2013 has been another year of international marathon achievements by Clapham Runners, including in London, Nepal, Rome, Hamburg, Norway, Amsterdam et al. Two teams of five also ran in a Thames marathon River Relay.On 3rd Nov it was my turn to have a crack at one in New York, which I was fortunate enough to get an invite to via work in ING’s 11th and last year as main sponsor.
Category: marathon
(Member blog post) Everest Marathon part 2
Evening all,
I have, finally, managed to compile my photos from the Everest marathon, unfortunately the weather was overcast so you can’t see any high peaks but it gives an idea of what the terrain was like: http://vimeo.com/68402366
(Member blog post) Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon 2013
Words cannot do justice to how ridiculous and fantastic this “race” is! The time is of no interest to any international participant as the local Nepalese will finish hours ahead of us as they are better acclimatised to the conditions; the common goal of the internationals to “just finish before dark and without breaking anything”.
Some would argue that just making the start of the marathon is an achievement in itself, the majority in my group were suffering from either altitude or general sickness as the previous ten day trek had left all of us in less than perfect condition for the main event (no tapering, relaxing or staying well fed prior to this race).
The marathon itself starts at the bottom of the famous Khumbu Ice Fall at Everest Base Camp; at 5634m above sea level not only is there 50% less oxygen in the atmosphere but the first 5k is on the icy moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. As the race started I got caught behind a train of Yaks along the moraine of Base Camp which held me up for 15min until I could find somewhere to pass them (not the usual marathon bottle neck then). Having, eventually, got past the Yaks I soon got into my 4mph stride, anything faster than this had me gasping for air and my legs feeling like they were on fire.
Everest Marathon ‘perhaps the toughest marathon in the world’ 2013
Looking for a challenge to mark his 30th birthday, Rob took on the phenomenal challenge of the 60th Diamond Jubilee Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, running the worlds highest altitude route from Everest Base Camp (5364m), Gorakshep (5140m), Lobuche (4930m), Dingboche (4530m), Tengboche (3867m), Namche Bazar (3440m). Rob completed the race in 10hrs 48min 17 sec. Amazing achievement – and stunning photos. Well done Rob!
Read more about Rob’s experience here:
- Rob’s blog: http://www.claphamrunners.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/tenzing-hillary-everest-marathon-2013.html
- Inspiring photos: http://vimeo.com/68402366
- The Everest Marathon: http://www.everestmarathon.org.uk/
(Member blog post) Training for Comrades
Hi Clapham Runners!
Just enjoying my tapering in the lead up to the Comrades marathon on 2nd June!! Can’t believe there are only 2 weeks to go! Here is a blurb about the race (courtesy of Wikipedia):
The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately 89 km (approx. 56 miles) which is run annually in the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direction of the race alternates each year between the “up” run (87 km) starting from Durban and the “down” run (89 km) starting from Pietermaritzburg.During the event an athlete must also reach five cut-off points in specified times to complete the race. Read more
Comrades Marathon 2013
The Comrades Marathon is the world’s oldest and largest ultramarathon run over a distance of approximately 90 km. 56.1 miles between the capital of the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa, Pietermaritzburg, and the coastal city of Durban. Fiona took part in the 2013 race – an incredible challenge!
For most people, completing a marathon is a huge goal and achievement… for Fiona, the Rome Marathon was just a step in the training! Read her blog here: http://www.claphamrunners.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/training-for-comrades_19.html
Information about the Comrades Marathon is available here: http://www.comrades.com/
(Member blog post) A well earned Guinness!
Clapham Runners’ excellent 2012 achievements have included marathons completed in London, Edinburgh, Cork and Berlin. Last Monday (29/10), Dublin was the latest venue in our international series.
In a moment of pre-Olympic madness I’d entered with my friend Angelina, figuring it had good PB potential given its likely temperature range and largely flat course. I also thought training mainly in the summer would make a pleasant change from the VLM and it wouldn’t require me to tap up my friends and family for sponsorship yet again! Read more
(Member blog post) Berlin marathon
Dearest Clapham Runners,
Here is my report from Berlin marathon that I managed to complete last Sunday.
This was a race I genuinly did not expect to finish as I was feeling really unwell in my last couple of long runs. I would have pulled out if it hadn’t been for a non-refundable hotel booking…No choice then but to give it a shot and see how far I could get.
David and I arrived in Berlin late Friday night and went around the city on a beautiful Saturday morning, giggling at all runners dressed already in full running gear going around Berlin in excitement and anticipation.We had a lovely lunch by the river and off we went to pick up my number. Read more
(Member blog post) Cork City marathon June 4 2012
Seems like an age ago now so I’ll have to see if I can remember all the gory details.
Well when I got to week 7 in Jon`s training plan my body was starting to complain and by week 8 I was starting to break down, my plantar fascia to be precise. So with very little running over the next two weeks and a few visits to the butcher of pimlico (who’s a physio in case you were wondering!) I was hopefully going to make it to the start line. On the evening before the race I was walking round the city with my parents and with my foot feeling slightly sore, I was beginning to question my sanity and wondering if I would make it round the 26 miles the next day! and that if I did I would be retiring from marathon running because my body wasn’t up to this malarky. Read more
(Member blog post) Athens Marathon 13th November 2011
It’s now a week and a day since I ran my second Athens Marathon and here are my thoughts and memories, a recap of what happened in the built up to the race as well as during it.
I did all my long runs, I ticked all the boxes but by Monday night on the week of the marathon I got hit by the dreaded sore throat that by Wednesday had developed into a full blown cold. I was frustrated and sad and could not picture myself taking part in this beautiful event. What a shame… Read more
Clapham Runners 