Hot Pace for Martin in Elite Marathon

Top North Wales athlete Martin Green had to battle with hot temperatures and stiff competition as he returned to ‘live’ racing on Sunday during the Cheshire Elite Marathon.

A tough, determined and experienced long-distance competitor, Martin was one of 275 invited high-calibre entrants who competed in one of the first few live endurance runs now permitted due to the partial lifting of strict pandemic restrictions for outdoor sports events.

Run over a fast and flat lapped course over rural Cheshire roads around Pulford, this race also incorporated the former Wrexham Elite Marathon, with entry only available to male athletes capable of running 2.40 or quicker for a marathon, and female athletes running a sub-3.00-hour time.

Martin matched these criteria and performed well despite the challenging conditions, and was 49^th overall, recording an excellent time of 2 hours 30 mins 8 seconds. In addition, he just missed out on a medal, finishing 4^th in his M45 age category.

The elite standards were maintained throughout this marathon with winner Jake Smith finishing in 2.11.00, and he was only 38-seconds ahead of 2^nd placed rival Callan Moody from Serpentine RC in 2.11.38, and 3^rd man Reece Edwards from Belgrave Harriers in 2.14.43.

The Ladies race was won by Aoife Cooke from Eagle AC in 2.28.36, with Maor Tiyouri  2^nd in 2.29.03, and Anne-Marie Glynn 3^rd in 2.29.34.

Martin, however, had some mixed feelings about his own brave performance but praised the organisers for their sterling efforts in finally getting a major live elite run underway, and was glad to return to major racing events.

After the event, he confirmed: ‘Well, it wasn’t what I wanted, but it is what I got. There’s nothing more humbling than the marathon and today was a great example. You can start thinking you’re something special and then you dragged back and down to earth in an instant.

‘The goal was 2.27, and I was definitely in shape for it, but it was just a little too warm and I am not good in the heat. I started off OK but knew after 3-4 miles that it wasn’t going to be my day.

‘What should have felt comfortable didn’t and I just kept getting swallowed up and spat out from group after group, which does nothing for the mindset. I’ve never wanted to quit more in a race than ever before but knowing the effort the organisers have gone through and knowing how blessed we were to get the opportunity, there was no way I was stepping off.

‘Looking at the splits they are quite consistent, it’s just they are erratically consistent if that is even a thing. Usually pacing is my greatest strength but today I just had to do what I could do, get to the finish, and live to fight another day.

‘From where I was at halfway, I’m actually rather pleased with both the result and the fact that I did stick it out. The easy option would have been to stop, but running a marathon isn’t about the easy option. It’s a tough game and you rarely get the results you either want or deserve, but despite all that, I love this game and hopefully in the autumn in cooler weather, I will be back and run quicker than ever before.

‘Last and not least, such a huge thank you to all the organisers, especially Michael Harrington, who got this over the line despite obstacle after obstacle, you made a lot of people very happy today.’

Record time for Mark in Tatton Park half-marathon

NWRRC athletes Mark Jessett and Rory Middleton also enjoyed their first ‘live’ race for many months as they competed in the Run Tatton (Park) half-marathon last Sunday, and Mark even celebrated with a magnificent personal best (PB) time.

Original content by Don Hale