June 2020 – Page 20

Almost 5 Good Reasons to Experience Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub Almost 5-Miler

The Locale

You’re down the Cape in May before the summer onslaught. You can walk the streets, move about in a restaurant, take in the bikepath to Woods’ Hole, all without being sardined by the sunscreen slathered masses.

You can hear the birds and not the autos, be transfixed by the movement of the ocean without the distraction of screaming kids.

In testament to the solitude of the season, three-time NER Pub Series champion Paul Hammond of the Whirlaway RT, won a dance contest at Grumpy’s (dive bar) the evening before the race the 2017 race (and was the only one entered).

The Race

Right off Main Street in Falmouth proper with plenty of parking (see above). In fact the race starts in a parking lot but then quickly heads down Walker Street to Surf Drive and you’re by the ocean.

You then turn inland for a jaunt past Falmouth’s quaint houses and byways before spilling out onto Surf Drive again shortly before 4-miles.

The race course is almost 5-miles and almost flat.

There’s prize money: this year almost $300 for 1st ($299); almost $225 for 2nd ($224) and almost $150 for 3rd ($149).

There’s also $ for the top two M&F Masters ($139 – $99) and top Seniors ($74). Plus Team Prizes!

The Organization

Put on by PCB Management (Russ “P”elletier, Jack “C”aroll and Courtney “B”ird) bring years of runner-friendly, tongue-in-cheek, frivolity to the whole affair.

There’s a pre-race party at Liam’s the night before the race, and then the next day after the race, and then back at Bird’s manse overlooking Little Sippewissett Marsh (and the Atlantic).

Ain’t No Stinkin’ Corporate Race

Can’t get in the annual summer tourist migration from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights in August, just send the organizers the $40 or $50 or whatever they’re charging for the privilege of jogging the Falmouth Road Race course “virtually” on your treadmill.

If you want to visit a laid back event filled with color and characters, point your car south. Less than an hour from the South Shore.

Almost 5. Hmm…still thinking….

…but it may have something to do with NER Pub Series XXII – Check out Liam’s

Record Number of B.A.A. Athletes to Compete at Trials in Atlanta

Team B.A.A. sends 14 athletes to compete at the

2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon

Boston-based running club to race for spots on Team U.S.A. on February 29

Photo: BAA teammates Matt Fischer and Brian Harvey at the molten 2016 Trials in LA. Harvey is back as is CT’s John Raneri (right, in green). Photo by FitzFoto/NERunner

BOSTON—The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) will send 14 members of the organization’s High Performance and Racing teams—the largest contingent among any running club in America—to compete at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s and Women’s Marathon in Atlanta on February 29. The top three finishers in both races will earn automatic bids to represent Team U.S.A. at the Olympic Marathons as part of this summer’s Olympic Games in Japan.

Leading the way are B.A.A. High Performance Team members Jerrell Mock (personal best of 2:10:37) and Kaitlin Goodman (2:32:08).

B.A.A. High Performance and Racing Team Members Competing at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Name
Personal Best
Hometown
Name
Personal Best
Hometown

Jerrell Mock
2:10:37
Logan, UT
Kaitlin Goodman
2:32:08
Providence, RI

Brian Harvey
2:17:05
Cambridge, MA
Rachel Hyland
2:37:22
Somerville, MA

Eric Ashe
2:17:06
Natick, MA
Laura Paulsen
2:39:54
Brookline, MA

Alex Taylor
2:17:08
Lincoln, MA
Katie Kellner
2:41:07
Boston, MA

Dan Harper
2:17:32
Chicago, IL
Allie Hackett
2:42:48
Boston, MA

Michaela Hackett
2:44:11
Boston, MA

Rachel Coogan
2:44:10
Somerset, MA

Hannah Rowe
2:44:26
Boston, MA

Katie Edwards
2:44:54
Cambridge, MAClick Here: Putters

Cobblestones, Cols and Cowbells

Italy’s 200-mile Tor des Géants is the world’s most difficult foot race. It will romance you with its views and quaintness before it takes out your knees. Could this be the best DNF you ever have?

photos courtesy of the Tor des Géants

I had no illusions of finishing the Tor des Géants. The race, held in a remote cubby hole of the Italian Alps, represented a vacation as much as a chance to test my lungs, legs and heart against 200 miles of punishing climbs and painful descents. Still, the night before the race, as I stuffed my running pack with the race’s mandatory equipment, I pondered just how far I might make it.

