My Manchester Marathon by Helen Minshall

My Manchester Marathon

My decision to enter the Manchester Marathon was very hastily made in December after several drinks too many. I've not entered a full marathon since 1985, and always said I'd never do another one....I'm really glad I did it though! I enjoyed the training. It was great to work to a structured programme and to see the mileage building up over the weeks. It gave me a real focus and a great sense of achievement as I stuck the training schedule to the fridge door and ticked off each week. Even so, I was really nervous as Sunday approached. I had over £2,000 in sponsorship at stake for my youth band's trip to Germany in the summer - the marathon was the 12th race out of 12 in my 10 month long Sportathon, and I'd completed the other 11........

Sunday dawned and I got dropped off at Longford Park. The rain was lashing down, and turning to sleet. People were wearing bin liners and my trainers were soaked through before we'd even started. There was a massive queue at the baggage tent - I didn't use it thankfully - I heard there were many problems.....soon the race was underway. I loved every minute of the first 16 or 17 miles, despite the weather. People were lining the streets and cheering us in Stretford, Sale, Timperley, Altrincham and once the half way mark was past I felt settled and really comfortable. After Dunham it got very messy; we had to plough our way through mud and puddles on a trail section, then we seemed to go for miles in open countryside. Around miles 18-19 I started to feel really cold and kept going dizzy. I hit the 20 mile marker at 03:56:27, then I tried to get a protein bar out of my water belt but my fingers were so cold I couldn't grip it. In the end I had to stop to try and tear it open with my teeth, then I walked for a couple of minutes while I ate it, and there was my downfall. I started shivering from head to foot and my legs locked up. For the next 6 miles I had to alternate between running and power walking and kept feeling like I was going to pass out, but nothing was going to stop me getting to that finish line. As I reached Stretford, the crowds kept cheering all the runners on; every time someone said "well done love" I felt like crying. I had about a mile to go when I suddenly heard my running buddy Fiona shout me - I was dazed by then! The next thing I knew she was running alongside me in her full length boots, cheering me on for that last long stretch. When we passed the A&T water station I couldn't believe the cheers and encouragement - I was completely overwhelmed! What an amazing team support!!! When I finally made it to the finish line at 05:37:34 there was my daughter with a warm coat and a hug!!! It took me 5 hours to stop shaking from the cold. Even after a hot bath I was still shivering. Last night I felt terrible, but today I registered for the ballot for place in next year's London Marathon. It seems I will never learn.....thanks to everyone who has supported me and all the other A&T members yesterday and in the last few months as we have prepared for the marathon.

Chester Half Marathon Places - 13th May 2012

I've just been contacted by Sarah Lucus from Leigh Harriers/Leg It and she's got 2 or 3 places for the Chester Half up for grabs. Members of her club Leg It are injured and are unable to get refund or deferment. The places cost £27 so a donation would be welcome but not required.
If anyone is interested please could you email or text me and I'll give you Sarah's number.

Thanks

Clare

Ribby Hall Triathlon by Dale Kenyon

Ribby Hall Sprint Triathlon  - 22^nd April 2012

Sunday 22^nd April marked a special date for the A&T triathlon team as the first event on the calendar of our  inaugural club triathlon championships took place. Ribby Hall was the venue and was the first of a 3 race series, all of which form part of our club champs. A number of our members competed in these flat, fast, friendly and reasonably priced events last year and the Fylde coast weather has tested us each time. The gale force winds and hailstone of last year wasn’t there but it was certainly a wet one!! A great turn out from A&T saw 13 of us setting off in different waves of swimming ability with 258 competing overall. Unfortunately with the smaller, less organised events (with no chip timing) there were a few anomalies in recorded swim time where John Lee swam further than required and Craig Bradbury seemingly had time for a brew and put his feet up for a while in T1 – but for the money charged, I think they put on a really good event. The relatively short and flat 10.5 mile bike section was punishing due being at top pace for virtually the whole distance with the fastest bike splits averaging over 26mph!! The 5km run was 2 laps and involved a number of out and back stretches round the roads of the holiday park. There were a few sneaky hills in there which were testing after the swim/bike but the massive A&T support at the half way point gave a boost to everybody representing the blue of A&T. A special mention must go to this support (Suzanne, Dave, Shaun, Emma, Christine, Kim, Debbie, Anita, Neil, Anthony plus the Foster, Kenyon, Reason, Wane families, various dogs and many more!!!) which is a great advertisement and shows the strength and camaraderie of our awesome club. Onto the results and it will surprise nobody that Alex Foster was 1^st A&T home coming 2^nd overall competing with athletes who compete at GB level. John Hyde (13^th) managed to pip John Lee (14^th) but I’m sure that Mr Lee will rue them extra metres swam and look forward to a good battle next time out. Colin Rigby post the 3^rd fastest run of the day to take 21^st ahead of the Reason Brothers in their first triathlon, Mike in 26^th and Dan in 32^nd, next was myself in 47^th followed by Craig Bradbury in 73^rd (his swim time hasn’t been corrected unfortunately). Kellyanne Towns celebrated her birthday by being first A&T lady home in 106^th, followed by Brenda Wane in 129^th and 2^nd F50 (brilliant effort considering lack of opportunity to train lately!!). Next home was Linda Whittaker in 146^th, Tri Capt Clare Unsworth in 168^th  knocking 7 and half minutes off her effort last year and Jane Ecclestone in 211^th.

