Marathon of the Palm Beaches

Wow, it isn’t often I admit that I’ve had a brilliant idea but deciding to stop over when I had to change planes on the way to Chile for four days, to enable me to do the Marathon of the Palm Beaches, is probably one of the best ideas I’ve had this year.

In the four days I’ve been here I’ve discovered that Palm Beaches has some of the best weather and beaches in the world, there’s some brilliant shopping to be had, and the people are exceptionally friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

I’ve also concluded the American’s here are addicted to air conditioning, which is why it is rather surprising to see quite so many of them turn up for this marathon, when the second half takes place in direct sun at 85 degrees.

The race started at 06:00 when it was still relatively dark, although already very warm. For the first time this year, I was overdressed in my pre-race jogging bottoms and sweat shirt. The track was a loop of eight along West Palm Beach itself, which meant as well as offering great views for runners, the course’s design was also great for spectators who could spot friends and family and offer encouragement at the start, the finish and twice during the marathon.

The race is only in its’ forth year and is still relatively small with under 1,000 runners taking part in the full marathon. Alongside the full though, there is a half, where 65% of those running are female – any single men reading this, the race organisers are already taking entries for next year!

The first half of the marathon was incredibly enjoyable, watching the sun come up and reflect off the sea was beautiful and I was keeping an even pace with the 3h30 marker. No matter how many marathons or running events you do, you continuously learn from others. In the starting pen I’d been chatting to a woman who’d previously done the race and advised me to take it really easy in the first half, to leave me all my strength and will power to get through the second half. I thought a 3h 30 pacing was a respectable, steady pace for the first half but once into the second half, I quickly realised she’d meant take it really easy – why is it I always learn the hard way!

This trip, as well as providing me with a marathon on the sixth continent (South America - Chile) was also my belated honeymoon and so, for one of the relatively few times this year for an international race, Alex was on the side lines to support. At the half way marker when she spotted me I felt great but by the time she saw me again, at around the 20 mile point, I felt and apparently looked a lot worse for wear.

Having done so well in the first half, the second half was tough. No shade and the temperature quickly shot up to unbearably uncomfortable. I’d worn my favourite T-shirt that I’d been given having completed the 56k in Cape Town, with my florescent yellow CF running vest over the top. At this point I was regretting both but didn’t want to loose either or get burnt so preserved with them. At each water station (of which there were plenty) I was taking two or three cups drinking one and throwing the other two on my head and my shirt. The shirt took all of two minutes to dry out and all I really succeeded in doing was getting soaking wet shoes, which squelched and became heavy and rather uncomfortable to run in, slowing me down even more (well that’s my excuse).

By this point I had slowed almost to a walk, which is when I met a terrific guy from Miami called Daniel. He came by just at the right time to stop me walking the remainder of the race – he managed to spur me on and although we were running relatively slowly, we were at least still running. As we were running along chatting, I discovered Daniel too had done the New York marathon this year and we’d virtually crossed the line at the same time. In New York he’d beaten my time by a couple of minutes, here I managed to narrow the gap – he beat me by just one second!

We crossed the line together and, uncharacteristically for me, we both headed to the nearest bar for a beer to celebrate!

All in all a great event, great people and a respectable finishing time of 3h55 considering the heat.

PS I was the first over the line for Great Britain!