Rerun The Race
As races slowly restart, we offer a selection of topclass events for you to consider
1 / Keswick Mountain Festival
John Carroll, RW chief sub editor
It’s time to start planning your race calendar. Here are just four great events to consider
The Keswick Trail Half Marathon (part of the festival’s many sporting events) was the first race I tackled for RW. It was also the first trail event I had ever attempted and it was, assuredly, not a race for first-timers. I was wildly unprepared and everything that could have gone wrong did so, as did a few things that really should not have gone awry. But that race remains one of the most thrilling I have taken part in and I recall all of it – the good, the bad and the idiotic – with enormous fondness. The location, around Derwentwater and the
Borrowdale Valley, was enough to take the breath away, had the ascents not already done so; everyone I stumbled into was friendly and supportive; and though I was alone for long periods (I was out there for three hours), the route was so well marked that I was in no danger of wandering off course. For a man who can get lost in a wardrobe, that is no small thing.
It took me three times as long to get back to my hotel as it had to reach the start line, but once there, I dropped into a wheezy wingback armchair, ordered a beer and chips and, while I waited, I closed my eyes. Such feelings of contentment are rare.
This year’s festival is set for Sept 10-12. keswickmountainfestival.co.uk
2 / Swansea Half Marathon David Martin-Jewell, race director
‘We launched the first Swansea Half in 2013 and I absolutely love it. Today, we have 6,000 runners and eventually want to grow it to 10,000.
My race day begins at 4am (the race starts at 10am) and we have a team meeting an hour later. But we’ve done a year of planning beforehand, so everything swings smoothly into action with the setting up of the start/ finish, race village, water stations etc. I do become emotional at the start, especially when my friend Ros Evans sings the Welsh national anthem; it always sends a shiver down my spine and brings a tear to my eye. Once the race starts, I’m all over the course. As I’m a local, I see lots of people I know, which is fantastic. We can usually be done by about 5pm, with things totally wrapped up by midweek, by which time we’re already planning next year’s race. It’s a long but hugely satisfying day. I have so many highlights, from seeing the runners’ excitement before the start as the crowds pour into the city to their total satisfaction at the finish line.
I’ve missed all of that in 2020 so I can’t wait to welcome everyone back here.’
3 / Loch Ness Marathon Adrian Monti, Runner’s
World contributor
‘Although it was an idyllic spot in the Scottish Highlands, it felt more like the arrivals lounge at Heathrow airport – while mingling at the start, it seemed runners had converged here from every corner of the world. The international flavour of this race is an abiding memory, but there is also a strong home-grown flavour: the many runners kitted out in kilts, the baggagelorry volunteers singing a spirited version of ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ and a piper playing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at the start line were reminders I was deep in Scotland. After being bussed from Inverness to the top of a mountain for the start, the first four miles was a relaxing downhill section – never had a marathon felt so easy. Then it was along the deep, dark waters of Loch Ness itself, which is both vast and stunning. For the next 12 miles its beauty held my gaze, though there was not even the slightest hint of anything mysterious emerging from below its tranquil surface.
In fact, the only thing that could be described as monstrous was the long, steady climb at mile 19, which eventually led us to the park finish in Inverness. It was my first race in Scotland and I would happily do it again. Even today, seven years on, whenever I see a tin of Scotch broth made by race sponsor Baxters, I fondly recall this fantastic race.’ This year’s race is due to take place on October 3. lochnessmarathon.com
4 / Farnham Pilgrim Half Marathon, Surrey
Susie Chan, ultra-endurance runner
‘This one has a special place in my heart because it was my first ever race, back in 2010. My brother, who was training for the Athens Marathon, talked me into doing it. I had no clue what I was doing – I even wore gym shoes and an underwire bra. Before this event, I’d only run along the road and had never tackled a hill before. During the race, I had no idea where I was, but I now know those trails so well after running them hundreds of times since. I really love the part of the course where, after a lot of climbing, you pop out of the trees at Puttenham Common on the North Downs. During those first few miles, I felt I was dying, but then I had an epiphany at about nine miles; I said to myself, ‘I can do this’ and felt better in those last few miles than at the start. Although I ached like mad the next day, I was hooked; I soon signed up for another half, 10Ks and a marathon. Before I knew it, I was doing races across the desert and had run 100-mile ultras. But this was the race that turned me into a runner. I’ve now completed it a few times since and love its community atmosphere. It’s a race
I’ll always want to run again.’ This year’s race is due to take place on September 12. farnhampilgrim.org.uk