After the searing temperatures of day 1, runners were relieved to wake upto a slightly cooler day with a little more cloud cover.
Famously tough, the Needles half marathon course is just about as multi terrain as you can get. Tarmac, footpath, grass and sand all feature as this course winds its way around the 13.1 miles from the West Wight Sports Centre and back again.
Nerves were coming to a crescendo as the 47 roadrunners lined up to begin this tough race. Both distances lined up together, to start simultaneously. For some new members, it was their first outing in their club colours, for others it was a battle against the clock to beat their performance in previous years. For others though, it was the fear of the unknown. The marathon is a new addition for this year. Course designer (our illustrious chairman Pat Harris) had promised a challenge of hills, hills and more hills, but being a new race, none of our resolute entrants could possibly know how they would fair along the way.
11am came and they were off… out into the sunshine and on the hills. The marathoners working hard to not get swept off too quickly by the half course runners.
The course took them off toward Norton and then along the beach at Totland before beginning the series of climbs at The Needles, Headon Warren and Tennyson Down. With some 362m of elevation between them it is really tough going.
Our Vice Chairman Sarah Sharp had this to say after the race,
“Claire (Harvey), Julie (Rasmussen) and I ran the half together and thoroughly enjoyed it. We all had our moments when we were strong and moments when we struggled, but we pulled each other round to cross the finish line together and all achieved course PB’s. That’s what this club is all about – great teamwork”.
In the Half distance, Tom Forster was the leader of the roadrunner pack, coming home in a very tidy 1.34.19 to take 9th. Dean Pike was next over the line, closely followed by Pete Sexton.
Jenny Dewing was the 1st one of the ladies team home in a cracking 2.03.26 closely followed by Katherine King and Lou Dover.
Our 3 club debutants ran themselves proud too. Emma Ford, Laura Holme and Sarah Delaney all wore their vests with pride and powered over the line in under 2.5 hours, having a blast along the way.
The marathoners peeled off at Freshwater Bay, to embark on their 2nd half of the journey. They continued onward toward Mottistone, Brighstone Forest and back toward Chessell. The sun started to reappear making our runners uncomfortable despite the welcome breeze. The course was as billed. Some 773m of elevation faced the runners.
Hill upon hill upon hill piled on the pressure but one by one they made their way around the course and to a glass of cider at the “water station” at mile 21, which was a welcome pick-me-up to see them through the last stretch and over the finish line.
Andy MacArthur absolutely stormed it after being plagued by Achilles injury. He came home in a magnificent 2nd place. Tim Cordery also came home in under 4 hours and a fantastic 5th place. Judy McCabe continued her fantastic form coming home in 12th overall and 1st lady. She ran with her training buddy Steve Bennett, who secured the 4th spot in his age category.
Hayley Baxter celebrated the last day of her thirties by coming a sensational 2nd lady overall.
“I felt ok throughout really” she said afterwards while tucking into some birthday cake “When I ran Walk the Wight a few weeks ago I found it so hard. So I was surprised to feel so strong today”
The ladies V45 category was dominated by the IWRR ladies. Elaine Harris, Julie Ray and Karen Phillips swept the board. Karen Phillips took a really nasty tumble in the 3rd mile, but she picked herself up and continued for a further 23 and a bit miles to complete the job.
In they came, one by one (or sometimes in twos and threes as friends looked after each other along the way)
“Amazing day, loved it in an odd way. Such an achievement and so much support along the way. Definitely not for the faint hearted”
Said Jane Andrew on completing her 13th outing over the distance.
Across a the line the finishers trickled, until the tenacious Coral Leach made her way across the final field and into a roaring welcoming committee in the shape of her family, her puppy and of course some noisy roadrunners.
And with that the inaugural Isle of Wight Festival of Running was over. Course records set, personal goals pushed and surpassed. Well done Roadrunners for making it a success. From the competitors, to the marshalls, the water (and cider!) stewards and the back markers. A lot of time and thought goes into putting races on for the first time, so well done to Pat and his race committee for all their hard work.
Half Marathon
Tom Forster-1.34.19
Dean Pike-1.37.50
Peter Sexton-1.38.06
Harry Rann-1.50.19
James Rogers-1.53.41
Noel Finn-1.56.29
Jenny Dewing-2.03.26
Katherine King-2.05.31
Lou Dover-2.06.05
Jason Doughty-2.09.38
Charlotte Williams-2.14.08
Tom Martin-2.14.10
Sarah Sharp-2.15.39
Julie Rasmussen-2.15.39
Claire Harvey-2.15.40
Dave Smith-2.18.05
Karen Buck-2.18.53
Emma Ford-2.26.55
Laura Holme-2.29.32
Sarah Delaney-2.29.35
Misha Hetherington-2.32.12
Peter Dixon-2.33.12
Alison Butcher-2.34.04
Nick Stilwell-2.34.21
Sharon Cass-2.45.15
Lucy Deville-2.48.07
Lyn Snow-3.11.42
Marathon
Andrew MacArthur-3.40.25
Tim Cordery-3.59.24
Steve Bennett-4.13.27
Judy McCabe-4.13.27
Gordon Mucklow-4.24.21
Hayley Baxter-4.24.53
Michael Coultrup-4.26.11
Calvin Wright-4.52.02
Elaine Harris-4.52.11
Julie Ray-4.55.40
Karen Phillips-4.55.42
Ian Dyer-5.02.24
Tarnia Eldridge-5.04.56
Paul Butcher-5.08.33
Julie Salter-5.08.34
Steve Hickman-5.15.13
Alison Batchelor-5.40.55
Jane Andrew-5.40.55
Claire Howard-5.40.56
Coral Leach-6.22.17
