Strathearn Marathon 9 June 2013

Marathon time again! We were so chuffed with the way the 2012 marathon had gone, we had to do it again. Besides, we’d spent so much time planning it in 2012 that it would have been a shame not put all that hard work to good use.

So, second time around, and there wasn’t too much to change. We moved the finish line a wee bit, to make the finishing funnel a bit easier to organise, but apart from that, we kept the route the same. We didn’t get support from Run4It – the race is a bit small for them to make it worth their while – but we did get lots of support from locals, and as always, club members were quick to volunteer to help the event on the day.

Race day numbers were very good. We’d been a bit worried six weeks earlier that the entry list was a bit short, but we had an acceleration in entries over the weeks immediately before the race, taking entries up over the 150 mark and past the number of t-shirts ordered! We even had people phoning after the entry deadline, which may something about their forward planning! In the end, we had 143 runners starting the race, an increase of nearly 30 compared with last year.

On the day before the race, a small gang met at Cultybraggan to fill the goody bags, sort out the t-shirts, and arrange the signage at Cultybraggan and around the route. It was very warm that day, so we were more than a bit concerned  we were going to have to cope with dehydrated runners on the day. Fortunately, we did have lots of water from Highland Spring for all the water stations, and we kept our fingers crossed.

Crossing the fingers obviously worked, since Sunday dawned with almost perfect marathon conditions – cool, dry, no wind – and in a change from last year, not many midges, which made life at the water stations much more pleasant. Registration opened early and there was a regular stream of runners and their supporters, along with the marshals receiving instructions and being dispatched to all points far and wide around the race route.

We had a good clutch of Harriers running this year. For the men, we had Sandy S, Jonathan B, Chris Clark, a resurgent Jim McConnell, a sadly slightly injured Paul Taylor and Jeff Sweeney taking on his first marathon. Elaine M was leading the way for the women, back for a second time, with Susan S running with Jeff and Paul raising money for the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund. Also running a first marathon was Julia Greenlees.

Last year’s winner Will Beauchamp was back to defend his title, and looked as calm and composed in his warm-up as he had done last year when he romped home (if you can romp in a marathon) to win by a very comfortable margin.

However, it was soon apparent he wasn’t going to have it all his own way. From the off, he was matched stride-for-stride by Roger Van Gompel of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers. Both Will and Roger had run in the London Marathon in April, with Roger finishing a few minutes ahead of Will on that occasion. This time, they had a genuine race, splendidly described in Will’s blog http://sheffieldrunningclub.org.uk/strathearn-marathon-review/

I was on Dalginross as they came past, when Roger was opening a decisive gap, with just over a mile to the finish. Both were running hard and their times were well inside last year’s time. Roger won in a superb time of 2.39.33, with Will finishing in 2.40.10. Will’s time was a new personal best and two minutes faster than his time in the London marathon. Third placed man was Adam McLean of Inverclyde AC, in a very good time of 2.52.33.

The women’s race didn’t quite see the same intense racing, but winner Fionna Cameron of Harmeny AC set another course record of 3.8.10. Victoria Hunter was second woman in 3.13.30 and Fiona Ramsay was third in 3.25.13.

Harriers runners did themselves proud. Sandy Storey ran a very sound race, pacing himself well – he was third Harrier when I saw him at the 10.5 mile water station behind Jonathan Beck and Chris Clarke, but picked them off over the second half to finish in a very good 3.13.03 as first Local man. Jonathan was second Local man in 3.19.24, and by his own admission, Chris had a bit of a nightmare over the last few miles, but still managed a very creditable 3.25.30.

Elaine Moffat was first Local woman, finishing in a terrific 4.1.30 despite an injured calf, and Susan Saunders, running with brother-in-law Paul Taylor and raising money for the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund, was second Local woman in 4.10.11. Susan was another runner achieving a personal best, beating her previous marathon time by 10 minute, finishing with Paul in a time of 4.10.11. 

The second Strathearn Marathon was also notable for the return of Harriers stalwart Jim McConnell. Jim has been plagued with injuries over recent years and it was great to see him back running and finishing in an 3.34.47. Jim has run many marathons so knew what to expect, but at the other end of the spectrum was Julia, who admitted to having hated the training but looked like she was enjoying her day out. She must have been happy with herself, as she’s entered the Glenogle 33 Ultra later in the year.Jeff was another first-time marathoner, and should be very proud if his time of 3.53.49. He'd be dangerous if he trained!

As is always the case with Harriers races, the runners were superbly supported by the volunteers at Cultybraggan and out on the course, who gave up their time and whose efforts were greatly appreciated by the runners. Extra support came from Rob Bolton and Willie Nicol of the Comrie Pipe Band, who popped up in all sorts of unexpected places around the route and gave the runners a great sense of occasion. Catering was splendidly provided by the Comrie Allotments, with their cakes getting special praise from the runners and further support was generously given by Crieff Hydro Leisure, Highland Spring, CDT, Comrie First Response and the Fruit Shop, Comrie. Race photography was provided by Daniel Mestecky.