Well done to Alex, John Hyde and John Lee collected the Team Prize for the men to add to the silverware collected by Alex and I wouldn’t but against them doing it in all 3 races!!. Full results below (including Alex’s Dad Tony Foster). If anybody feels inspired and wants further information on the Triathlon or Duathlon side, please refer to the section on the website or contact our Captain Clare Unsworth. Next race is St. Anne’s Triathlon on the 22^nd May 2012.

.........nothing else happened at all, no parking incidents, no towing from a farm hand, nothing (I reserve bloggers rights to include/exclude any details I deem unsuitable – Suzanne!!!!! But thanks to Shaun, John and Dave)

Pos	Num	Name	Cat	Pos/Cat	Swim400m	Psn	Bike10.5	Psn	Run 5k	Psn	Overall
1	274	Chris Joyce	M	Jan-71	00:05:29	1	00:27:24	8	00:16:54	1	00:49:47
2	273	Alex Foster	M	Feb-71	00:06:20	4	00:26:28	2	00:17:52	5	00:50:40
3	266	Ian Roberts	M	Mar-71	00:06:38	10	00:26:58	4	00:17:32	4	00:51:08
13	228	Jonathan Hyde	M	Aug-71	00:07:42	28	00:28:34	21	00:19:34	21	00:55:50
14	242	John Lee	M40	Jun-72	00:08:50	64	00:28:30	19	00:18:32	9	00:55:52
21	191	Colin Rigby	M40	Oct-72	00:07:56	37	00:31:13	53	00:17:29	3	00:56:38
26	256	Michael Reason	M	13/71	00:08:13	47	00:29:34	35	00:19:11	19	00:56:58
32	226	Dan Reason	M	17/71	00:09:09	75	00:29:57	37	00:18:59	13	00:58:05
47	223	Dale Kenyon	M	25/71	00:08:10	45	00:31:20	56	00:20:54	53	01:00:24
73	209	Craig Bradbury	M40	31/72	00:11:24	150	00:32:52	85	00:20:19	39	01:04:35
106	203	Kellyanne Towns	F	Aug-35	00:09:20	83	00:36:05	141	00:23:21	104	01:08:46
127	121	Tony Foster	M50	Oct-28	00:12:00	172	00:33:39	97	00:24:55	134	01:10:34
129	221	Brenda Wane	F50	02-Oct	00:09:36	93	00:35:59	137	00:25:30	147	01:11:05
146	102	Linda Whittaker	F40	Sep-31	00:11:42	160	00:37:43	166	00:23:32	112	01:12:57
168	156	Clare Unsworth	F	17/35	00:09:33	91	00:36:35	149	00:30:41	225	01:16:49
211	157	Jane Eccleston	F40	22/31	00:10:00	107	00:40:51	208	00:32:06	237	01:22:57

Water Station Volunteers

I've emailed all volunteers with final instructions, maps and meeting times.

I have also posted information to the A&T facebook page.

If anyone hasn't received instructions please can you email me asap.

Barry, Steve and Anne will be there between 6 - 6.30 to take the delivery.

I will be there before 7.30am to help set up the station.

I will delegate jobs once people arrive as we need to remove all packaging, take tops off the pouches, keep the station tidy, etc .. it's not just giving water to runners.

See you all Sunday.

Gary
stevensgary@hotmail.com

Monday 30th April Track Session

There will be no track session this Monday 30th April due to low expected numbers.

London Marathon by Carole Baines

Sunday 22^nd April dawned bright and sunny not at all what the forecasters had promised and way too hot for me! After a make-shift breakfast (the hotel wouldn’t put any on earlier than 8 o’clock), Michaela and I met up with Wayne and Laura and we travelled to the other end of London. I was on a different start so had to leave them halfway and go on my tod. However, after lining up in my pen, I was amazed to find myself next to Libby- it was great to see a friendly face.

I had a fantastic experience- everything that everyone says is so true- brilliant organisation, wonderful crowds, supportive marshals, however don’t run it to see the sights- most of the time all I saw was road and thousands of running shoes! I have to say I’m enjoying it more in my head now than I did at the time.

Up to 17 miles didn’t feel so bad but after that it was a case of head down and just get to the finish and boy that ‘385 yards to go’ banner is a welcome sign. Well 3 hrs 33mins 32secs after I crossed the start line I finally finished and it’s the only time that I’ll say I wish I’d ran a second slower!

A massive well done to my fellow A&T runners-Michaela, Robin, Pete, Wayne and Laura-we all know it wasn’t easy

I’d just like to say thanks to everyone who sent good luck and well done messages via face book, I really appreciate it. Also sincere thanks to everyone who helped me through my training- it makes it so much more bearable having people to run with especially on those 20milers which would be very lonely on your own.

Good luck to all the Manchester marathoners for Sunday- enjoy it, I hope you all get great times and I’ll see you there- but this time as a spectator!