ISLANDERS braved a heatwave to complete the London Marathon yesterday. ‘Painful’, ‘tough’ and ‘hard’ were the first words many used to describe a race run in sweltering temperatures of 21C.
St John Ambulance officials said a high number of runners had collapsed on the finish line, but no serious injuries had been reported.
Guernsey Press reporter Tom Bradshaw completed the race in 4hrs 20min - just five minutes short of his time last year.
‘It was very, very tough,’ he said.
‘It was exhausting from the word go. The organisers were quite concerned about how hot it was.’
Last year, in the refreshingly cool drizzle, race officials set the drinks stations two miles apart. This time it was every mile.
When Mr Bradshaw reached the halfway point, where the course doubles back on itself, he saw some elite runners walking, utterly exhausted.
‘I was at the 12-mile point and they were on 24 and some were jogging really slowly. Others were just walking. It dawned on me that if they’re walking, how was I going to feel?’
Despite the tough conditions, he thoroughly enjoyed the day.
‘It was an absolutely fantastic experience and an incredible spectacle. I’m also incredibly proud of my mum, who I saw coming in at 800m to go and she looked in far better shape than I did.’
Dr Helen Bradshaw, 64, completed her first marathon in 5hrs 30mins.
‘I’m so chuffed to have done it,’ she said.
‘I’ve been thinking of this moment every day since I stood on the podium with Tom when he got his medal. It’s been a year in the waiting.
‘In an ideal world I would have liked to have finished it in five hours, but now I’m enjoying a good cup of tea.’
Guernsey postman George Jennings almost missed his first marathon after his train broke down en route.
‘I had to walk three miles to the start,’ he said, while sipping a beer after the race.
‘It was very enjoyable, but very hot.’
Mr Jennings completed it in 4hrs 44 - 45 minutes more than he thought he would.
‘A few people passed out on the way and I saw ambulances picking them up - the crowd was fantastic, though.’
Forty-seven-year-old Karl Butterfield slipped on a plastic bottle lid and needed medical attention for his hip. But he still managed to complete the race in 5hrs 45mins.
‘It was painful,’ he said. ‘It was at about 14 miles and I was doing well, still under two hours, when I slipped and fell forward and hit my hip.
‘I was disappointed when it happened, but I knew I had to focus and carry on. It was a great atmosphere and I thoroughly enjoyed it.’
Mr Butterfield’s wife, Caroline, was also running, but was further back in the field.
Ian Bloese said it was ‘hard, hot and very, very busy.’
The 60-year-old finished in a time of 4hrs 45mins, 30mins more than he had expected.
‘I’ve finished and that’s the main thing,’ he said. ‘I’m glad I’ve had the experience, but I don’t think I’ll ever do it again. At 60, I think that’s enough.’
Attempts were made to call other runners from Guernsey, but not all mobiles were working.
Article posted on 23rd April, 2007 - 12.00am
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