A select band of Musketeers took part in the Taunton Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 3rd April and all enjoyed personal success in achieving their running goals.
The course is relatively flat compared with those we are mostly used to in Plymouth and Cornwall especially. And was the place where I achieved my first under-1.5hour half, so it has the potential for personal best times for all abilities.
Three Musketeers completed the marathon, Sharon Adams in her first marathon – an ambition she declared openly and bravely to the club a long time ago and thereby committing herself publicly. She ran the hugely demanding distance in aid of St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth and in memory of her father who died a year ago at the hospice. Her mother and brother and family all cheered her
In the event, despite being soaked in the final four miles, she finished strongly in under her target time of 4 hours 30min – crossing the finish in 4 hours 27 minutes. Congratulations to her. All that abstinence from the evils of drink and all that dedicated training for months on end paid off. Her minders – sorry trainers – Darren and 100-marathon man Bryan are also owed praise for their dedicated support and for doing the race with her. May be the secret to her success was trying desperately to run away from Darren! In the event she escaped with only a blister on her toe – just shows what training can do. After my first marathon I was fine until the next day when I could only crawl out of bed and killed off half my toe nails.
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The more ‘sensible’ Musketeers, ie Chris Andrews and Louise, joined the large half marathon field of 1,232.
Chris finished in 1hour 46min and 49 seconds in a position of 424 and Louise in 2hours and 42 seconds in 761st position (I think it was her third fastest time ever at that bdistance). She is on a very fast streak of excellent running form, having achieved under two hours for only the second time in her career at this year’s Bideford Half.
Chris deserves a special mention for coming back from a few weeks’ injury and recovering quickly with a good time. With his determination he should not have a problem getting back o full fitness and into his running stride. Not so sensibly, doubtless his sense of adventure will take him off the gentle Somerset roads and into the wilderness, onto the wilds of a multi-terrain/cross-country run sooner or later. While more sensibly Louise has a week off!
As an ”honorary Musketeer” Penny Hadfield-Bennett completed her first half marathon in two years in 2hours 35min in 1,180 position, having over taken 52 runners from starting last position. Thanks to keen supporters Kev and Lena.
By Guy