at the finish (a much appreciated comment, thanks Dave). I was pleased with the marathon, I took it at a comfortable steady pace and felt good even at the finish.

Kind Regards

Malcolm Collins