Mixing with the Stars in Barcelona

By Becky Alexander

One of the running highlights of 2010 was a trip to watch the British team perform brilliantly in the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona in August. Athletics-fan Gill "statto" Jubb invited a few running friends to join her to watch the team at the Montjuic Olympic stadium.

I imagined lots of watching athletics in the sun and long lazy lunches between the morning and the cooler evening sessions.

However, my first reminder that I was with “The Striders” was on arrival at our apartment, when bags were put down and before you could say “coffee anyone?”, half the group had changed into their running kit to go for their first run!

There was running or swimming on every day for those who wanted to join in. I discovered that one reason, why Liz, Sally, Gill and company are so fast, is that they do DO a LOT more running than me!

I did inform Steve and Mike that I seem to have found myself on a training camp.

Watching Mo Farrah and Chris Tomlinson run the 5K and 10K and Jessica Ennis excel in all disciplines in the heptathlon was inspirational.

I am sure many of you watched the events on TV so I won't go in to all the results. What I will say is that I had never watched an Athletics competition “live” before, and I would recommend that if you can go to Paris in 2011, or one closer to home, do go if you can.

If you have children and teenagers, it is well worth taking them as it is amazing to see athletics close up. The event was very tightly organised and there was always something to watch in all areas of the stadium.

So here are some highlights:

1.    Liz, Gill, Sally and Vicky meeting Mo Farrah while out running before his 5000m final.

The girls were out for their own training run and to watch the marathon in the city centre. They saw Mo running through a park and he was very happy to have a photo taken with them. We are sure, knowing he had such support spurred him on to his sprint lap and his win in 13.31.18!
5K in 13.31 minutes!!! I would still be running at least ten minutes later!!! Very impressive performance!

2.    Watching Dai Greene win the 400m hurdles (48.12) and celebrate with his family who were sitting near us in the Stadium.
Such a proud Dad! We met them for a drink and photos later that day. Jamie Baulch is now acting as his manager, so he joined us as well.

3.    Seeing how high Blanka Vlasic can jump (2.03!), which is basically over all our heads.
She is not built like other humans on the planet!

4.    Seeing how calm and focused Jess Ennis is during her events.
She is an inspirational role model.

5.    Singing the National Anthem loudly, on many occasions. The team did so well and it was fantastic to see the huge amount of support for them in the stadium.

During the “Athletics-breaks” we made the most of Barcelona.

We all swam in the pools on Montjuic Park: one huge municipal outdoor pool, looking out over the city with an infinity edge, so you get the most amazing view.

We also swam in the Olympic outdoor pool, which shows films some evenings.

The very good swimmers among us loved the huge deep pool and of course, all of us enjoyed the loungers and sunshine!

We had some fabulous food including outstanding tapas and delicious paella, and sat in sunny squares enjoying Cava and beers.

Lucy Waterlow seems to know everyone in athletics, so was an amazing social organiser. Sally had terrific Spanish, which was very helpful, while I talked everyone into eating things perhaps they wished they hadn't.

A very good and very inspirational trip!

Jack Brooks: MANY Marathon(s) Man - JULY TO NOVEMBER 2010

Last Days of my 50s Trail Marathon, Stratford on Avon: 10^th July 2010:

About 50 people ran this marathon. The weather was fantastic, the countryside was beautiful and the post race food excellent.

Fairlands Valley Challenge: 18^th July 2010:

A large group of us ran this trail marathon together and I thoroughly enjoyed the company and the event. Unfortunately the following week I pulled a calf muscle, which stopped me from racing for most of August and September.

Tenby Half Marathon: 26^th September 2010:

After 2 weeks back running I asked the Tenby race organisers if I could switch my marathon entry to run the half marathon and duly boarded the coach to the race start in Pembroke. The views of the sea were not enough to compensate for the number of hills between Pembroke and Tenby. I finished in 1 hour and 57 minutes feeling tired, but satisfied. In the 3 days we were in Tenby we didn’t have any rain. I suspect that it was all being saved for the Ryder Cup week.

