Fleetwood Marathon

Ernie · Fleetwood Marathon

Phenomenal !

Debbie Gibbins finished this race today in a time of 3:24:15 in windy conditions and was 3rd Lady, 1st 45 Vet

Well done Debbie.

Karl C

Brilliant - well done !!!

Andy F

Well Done Debbie, fantastic time!

graham crocket

well done deb a great time on a really windy day and when you come in 3rd women and receive a toaster as a trophy it makes it all worth while. hahaha hope to see you tomorrow if you can make it.

bobby · Fleetwood

A toaster, what did first lady get, a washing machine. Well done Deb excellent result.

Steffan

Deb, that's amazing, very well done.
Get the poached eggs and toast on!

Pammie

Well done Deb fantastic result And very much deserved

Stevie

Another Marathon I had no idea you were doing Debs.

Very well done

Karl C

Fleetwood Marathon 13th Sept 2009

Deborah Gibbins
FV45
Benfleet RC
03:24:15

http://www.ukresults.net/2009/fleetmara.html

mArKw

Well done Debbie, another brilliant run. Now know why you were so wound up about racing at the Essex Way last weekend. You're obviously running so well you need not have worried!!!

Still think you're mad to go all the way to the North West and not run in the mountains, especailly with the glorious weather this weekend :blackeye:

debbie g

Hiya back in the South again and thank you to everyone for your lovely comments.

Bit tricky keeping this race under my hat especially as Ernie kept being questioned as to why he was doing these ridiculously long runs with me over the Summer and as Mark says my losing my cool completely after getting dragged into racing the Relay in the B team when I originally wasn't running it at all but I couldn't see the team collapse after Ian's hard work so he suggested I do it as an easy run. Some hope!

Well interesting race this one. Perfect build up for me a 4h 30 min drive on Friday that got me there knackered at around 11pm. Much needed stop at Keele Service Station where I was greeted with no hot food and delightful stale cakes and pastries. Never mind - staggered into the hotel and checked and slumped into bed. Only to be awaken at 3am by the sound of bottles and cans being chucked into the re-cycling bins located very inconveniently outside my bedroom window. I spent Saturday feeling shattered drinking water till I rattled and hit my bed again at 9pm. Ah joy deep sleep. Up at 6am to get ready for the race. 6:20 I emerge from the shower to be greeted by the hotel fire alarm. I throw on my running gear and join the assembled throng in the carpark. With wet hair and no jacket I was shivering by the this time suffering the jibes of the other hotel guests asking if I had run to the fire alarm assembly. I am getting cross by now my kit bag was in the hotel I needed to get back in. After 10 minutes we are allowed to go back in - false alarm.

Then the race. Tiny event, first year it has been staged. A half has been going a number of years but not a full marathon. Race limit of 500 and very little publicity. Just what I wanted! I lined up alongside my fellow runners and half marathoners who started with us. I eyed up the opposition. There was a rather handy looking lady in a green Eden Runners crop top. I decided to park myself next to her. Within 1/2 mile she forged ahead as my GPS was telling me I was doing 6:38's I thought let her go and eased back. Several other ladies went with her. I bided my time.

At 6 miles I started reeling them in. Passed one lady at 6 looked at her number to check, yep she was doing the marathon. Next one at 7, yep another marathoner, another at 9 who gave me a rather scathing look. It was then I realised I was closing on green top. She was 2nd lady at that point. I tracked her but at 12 miles we turned into wind which by this time was picking up quite a bit. I battled and maintained just over 7:30 pace and realised I seemed to be coping better with the wind than she was. I had overtaken about 6 men by this time and she was now the only person in front. Then at 16 she looked back and saw me. She put a spurt on and pulled away a little. My efforts into the wind on this 1st lap had left me drained and I was battling after that. I dug in and ran as hard as I could and decided not to look at my watch at all as I knew I was running as fast as I could. At 20 we turned again into wind - the last 6 miles were tough. I saw green top pull away. Then on this course with a dearth of Marshals and almost total lack of support on the route I found myself on the seawall facing a load of the slower runners coming the other way. This can't be right I thought and then I spotted green top disappearing on the road below. I muttered an unrepeatable word and took my life in my hands and jumped down off the seawall. Fortunately I didn't break a leg!

The high point was coming into the Marine Hall at the finish. There were suddenly masses of spectators lining the road. There was deafening applause as I ran up totally on my own. I felt like Paula Radcliffe and despite my tiredness called out "thank you" as I went through and found what might vaguely be termed a sprint finish at 7:34 pace.

As I finished I was told I was 3rd lady. No medal, no T shirt, no water even! I got changed and waited excitedly for my trophy. Alas no trophy! It was a toaster, yes as Graham and Steff said - a toaster! That'll look terrific in my trophy cabinet! But it is no ordinary toaster - it is a breakfast toaster, true class!

And Bobby no the winner didn't get a washing machine. The mens winner got a slightly better toaster than me and the 3rd man who was sitting with me got a sandwich toaster. One lucky winner got a coffee maker!

And would I do it again if they hold it next year? Like a shot!

Toast and eggs anyone??

Andy Hibbins

Fantastic time Debbie, well done!

boabmac1

Well done Debbie.

You play your cards close to your chest.

A toaster as a prize - now that's my kind of marathon!

Great effort.