“I’d like to cover an honest 100 miles,” I said to my wife, Holly.

“If you’re feeling good, keep going,” she said. With that nudge, I considered whether I could cover roughly the same distance as Boston to New York—if that route climbed over 78,000 vertical feet. That is more vertical gain than climbing Mount Everest, from sea level, twice.

The distance and the course’s vertical gain reveal only a small part of the story. In all, the Tor des Géants crosses 25 mountain passes (commonly called “cols” in Europe). Its trail rims at least 30 mountain lakes. It chaperones runners through 32 scenic alpine municipalities, the Gran Paradiso National Park and altitude fluctuations of an ear-popping 11,000 feet. It traverses the feet of four of Europe’s most famous “Four-Thousanders” (peaks over 4000 meters high), including the iconic Matterhorn.

The full distance, if I could miraculously run it, would be twice as far as I had ever run in one push. 150 hours—the time cut-off for the race—would take me from the race start at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning to four p.m. the following Saturday.

I settled into bed with an odd sense of uncertainty.

MONARCH OF THE ALPS
More commonly known as “Mont Blanc,” 15,780-foot Monte Biancho rises dramatically at the northeastern corner of Italy like a trumpet blare at the end of a flute solo. It takes your breath away on first glance, and the second. Glaciers fill its couloirs, and cling impossibly to its steep walls.

At the foot of this natural wonder rests Italy’s least-populated region, the 1300-square-mile Valle d’Aosta. Only 129,000 people live here, a number likely dwarfed by the cows. One visit to the vacation hotspot reveals why: it is physically difficult to live on 40-degree slopes and perhaps mentally difficult to survive its box-canyon isolation. This is the arena for “Tour of the Giants.”

Upon learning of the Tor several months earlier, I half wondered if it was a joke. I could imagine The Onion running news of the race as a poke at our growing culture of “Look how extreme I am.” The race’s challenge was as ridiculous as a moon landing seemed in 1950.

The 332-kilometer counter-clockwise loop begins and ends in the hamlet of Courmayeur, and connects the famed Alta Via (“High Route”) 2 and Alta Via 1 hiking paths. The course is best summarized as “climb for two hours, descend for one hour, repeat.” Along the way, runners pass through 43 refreshment stations and life stations. The former provide minimal support in the form of soda, “agua” and food. There are seven of the latter, which provide all the replenishment of a fully stocked grocery store, plus tents for quick naps, showers and drop bags.

In the 2010 inaugural event, 330 runners seized the opportunity to visit this idyllic enclave. Stevie Haston, 54, from Courmayeur but raised in Wales, was one of last year’s competitors. “I am not a runner, but I’m tough,” he says.
Fifty-four percent of runners finished last year—including Haston.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRAIL
On a bluebird Sunday morning, September 11, I stand amongst 500 runners from 22 countries in a quaint piazza beside the Church of San Pantaleone. I overhear conversation snippets in German, French, one of the Nordic languages and a throaty tongue I cannot place. A film-crew helicopter hovers above the town square and just ahead, the walkway funnels into a curving, narrow pedestrian alley lined three deep with spectators.

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“Tre … Due … Uno!” shouts the announcer. And we are off, running at a relaxed pace through a tunnel of noise—shouts and the clanging of cowbells bouncing from stone walls to window shutters. Shopkeepers stand along the walkway, some shouting, “Allez, allez, allez!”

A mile later, we funnel onto an ascending singletrack trail, beginning the first climb of the day, 4420 vertical feet to Col Arp.
The first climb of any race is filled with excitement, hope and overzealousness. The Tor des Géants, despite its epic scope, is no exception, as runners work to pass each other on a ribbon of singletrack switchbacks no wider than a medium pizza.

Course Records Tumble at Moab’s Red Hot

La Sportiva Mountain Cup kicks off with a fast, snow-free Moab’s Red Hot 33K

Justin Ricks on his way to smashing the course record at the 2014 Moab’s Red Hot 33K. Photo by Chris Hunter.

Early-season trail racing in the mountains can be a rough go. For some athletes, too much skiing and not enough running through the winter can lend itself to rusty racing muscles come February. The Moab’s Red Hot 33K, which kicks off the 2014 La Sportiva Mountain Cup, offers many mountain runners a welcome opportunity each February to thaw out their legs, soak up some desert rays and get their racing season started.

Moab’s Red Hot offers racers two options, a 33K or 55K. The race’s competitive cred, at both distances, has exploded in recent years thanks to the hard work and devotion of Grassroots Events race director Chris Martinez, and more recently, Justin Ricks, who joined Martinez last month as co-RD. Red Hot’s podium has been graced by many household names like Anton Krupicka, Anita Ortiz, Dakota Jones, Rob Krar and Susannah Beck.

And, the scenery—fiery red trails of sand and slickrock, framed by the dramatic, snow-capped La Sal Mountains—isn’t too shabby either.

The La Sal Mountains loom over the Moab’s Red Hot course. Photo by Chris Hunter.

In past years, the primarily-slickrock course has seen significant levels of snow and ice—but not this year. An unseasonably warm, albeit overcast, Saturday last weekend in Moab, Utah, set the stage for a number of competitors to run strong races.

After spending the previous days hauling around water and race supplies, setting the course and managing only a few hours’ sleep, Moab’s Red Hot co-race-director Justin Ricks, 34, of Colorado Springs, broke his own 2013 course record by just over a minute. He finished in 2:07:54, nearly a minute ahead of second-place finisher Jordan McDougal, 26, of Linden, Virginia. Jared Scott, 31, of Dolores, Colorado, cruised in shortly after for third in 2:12:31.

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From left: Podium finishers Jared McDougal, Jared Scott and Justin Ricks with their Red Hot race awards. Photo courtesy Everett Russell/La Sportiva.

On the women’s front, Mountain Cup regular Megan Kimmel, 33, of Silverton, Colorado, led from beginning to end. She lopped nearly 12 minutes off her 2013 time, taking the win with ease in 2:30:48. Maria Dalzot, 25, of Bellingham, Washington (author of our popular Ask the Dietitian column) took second place in 2:35:16, with Brandy Erholtz, 36, of Evergreen, Colorado, just behind her. All three women broke the previous course record, Anna Pichrtova’s time of 2:37:02, which had stood since 2008.

From left: Podium finishers Brandy Erholtz (with new baby in tow), Megan Kimmel and Maria Dalzot with their Red Hot race awards. Photo courtesy Everett Russell/La Sportiva.

(Full results can be viewed here.)

For some, the event was a joyful re-entry into the trail-running and racing circuit after significant time off. For Geoff Roes, 37, of Boulder, Colorado, it was his first (non-snowy) trail race in over two years, due to injury. According to his blog, Roes’ takeaway from the weekend is that while he’s not quite ready to race competitively again just yet, he considers Moab’s Red Hot “one of the best events I’ve ever been a part of.”

Part of the appeal of the race is its fun, laid-back atmosphere. At the post-race party in Moab on Saturday evening, runners enjoyed beer, food and a presentation by Jenn Shelton, 30, of Durango, Colorado, on her three years of attempting to set the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the John Muir Trail.

The following morning, Moab’s Red Hot branded trucker hats and tees (included in every runner’s goodie bag) were seen all over Arches National Park, decking out runners keen on soaking up a little more of Moab’s desert sunshine before heading home.

A shake-out run in nearby Arches National Park. Photo by Yitka Winn.

The next La Sportiva Mountain Cup race is the Hillbilly Half Marathon on March 8, 2014.

Edinburgh Marathon Launches New Route For 2018

In what will be the 16th year of the Edinburgh Marathon, Scotland’s largest running event which takes place on Sunday May 27 2018, announced the new route this lunchtime.

The new route starts on Potterrow, the Old Town heartland of Edinburgh University, for the first time in the event’s history, before heading North over the historic High Street and down The Mound. Participants will then run past the Scottish National Gallery and into Princes Street Gardens, with the iconic Edinburgh Castle as their backdrop.

The route then takes in the Scott Monument, before heading down the Royal Mile and towards Holyrood Park, The Scottish Parliament and Royal Palace before then east towards the beautiful coastline. The marathon finishes in Pinkie Playing fields, Musselburgh as per recent years. Both the Half Marathon and Team Relay routes have had similar changes.

Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival Director, said: “We are delighted to announce the new Edinburgh Marathon route to the world and and believe we have a route which showcases the incredible and stunning city of Edinburgh to it’s very best.”

“The key for us was creating a route which not only let our participants see more of Edinburgh, but also stays true to its worldwide reputation as one of the fastest marathon routes approved by an IAAF label – not an easy thing to achieve in this small but fine city!”

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival now annually attracts more than 30,000 runners each year has had an economic impact of more than £40 million for Scotland’s capital and helped raise more than £60 million for hundreds of charities.

The Edinburgh Marathon joined the world’s elite road races in 2012 by becoming the first race in Scotland to be officially recognised by the IAAF, the athletics governing body. The IAAF Bronze label puts the race among the top 75 in the world making it a pivotal part of the sporting calendar for runners. It remains Scotland’s only IAAF labeled road race.

Mr Kilgour said “With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, we believe that this is one of, if not THE fastest marathon route in the world. If you have put in the training then this route will reward this effort: it is full of PB potential”

Second only to London in terms of size in the UK, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival has nine races on offer, guaranteeing there is something for everyone from the seasoned runner to the charity fundraiser and beginners. The fun kicks off on Saturday May 26 at Holyrood Park with a 10k, 5K and four junior races. On Sunday May 27, the Edinburgh Marathon, Edinburgh Half Marathon and team relay start from the heart of Edinburgh City and continues through East Lothian offering stunning views and an unforgettable running experience.

Entries are open for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on May 26 and 27, 2018. More information is available via the website at www.edinburghmarathon.com

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The Struggle and Satisfaction of Stage Racing

6 questions with Michele Graglia and Chantal van der Geest, first-time self-supported stage-race runners and winners of this year’s Grand to Grand Ultra

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Graglia running barefoot across the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Park near Kanab, Utah, at sunset. Photo courtesy of Grand to Grand Ultra.

This year’s Grand to Grand Ultra (G2G), a self-supported, seven-day, 165-mile stage race near the Arizona-Utah border, was swept by two runners, Michele “Mickey” Graglia and Chantal van der Geest, who had never before faced the challenge of running high mileage day after day with a loaded pack.

Unlike supported stage races, participants in the G2G must carry all their own food, sleeping bag and other mandatory gear for the week. The race organizers provide communal tents and water at camp (including hot water, so runners do not have to carry a stove), as well as water, electrolyte pills and sunscreen at checkpoints along the course. Most runners’ packs weigh between 20 to 25 pounds at the start.

The course features 18,000 feet of climb, winding across hot desert plateaus, through red-rock canyons, over slickrock, and through dense, prickly piñon and juniper forests. It starts at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and finishes on the Grand Staircase formation near Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah. Off-trail sections of the course require running up dry, rocky river beds and scrambling, often on all fours, over steep dunes of loose sand.

Due to a severe hailstorm and flash floods, the final stage was cut short by five miles this year.

Graglia climbing the dunes around Mile 40 in the 53-mile long stage. He carried his shoes and ran barefoot because he did not have gaiters for his shoes, so they kept filling with sand. Photo courtesy of Grand to Grand Ultra.

The Two Winners and the Two Surprising DNFs

Michele “Mickey” Graglia, 31, of Italy (now living in Los Angeles), won the Grand to Grand Ultra in 31 hours, 25 minutes—more than five hours ahead of runner-up Ken Letterle, 32, of Texas. Graglia began running ultras in 2011, only recently switching from road ultras to trails. This was his first stage race.

Early in the week, Mo Foustok of Saudi Arabia posed the biggest competitive challenge to Graglia. Foustok had won the 2013 Racing the Planet Iceland 250K self-supported race and was runner-up in the 2012 Gobi March (part of Racing the Planet’s 4Desert Series of self-supported stage races). But Graglia came from behind on Stage 1 to finish 10 minutes ahead of Foustok, and then on Stage 2, Foustok went off course and subsequently decided to drop.

