Three Deestriders made the 200 mile trip to London to take part in one of the world’s greatest races. The support from the crowds, marshals and organisation was, as always, incredible and even those who watched could not fail to be caught up in the excitement and emotion of the day. It wasn’t as hot as predicted and in fact, proceedings started in grey drizzly fashion, but it gradually became warmer as the race went on.
Together with Mac McColl, Emma Cadwallader could have made Million Dollar Baby 2- the veteran, having spent some time out of the sport, finding a reason to return to it to mentor the enthusiastic, inexperienced female student. The training was just as brutal, so we gather from all the agonised postings on Facebook, and Mac was every bit as supportive as Clint Eastwood “Emma, quit yer moaning” but this time there was a happy ending as Emma, on just a few months of training from scratch, crossed the line in a stunning 5.19. Unbelievably she wants to do it again next year but for now wants to focus on shorter, faster races. Well done Emma and Mac, you showed us all!
She’s never run a marathon before either, gave birth last June and had the disadvantage of starting with the masses because she hadn’t realised in time that she qualified to start with the Championships from a 1.27 half in 2008- she even walked in the final 10 miles as fatigue set in, but Jay Jennions’ comeback train shows no sign of stopping as she pulled off a tremendous 3.18. She too plans to be back next year to get that sub-3.15 and will at least be guaranteed a head start with Good for Age, but could start with the elite Championship runners if she can find a sub 1.30 half this year.
Nick Chadwick managed a brilliant 3.49, despite having done his final 20 mile long run as long ago as 6 weeks before. Nick came away having really enjoyed the experience and although he knew he could have gone faster, this was the first marathon where he managed to run all the way, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. Better still, he raised several thousand pounds for the local Chrysalis charity in honour of his daughter Eve who has Downs Syndrome. Well done everyone.