Flora London Marathon 18th April 2004

The Flora London Marathon is the biggest and best Marathon on Planet Earth and the 2004 edition on Sunday 18th was “the Daddy”. The winners this year were both from Kenya, Evans Rutto in 2:06:18 (the second fastest winning time in the 24 years of the race) and Margaret Okayo in 2:22:35, and whilst neither broke any records, their performances in cold and rainy weather were impressive. The race was also used to select Olympic places and Jon Brown of Sheffield plus two relative unknowns, Dan Robinson of Tipton and Tracey Morris of Valley Striders all earned their places in Athens. By definition, the Marathon is a long race and lots of things can go wrong in 26.2 miles. Last year’s lead Briton, Chris Cariss of Bingley, finished in 2:15:08, maintaining his remarkable streak of recording PBs in all eleven marathons he has raced, but missing the Olympic qualifying time by the odd 8 seconds and Birhan Dagne of Belgrave was overtaken by Morris, who she didn’t recognise nor realise she was a Briton, along The Embankment just a long mile from the finish.

Richmond and Zetland Harriers had similar ups and downs amongst their six runners.

Jon Orange, clearly visible to TV viewers on the start line amongst the Elite runners in his red and white Peacocks of Richmond vest, was aiming to finish in one of the top three Veteran places. He planned to run each 10K in 35 minutes and was on schedule through the first two splits, but he was cold and never got warm. Jon’s time slipped in the second half and eventually he was out-sprinted up Birdcage Walk by Ian Crampton of Durham City, to finish in 2:31:05, in 87th place overall but 4th British Vet by 11 seconds. After the race he spent more than an hour with the medics, lying under a pile of heated blankets to counter the mild hypothermia he had suffered and to raise his body temperature to near normal. Although disappointed to miss the prize money by one place for the second-year-running, Jon will now concentrate on the track and in particular to bettering his 4:06:8 PB for 1500m which ranked him 3rd in the UK last year.

Mike's Last minute preparations before his epic run

Mike Brooks had ambitions to turn-the-clock-back and run under the magic 3 hour mark. His race plan was negative splits, to go out at 7 minute mile pace and back in 6:50s. Running with Andy Gaskarth of Newton Aycliffe for company, he was through the half in 1:31 and ticked-off the next 3 miles as planned but then lost 30 seconds in an unscheduled stop and couldn't get back into his stride. Mike took 17 minutes off last year’s time and finished in 3:04:22, in 1347th place overall and 23rd MVO55, but is not unhappy - he's planning his T&F season and next year's attempt as this year’s time qualifies him as “good for age”.

Tony Hewson was looking to make a major revision to his 3:51:39 marathon time, set last year in his first race over the distance when he knocked 10 minutes off his then half-marathon PB before running-out-of-steam. A more conservative start from pen 2 and 7:30 mile pace was his race plan and it nearly worked. There is a marathon “truism” which says a minute gained early means ten minutes lost later; Tony was a minute up at the half in 1:37 and he finished in 3:33:00, in 5067th place. He knocked more than 18 minutes off his PB and will now turn his energies to his new place, The Priory Guesthouse and Restaurant at Middleham, where all are assured of a warm welcome - runners included.

Sarah Gregory also had her first run over the distance last year when she fashioned a 4:15 clocking but another drastic revision was on the cards having set a half marathon PB 1:37:37 earlier this year. Another marathon “truism” says double your half and add ten for your marathon time and whilst this might be right for the sub 3 gang, it doesn’t run true for all. Sarah’s even-pace plan was 8:30 miles with a target of sub 3:45 and she finished just 52 seconds outside, in 7446th place overall and 902nd Female, more than half an hour off her previous best and the best performance by a Harrier on the day.

Grete Buck said she was more concerned about just getting round, rather than about what time she posted, but her Club mates knew she would come through with flying colours. A mixed-bag of skiing, cycling, swimming and long runs with her dog was Grete’s training recipe and whilst her finishing time of 4:34:54 was a fair way behind her best, she still placed 19th LVO60 - inside the top twenty, a real number!

Mark Mullin was the sixth Harrier to finish. He isn’t the first and won’t be the last to let his enthusiasm got the better of him. Adrenaline pumping, starting from pen 2, he was through the first mile in about 6:30 and through the first 10K split in 42:32, more than half a minute ahead of Mike Brooks who had started from pen 1. Mike met him about 8 miles but only briefly; Tony met Mark about 12 miles and he was suffering! Mark suffered cramp in his hamstrings from his early exuberance, stopped at 18 miles for a massage and then, spurred-on by the thoughts of a 93-year old Sikh beating him, he jogged/walked to the finish in 4:37:48, to collect the proverbial wooden spoon.