On the women’s side, three-time Marathon des Sables winner Laurence Klein, 45, of France, ran near the front of the pack for the first two stages and held the women’s lead. But on the long Stage 3, during the route’s first major 1,000-foot climb up a vermillion cliff, Klein briefly went off course and suffered problems, which she later explained had more to do with her emotions than her physical state. After taking a break at a checkpoint, she decided to drop for the remainder of the week.

Klein’s DNF opened the way for Chantal van der Geest, 37, of the Netherlands, to steadily work her way up. Van der Geest—an attorney who recently became a judge, and who started running ultras in 2010—also has run TransAlpine Run, a supported stage race in Europe.

Van der Geest won the women’s race and finished 3rd overall with a time of 36 hours, 53 minutes.

Chantal van der Geest running through Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon on Stage 5. Photo courtesy of Grand to Grand Ultra.

Graglia pictured here as the first finisher at the end of Stage 1, greeted by the RD Colin Geddes. Photo courtesy of Grand to Grand Ultra.

1. You both have previously raced the 100-mile distance. How does a self-supported stage race differ from a 100-mile ultra?

Van der Geest: A self-supported race is more challenging than a 100-mile ultra because it’s not just about running a long distance, but also about bringing the right gear and the right amount of food/calories. Besides that, a self-supported race is more fun because you meet a lot of nice people with interesting running CV’s, and you make a weeklong beautiful journey with them. It feels like I’ve made friends for life during this stage race.

Graglia: The G2G is renowned as one of the toughest races on the planet, but I didn’t quite believe it until I ran it. 100-milers are extremely demanding and can get very deep on a mental level, but you get to enjoy fully stocked aid stations along with the cheers and support of your crew, and best of all, you get to sleep in your own bed when done! During the G2G, we had to carry all our equipment, plus calories and food to last us seven days straight. As you can imagine, heading into 25 to 50 miles each day sleep-deprived and on a low-calorie diet, carrying a 15 to 20 pound pack on your back, was the toughest thing to face. The day in and day out hard effort over seven days of racing was not a joke! By far the best thing I brought home from this adventure was the camaraderie and friendships I made at camp.

2. What was one moment on the course that profoundly challenged you, and how did you get through it?

Van der Geest: On the third stage, which was 53 miles long, I struggled because it was quite hot that day, and at checkpoint 4, which was halfway, I miscalculated the amount of sports drink I needed. As a result, half the water I was carrying was too sweet and undrinkable. After a while I ran through my water and got very thirsty. When I did get to the next checkpoint, I drank too much water too fast. As a result I got stomach-sick and couldn’t eat anymore. After a while I started to feel weak. Luckily, I met another runner (Mike McTeer, aka “Terminator Mike”), and we ran/walked together. His presence helped me through the last miles.

Graglia: The toughest moment on the course was definitely on Stage 3, the 53-mile leg. It was not only the longest but also the hardest in terms of elevation and technicality of several different types of terrain. I hit a rough patch right on the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. At times, while cresting these gigantic sandy staircases, I had to drop on my knees to catch my breath and shake off the tingly sensation of busted quads. Perhaps the beauty of the landscape and the warm golden color of the sun setting over the desert dunes helped me stay focused and make it to the last checkpoint before dark.

3. Which of the six stages was your favorite and why?

Van der Geest: I liked Stage 5 (26 miles) the best, because it was the last long stage of the race, so all the runners were excited and there was a good energy. The stage went through Peek-a-Boo Canyon (a slot canyon featuring curved, sculpted pink sandstone walls, pictured above) and a dry riverbed. It was a very beautiful trail. I enjoyed almost every minute of it.

Graglia: My favorite was Stage 3, the long stage. It was by far the most challenging but also the most beautiful. It was an always-changing scenario, from fast gravel roads to quad-busting mesas and dunes, from sandy desert roads to stunning red-rock formations. The endless variety of terrain and landscapes was jaw-dropping.

