Date 18th December 2016

The 7th year for the Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon. If you like to run something slightly different just before Christmas then this is for you.
Full Marathon running from South Parade Pier to the end of the Hayling Billy Line and return. A unique multi terrain marathon with some fantastic views across Langstone Harbour. The flattest marathon for sure. All in aid of the RNLI.

But Strider John Walker gives his own view of the race:

“As a lot of you brilliant runners know the marathon is a “bastard” of a distance as I’ve just found out to my cost in Portsmouth. I cannot blame anything other than myself. The multi terrain very flat course is never going to be as fast as the road as your on paths,grass,shingle,sand as well as Tarmac but the crux of the matter is I went off too fast for what I had trained for. Going through half way in about 1.50. I knew in my heart I would suffer later but to what extent I didn’t know as I was chatting away with the people around me as we were about 8.20 miling. In a nutshell cramp set in everywhere after about 15 and it was basically game over. I tried to stretch obviously but as soon as I tried running again it came back so I walked as fast as I could. I could have cried not with the pain (well a bit with the pain) but the sense of failure which was ensuing Runners are absolutely fantastic so many asked if I was ok. Anyway I got back in about 4.45 (I honestly didn’t look at the time) and my watch must be way out as I paused so many times. I’m mad because I’ve felt more knackered doing a parkrun than I do now. I don’t want sympathy because I’m going to dust myself down and learn by my mistakes.”

From someone who has never attempted a marathon, well done John.

The race was won by Jonatan Albon (CLIF) in 2:31:14, and first lady was Sarah Hill (Farnham Runners) in 3:01:14. 1014 runners finshed the race.

Striders Results