The 1^st Finisher from ‘Wesham RR’s ‘8 Knights Close’ or ‘The Brathay Winderemere Marathon 2007’ Sunday, 20^th May 2007

Scenery: 10

PB potential: 0

Atmosphere: 10

One or two isolated bits, but George Kennedy was driving up and down offering any drink you could imagine. Julie Murphy and Helen Jolly were cycling round. We also had Mr & Mrs Rhead, Mr & Mrs Wilkinson, Mr & Mrs Whiteman, Mr & Mrs Yelland, Kirsty, Tim, Sue Eaton and Mick Edge shouting support, offering jelly babies etc (sorry if I’ve missed anyone!)

Organisation: 8

I don’t like collecting the number on the day. It’s a hassle I could do without. I like to have it pinned on my Wesham vest before I leave home. (One less thing to worry about)! We had to wait a quarter of an hour to get off the car park. One of the drinks stations was a ‘help yourself affair’ and placed at the bottom of a severe hill. Could have done with portaloos en route! (Ask Dave Wood)

On the ‘plus’ side, the organisers had cut out the hill from Bowness to Windermere and sent us past the ‘Hole in the Wall’ to ‘Skull Cottage’. They also sent all finishers a text confirmation of their finish time, (if you had a mobile phone of course)!

Value: 0 (Unless you won it! Reportedly a two grand watch!!)

£23 to enter and a coaster at the finish!!!!! A meaningless book about the organisation in the Welcome Bag and nothing else. Michaela handed hers back. And £2 to use the Car Park!

Beginner Friendly: 0

I’d say the severity of the course would put most beginners off. Talking to a guy at the finish who had a bad London, (the heat), and today, (the severity of the course), and was thinking about packing in. I did my best to persuade him not to.

Do it again? I don’t know. £25 is a lot to pay for a slate coaster, but feel it’s beaten me twice already so it’s a possibility.

Windermere was my first marathon in 1982 (3:32). I ran it in my Sunday Football team kit! The race hasn’t been held for about 20/21 years.

Finlay’s mum, Anna, looked after Levon. They were staying at the Brathay Hall.

This was my 36^th marathon and I was hoping for a good time….especially after a good run in the Interclub at Preston last Wednesday. Russ Mabbett and I thought it could be won in 2:45 and thought our 2^nd claimer, Julian Mawson, had a great chance. I thought I had a chance of 2:59:59 and I think Russ was after a similar time. It’s hard to predict a marathon time, especially on a course like this. I did 3:08 in Belfast this time last year and my prediction range was 2:59:59 – 3:30.

After driving round the course, Julian didn’t seem too confident and he set off fairly steadily in about 10^th position in a group with Peter Cruse, Russ and me. I was ahead of Russ and Pete for about 2½ miles, then I was on my own for a bit……….until about 7/8 miles when I could hear the dulcet tones of Peter Waywell, (and Simon Eaton), fast approaching. Peter appeared to be having a whale of a time. He was directing traffic and waving to children and rabbitting for Britain. Just before Newby Bridge, Simon and Peter started pulling away……… and so did a potential Bates team prize (1^st four to count).

I took some jelly babies from Brian Wilkie. I was clutching at straws - I was struggling. George Kennedy gave me a glucose tablet and a bottle of Lucozade Sport. It really helped in so far as I didn’t want to let Wilkie and George down, but I was getting slower and slower and slower. Steve Bateson was there (www.runningpix.co.uk) but I didn’t want any photographic reminders!

I thought I needed the toilet, but was it was my body looking for an excuse to stop for a few seconds??? I went past a few likely places and fought the urge till about 22 miles and I went behind a tree. I didn’t loose much position-wise, but I felt and must have looked terrible. There was no let up. Wesham supporters were everywhere! They wouldn’t let you walk!

My mind started wandering and playing games. Was it four or five in a team? I knew we were in a great position, because I had gone from 10^th to about 170^th and a few Kendal runners were getting between Pete Waywell/Simon Eaton and me. I tried to fight back, but I hadn’t any fight left. I know…..it’s not often you hear those words from a Seasider, but I was dead on my feet. Kendal runner number five came past, then Graham Vickers. I thought all was not lost and I shouted Graham on to overtake the Kendal runner and he seemed to respond. I remember 34 years ago our cross country teacher (Mr Slater I think), at school, shouting us on. I was always a counter and, even though I wasn’t the school’s best runner, he made me feel really valued……and he didn’t make a three act drama out of it when I went to watch Blackpool at Middlesbrough instead of running for the school! I digress; I knew the route really well, but it was no help.

We crossed over a footbridge with less than a mile to go and a shocked Julie Cruse came past. I plodded onto the finish and sunk down onto the grass by Andy Yelland and Julian. 1 minute 20 seconds later Michaela came in! At least I was 1^st in my house! (Just!)

Julian had won and was beaming! (2:47:30)
14^th Peter Cruse 3:04:09 35^th Russ Mabbett 3:12:22 38^th Peter Waywell 3:12:34 57^th Simon Eaton 3:18:02 141 Graham Vickers 3:34:15 162 Julie Cruse 3:35:45 171 Martin Bates 3:36:42 182 Michaela Dempsey 3:38:02	220^th Sarah Sherratt 3:43:37 405^th Nigel Shepherd 4:01:26 464 Andy Divall 4:10:31 487 Finlay McCalman 4:12:18 525 John Howarth 4:17:43 576 Peter Cooke 4:23:43 912 finishers

Thanks to Peter Waywell for organising the digs. Peter is also organising digs for next year’s Coniston 14 which is on the 5^th April 2008. Further information from: (jayneykay@aol.com )

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 31st May 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor