This year’s London Marathon was a spectacle for all to watch with not only Mo Farrah competing for the first time, but the men’s race had many of the world’s top Marathon runners. More importantly for us there were 5 Vale athletes taking part, all of whom had worked extremely hard on their training and tactics in the months preceding the event.
Vale’s contingent hit the City in the early morning to give support to their teammates and was dotted around the course on a perfect day for spectating but perhaps not for running. London was resplendent in the sunshine, but that made life more difficult as the temperatures rose throughout the run.
Our ladies, Sophie Delderfield and Debbie Channer both ran well, though Sophie was disappointed not to break her Club Record, finishing in 3:04:02. On reflection she described it as just one of those days where things didn’t go her way, though that can’t take away from her superb season. Debbie was on her 5th London Marathon and said that although it never gets any easier, she does learn something every time. Having been out for 4 months with a fractured fibula she was just grateful to be competing and thrilled to finish in 3:23:16, just 29 seconds outside her PB. Both ladies enjoyed the atmosphere that London provides but would have preferred it to have been a little cooler.
Alan Roberts aim in his 30th consecutive London Marathon was to achieve the good for age time which would get him a place next year. He is therefore delighted with his 3:15:22 time, his best since 2009 which will hopefully mean a place for the next two years. David Maisey is very pleased with his performance; he hasn’t been able to run as much as usual this year so training didn’t take its normal structure. He wasn’t sure what the day would bring for him but wanted to break 3 hours; that he did with a time of 2:53:31. David said that it was a huge boost for him to have friends from the Club cheering him on at some of his low points.
Vale performance of the day came from Adam Bowller who, in his words, “couldn’t believe it!” Adam’s aim was to achieve a sub 2:45 finish but was aware that might be ambitious. He told us “I was pleased to pass through halfway in 1:22, but from mile 16 I was just trying to take it one mile at a time expecting to fade at some point, but fortunately that never happened! Crossing the finish line in 2:43:47 was a bit surreal, I just couldn’t believe it!
The crowds were fantastic throughout; the cheering was incredibly loud in places! It was great to see friends from the Club shouting encouragement in the latter stages & having my family there to support was a real boost. It was a fantastic day.”