The Marathon (almost) Tour of the Fylde

Easter Weekend 2007

 

Innovators are often ahead of their time and it takes the rest of us some time to catch up. That’s how Ron McAndrew must have felt as he organised the first Tour of the Fylde comprising four races on four consecutive days over different surfaces and distances. Only 70 entered the whole Tour over Easter weekend with a mere 55 completing all four events but over a hundred more took part in one or more of the events. The concept is brilliant – races of 6, 4, 6 and 10 miles totalling the 26.2mile classic marathon distance. The tour had variety, (roads, beach, promenade, XC), were local and timed for convenience. Runners could turn up, do their race and be home for lunchtime. So how did it turn out?

 

Race 1:

6 mile Promenade Race, Thursday night

85 runners, including 5 from Wesham, completed the race from North Pier out to Norbreck on the Lower Walk then back into the wind along the cliff tops. Ron’s course measurements are often a bit aspirational and the true distance was nearer 5 than 6 miles but in good, though breezy, conditions we all enjoyed the race. Tour T-shirts were issued but only to those who had entered the full Tour, making us feel a bit exclusive.

 

Race 2:

4 mile Beach Race, Good Friday morning

A sunny but blustery morning saw us set off from St. Annes Pier towards Squires Gate on churned up sand, (well it was churned up by the time I got running). It was hard going into a strong wind blowing as usual from Blackpool. The course was marked out with little flags in the sand and was a two lapper out and back. Ron warned us that it was a bit short so we ‘don’t have to run into the wind too much’! 81 runners entered the race including the five Wesham Tourists plus Karl Lee and Alex Rowe who won the race in 16:28. But even Alex doesn’t run 4 minute miles on soft sand so we were not surprised to hear the distance was no more than 3 miles. (A special mention is due to Brian Porter, one of the Wesham Tourists, who was involved in organising the Caldervale 10 in the afternoon, but, so as not to miss out, came and ran the course on his own at 7am. He was not pleased to discover we only ran 3 whilst he ran 4 miles!) Because of conditions underfoot and the wind I enjoyed this race the least of the four but it was nice to be able to walk home from the race in the sun in only 10 minutes.

 

Race 3:

6 mile XC, Easter Saturday morning

The wind had dropped, the sun was shining and the XC course was easy and short – what more could we ask for? 79 runners competed on a well-manicured course on the playing fields at the back of Collegiate High School. Alex led the field home again in 29.06 followed not very closely by the five Wesham Tourists. Thanks for the good support we had as Julie and Peter Cruse and George K turned up to spur us on and photograph our efforts.

 

 

Race 4:

10 mile Road Race, Easter Sunday morning

Once upon a time there was a great event called the Tour of Tameside comprising 6 races over 7 days totalling 52 miles, a double marathon! Having done this three times in the 80’s and 90’s I learnt one lesson – keep something in reserve for the last race when the miles catch up on you. So I was determined to set off easily and then press near the end in the final race. It was a 10 miler from Fleetwood Leisure Centre for two laps along the sea wall to Rossall and back. Conditions were good, if warm, and a field of 151 drew some good local runners who wanted a Sunday morning blow-out. The five Wesham Tourists were joined by Steve Littler, who won in 54:53, Lee Barlow (62.21), Peter Cruse (63.59), George Kennedy (66.46) and Julie Cruse (75.02). It was immediately obvious that my plan of going off easily was a non-starter. I started slowly but it wasn’t easy. But I grew in confidence and eased past Brian Porter (claiming to have a bad blister) and I finished delighted and comfortable in 77:12. It was a good race on an undemanding but uninteresting course and by consensus of GPS watches was an accurate 10.

 

A presentation ceremony with buffet was held at the North Euston after the race. All the ‘Tourists’ had a free meal including hot pot or lasagne which offset the cost of the Tour. It was good  to enjoy the company of others who had  done the full Tour – though I missed it as, by then, I was packing my case  to  go  on holiday  to Las  Vegas.

 

A nice touch from Ron was that a family from Norfolk had done the whole tour and won a load of prizes but two of them as juniors, and so were not old enough to do the 10 miler so Ron gave them two prizes. Nice touch Ron!

 

The Wesham Tourists

Congratulations to all the Famous Five who were Carmel Sullivan (167.35 points), Mick Edge (167.96), Chris Whitlock (172.06), Brian Porter (183.91) and myself as First Vet 55 (181.74). Winning my category was a new experience and even though there were only two in it I happily accepted a full set of running kit and a bag to put it in. The overall winner of the Tour was Rory McMahon of Lancaster and Morecambe (137.42) with local runner Chris Essex-Crosby of BW&F third (145.75).

 

Overall Impressions

It was a great event that was well organised with yellow vests for the Tour Leaders and daily results sheets. At £28 it was a bit pricey and the T-shirt not as good as that given at the Green Drive Five. The clash with the Caldervale 10 took out some runners I guess, as it is hard to combine this beast of a 10 miler in the hills above Garstang with the Tour. Ron needs to refine his race measurements and publicise better next year and it will be a real winner. It was great fun. Four local races on good varied courses over a holiday weekend – who could ask for more?

 

Written by: Reg Chapman

Submitted: 13th May 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

 

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