Maraton d’Italia, Carpi: 10th October 2010:

Out of 878 finishers over 100 finished in under 3 hours. The marathon starts in Maranello and finishes in Carpi. It is pancake flat and reminded me of the Treviso marathon course. Having had 6 weeks off with injury I had been back running for 4 weeks and my aim was simply to persevere for as long as I could. However, assisted by the fact that this must be one of the fastest courses in Europe I felt remarkably good throughout and finished in 3 hours 51 minutes and 22 seconds. All that I then had to do was visit the statue of Dorando Pietri, the runner from Carpi who collapsed just before he reached the finishing line in the 1908 Olympic Marathon in England.

Founders Challenge Trail Marathon, Surrey: 24^th October 2010:

As with most trail races in Surrey this route, which started in Peaslake, led us over numerous hills. The 4 people I ran round with had all run the Beachy Head marathon the preceding day so our pace was measured. Fortunately it was sunny and dry, as many of the downhill stretches could have proved treacherous in wet conditions.

City of Oaks Marathon, Raleigh, North Carolina: 7^th November 2010:

I stayed with friends who live about 17 miles from Raleigh and so it was easy getting to and from this race. As the leaves on the trees were just changing colour the scenery was stunning, especially on the stretch through Umstead Park. However, none of the course was flat and I finished 211^th out of 647 in 3 hoours 53 minutes and 57 seconds.

Newcastle Town Moor Marathon: 21^st November 2010:

 It was wet, windy and cold for this 5 lap marathon around the town moor park. I finished a bedraggled 84^th out of 144 finishers in a time of 3 hours 56 minutes and 49 seconds. I also drew the short straw for driving home afterwards.

Jack Brooks: MANY Marathon(s) Man - MAY and June 2010

North Dorset Village Marathon: 2^nd May 2010:

This was the second running of an excellent small, rural road marathon, which starts from Sturminster Newton. The course is pretty, but undulating and this year a strong wind and drizzle made for slightly unpleasant conditions for marshals and spectators. However, the cool weather was fine for the participants and some fast times were recorded. I finished in 3 hours 44 minutes, 79^th out of 224.

Windermere Marathon, Spokane, USA: 15^th May 2010:

 Having reached Spokane airport after the car hire company had closed I was forced to take a taxi to my hotel, which turned out to be a cross between a sauna, a tattoo parlour and a railway siding. In spite of the 75 degree temperature and the fact that there was no breeze whatsoever, the marathon should have been idyllic, running as it does from Post Falls, Idaho along Spokane’s riverside on the Centennial Trail. However, it was spoilt because the lead cyclist cut the course short by 0.8 miles right at the start of the race. The organisers added a 0.8 miles section at the end, but only a few of us decided to run the full distance (and it even took me about 3 minutes to find out where the turnaround point was). I finished in 4:05:13 and just had time to shower and get to the airport. Overall the race was chaotic.

Capital City Marathon, Olympia, USA: 16^th May 2010:

A short flight and a 70 minute drive got me to Olympia in time to go for an Italian meal with the friends who had collected my number for me. The weather was somewhat milder for this marathon. I had been warned that there were 4 main hills, but by the halfway point I was wondering if there was any part of the course that wasn’t a hill. My suspicions were confirmed at this stage by one of the girls in the group I was running with. She was local and advised that, if anything, the second half was more “undulating” than the first. Nevertheless, given how tired my legs had felt after completing a marathon the previous day, they felt remarkably fresh and I finished in 3:58:40. This was a much better organised and friendly race and I can see why so many people I know keep going back to it.

White Peak Marathon: 22^nd May 2010:

The weather last year was grim. This year we had blazing sunshine. There is very little shade on either the Tissington Trail or the High Peak Trail so I found this race hard work. I completed it in 4:31:00.