4. In hindsight, what would have done differently in terms of food and gear?

Van der Geest: I brought lots of sweet food, containing lots of calories, but I wish I had brought more salty snacks. After a while I didn’t like eating all the sweet stuff anymore. I also underestimated the amount of calories I would need due to the heat. I should have brought more gels instead of bars. Eating all these bars became more difficult as the days went by. I would recommend to bring at least one pair of fresh socks, and flip-flops to wear around camp to let your feet air out are indispensable.

Graglia: Well, I admit I should have done better equipment research. My pack was several pounds heavier than what it should have been. The sleeping bag and mat I’ve got were lightweight but clearly not up to par. It was a bit stressful the first day, but I didn’t let that get to me. I made an excellent plan on the diet front, though, consuming oatmeal, bars, almonds, chia and flax seeds and Green Magma. Perhaps next time I’ll remember to pack some soups too, because the craving for a different taste and especially sodium was overwhelming after the third day!

5. What advice would you give a first-time, self-supported stage racer?

Van der Geest: Train with your backpack, train on soft sandy trails, and test your materials—do they fit in your backpack? Are you able to sleep on your sleeping pad? Does your backpack suit you? etc.

Graglia: The best approach is to try out your diet and the sleeping gear before heading out to the desert. Once you’re there, there’s no coming back! Clearly, hard training is the key, and the last month or so approaching the race, I would recommend getting used to having a koala-like thing strapped to your back from start to finish.

6. Tell us about a moment during the Grand to Grand Ultra that made you laugh.

Van der Geest: There was so much laughter during this week (although I can’t remember the jokes being made), but what really made me smile every time were the volunteers shouting, ringing their cowbells, cheering and jumping up and down whenever a runner got to a checkpoint. They had so much energy, it put a smile on my face every time.

Graglia: Perhaps the laughs and cheers we all shared at the finish line! There have been just too many memorable situations shared with all the runners at camp and even more special ones with my tent mates that it would be impossible to point just one out.

Sarah Lavender Smith is a Contributing Editor at Trail Runner who finished 2nd female, 13th overall, in the Grand to Grand Ultra with a time of 39 hours, 26 minutes. She wrote a feature story, “Stage Fright,” about the inaugural Grand to Grand Ultra for the magazine. You can read her Grand to Grand Ultra gear list and race reports on her blog, TheRunnersTrip.com.

The Towpath Challenge: Endurance Athletes Run From London To The National Running Show

The organisers of The National Running Show have announced details of the Towpath Challenge, which will be taking place in the lead up to the inaugural show in January 2018.

The Towpath Challenge will see a team of high profile endurance athletes run 135 miles in 5 days from the Olympic Park in London to the NEC in Birmingham, starting on Sunday 14th January at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finishing on Thursday 18th January at the NEC.

The runners will be covering an average of 27 miles a day during daylight hours, and they are inviting running enthusiasts to join them for sections along the route. Their progress will be trackable via the website.

The Towpath Challenge sections are as follows:

Day 1, Sunday 14th January 2018: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to West Hyde
Day 2, Monday 15th January 2018: West Hyde to Leighton Buzzard
Day 3, Tuesday 16th January 2018: Leighton Buzzard to Blisworth
Day 4, Wednesday 17th January 2018: Blisworth to Stockton
Day 5, Thursday 18th January 2018: Stockton to NEC Birmingham

The Towpath Challenge participants will be carrying their own winter running essentials as well as their own food during the day, and they are due to camp each night.

Confirmed runners include accomplished British adventurer, endurance athlete and presenter Russell Smith who will also be the run leader; Jamie Ramsay who ran 17,000 kilometres unsupported from Vancouver to Buenos Aires; Luke Tyburski who has completed a unique 2,000km, 12-day-solo triathlon from Morocco to Monaco; minimalist runner Aleks Kashefi, known as Barefoot Aleks, who is the first person to have run the entire length of the European continent; Ben Smith who completed 401 marathons in 401 days; and Elise Downing who ran the coast of Britain solo and unsupported. Twice the Health will also be taking on the Towpath Challenge, with nutritionist Emily and PT Hannah both experienced runners of multiple 50K races.

Mike Seaman, Founder of The National Running Show and an experienced ultra runner, will be joining the team all the way to the NEC as well as Raoul Monks, an ambassador of the show and finisher of multiple ultra-marathons.