Chester Marathon: 31^st May 2010:

This is a new, fast and flat Marathon, which principally goes out into Wales and back along a well paved cycle path. I stayed with friends in Holmfirth on the Sunday night and then drove to Chester on the Bank Holiday Monday. The race attracted 750 finishers of whom 39 finished in under 3 hours. The only other Strider there was Ranjiet Kainth who crossed the finish line well ahead of me in 3:11:58. I trailed in, in 252^nd place in 3:39:23. There weren’t many spectators, but the ones who were supporting us were enthusiastic and there were more than enough water/sports drink stations along the route. I may well go back and do this race again sometime.

Poppyline Trail Marathon: 6^th June 2010:

This marathon starts in Sheringham, follows the coast to Cromer and then passes through the Norfolk villages of Felbrigg, West Beckham, Holt and Weybourne before returning to Sheringham. There is only one monster hill and that is in the last mile. I’d not run this before, but thoroughly enjoyed it. The scenery was fantastic and I had every intention of enjoying it. I ran round with a friend from Welwyn and finished in 5 hours 55 minutes.

Baslow Bootbash: 12^th June 2010 and the St Albans Half Marathon: 13^th June 2010 : 

It probably wasn’t the brightest idea to enter a hilly trail marathon on the day before the St Albans Half, but what the heck! For the Baslow Bootbash you are given the location of the 7 checkpoints and have to check in at them all. They reckoned that the shortest possible route was around 26 miles whereas I clocked up 27.5 miles. As some of you will be aware, Derbyshire is hilly. The start was in Chatsworth Park and my chosen route took me through Edensor and Sheldon, along Monsal Dale, past Cressbrook Mill and then through Wardlow Mires (I got lost here), Foolow, Eyam (the famous plague village), Froggatt Bridge and Bramley Wood with the finish at Baslow Village Hall. Even the “easy” bits through the fields were hard work as in most fields the grass was still long. However, the reward after I finished in 5:13:00 was a vegetarian pie and mushy peas and that was worth waiting for. I dragged myself round the St Albans Half the next day in 1:50:53, but I think my legs were just turning over on automatic for the last 3 miles as everything else was screaming at me to stop.

Malvern Midsummer Trail Marathon: 20^th June 2010:

The hills on this marathon made those around Baslow seem like tiny mounds. Combined with a slightly dodgy route description, which led to us running at least a couple of extra miles (when we weren’t standing still and scratching our heads) this made for a very long day. The first climb was up to Worcestershire Beacon, shortly followed by ones to North Hill and Table Hill. Oyster Hill was just before the 13 mile point. However, the worst was saved to last. After the 19.2 mile checkpoint (which was probably around 22 miles for us) came Chase End Hill, Ragged Stone Hill, Midsummer Hill, Swinyard Hill, Hangmans Hill, Millenium Hill and then an ascent to the British Camp. We then climbed to the top of the Malvern ridge, which we followed over the summits of Black Hill, Pinnacle Hill, Jubilee Hill and Perseverance Hill. This was undoubtedly the toughest trail marathon I’ve done and took 7 hours 53 minutes. Admittedly, I held back because the person I was running with was considerably slower than me, but I’m not sure how much I’d have been able to shave off that time even if I’d been running hard and I’d almost certainly have got lost more.

North Devon AONB Trail Marathon: 27^th June 2010:

I should have known what to expect as the Fell Runners Association Rules applied to this inaugural event. The course comprised a figure of eight starting at Woolacombe beach with much of the route following the coastal path and climbs totalling 3,300 feet. However, they also threw in stone, gravel, turf, sand and tarmac in places and a cream tea at the end. It was 27 degrees at the start and then got hotter, but in places there was some sea breeze. I finished 72^nd out of 135 in a time of 4:57:42. I’ve had enough of hills for a while now after the last 3 weeks.