The National Running Show will be opened at 9.00am on Saturday 20th January 2018 by Dame Kelly Holmes, who will go on to head up the first-class programme of speakers including Jo Pavey. Towpath Challenge participants Russell Smith, Jamie Ramsey, Luke Tyburski, Aleks Kashefi, Ben Smith and Elise Downing will also be speaking at The National Running Show, go to the website for the full programme.

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The National Running Show takes place on 20-21 January 2018 at Birmingham’s NEC and will see race organisers, sports retailers, sports brands, nutrition experts, official sporting bodies and communities gather under one roof like never before. Over 14,000 runners have already registered for tickets to this innovative show.

Mike Seaman, Director of Racoon Events, commented: “We are excited to unveil the details of the Towpath Challenge, which we have created as an exciting and challenging build up journey to the opening of our inaugural show. I am looking forward to running all the way from London to the NEC in Birmingham with a team of high profile and well respected endurance runners, who will then be swapping the towpath for the speakers’ stage.

“I am sure this is going to attract the attention of many runners and non runners, and we are looking forward to sharing stories from the Towpath Challenge at the show.”

The National Running Show takes place at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st January 2018.

Go to nationalrunningshow.com for tickets and further event details. You can also like the Facebook page and follow @nationalrunshow #runshow18 on Twitter and Instagram.

Ten Things We Bet You Never Knew About The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon

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With a little under 17 weeks to go until the 17th annual Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running on 23rd September, there’s still time to sign up and challenge yourself to a full marathon, 10K, 5K or there’s also the Wee Nessie race, open to children aged 5 and under.

Here are a few fun facts about the race to get you into the running spirit:

Over the last 17 years, runners have come from 87 different countries around the world to take part in the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon with those from New Zealand claiming the ‘furthest travelled’ to take part.
The total amount raised for charity by the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running to date is a staggering £9.95m.
It takes a whopping 420 volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running each year.
There are four people in this world who have completed every Baxters Loch Ness Marathon to date
The oldest Baxters Loch Ness Marathon participant to date was an 82 year-old and the youngest, taking part in the Wee Nessie kids’ race, less than a year old!
Runaway brides, a marriage proposal at the finish line (she said yes!) and in 2017 a couple running the marathon hot-footed it to their wedding service immediately after crossing the finish line together.
It’s a common misconception that the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon is hilly, the route is actually predominantly downhill and many people get a ‘PB’ here.
In 2016 a group of 20+ Japanese runners aged 61-80 from the Full Hyaku running club in Japan took part in the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon. To be a member of Full Hyaku you must have run at least 100 marathons. One of their group, 75-year-old Masami Yabuta from Tokyo completed his 700th marathon at Loch Ness.
The course record for the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon is currently held by Simon Tonui, Birchfield Harriers (2hr 20min 13sec) in 2009 and the women’s title is held by Megan Crawford, Fife AC (2hr 44min 50sec) in 2015.
In 2003, Lloyd Scott completed the world’s first ever underwater marathon wearing an antique deep-sea diving suit weighing 120lbs in Loch Ness. It took Lloyd 12 days to complete his 26.2 mile underwater challenge whilst raising thousands of pounds for charity.

The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, follows a spectacular point-to-point route alongside the world famous Loch Ness, starting in an atmospheric moorland setting between Fort Augustus and Foyers then continuing through stunning Highland scenery along the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, across the River Ness, finishing in Inverness, capital city of the Highlands.

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If a full marathon isn’t for you, why not enter the Baxters River Ness 10K or 5K? Following flat, scenic, point-to-point courses through the historic Highland capital of Inverness, both races offer excellent ‘pb’ potential.

Make a Highland weekend of it and come with family or friends; plenty to entertain runners and spectators all weekend with Scotland’s only Expo dedicated to running, the Runners’ Café where runners can enjoy street food, listen to Expo talks and live music, the Baxters Food & Drink Fayre and fun family activities.

The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon also has a number of official charity running places with Macmillan Cancer Support as well as other selected charities, providing people with the opportunity to make their marathon count by fundraising for a good cause. There are lots to choose from and all of them are doing incredible work to help others and improve lives.

Guaranteed entry is available now for all of the races and those interested in registering can find out more here.

Month: June 2020