Nottingham Marathon Race Report

We arrived with plenty of time before the race their was not that many people around and their was no queues for the toilets!!!

When we queued on the road at the appropriate start time of 5 hours. This was an educated guess based on half and training times of my brother who I was pacing him round. There was lots of runners in front and behind us.

Then the army canon started the race, its the only race I know that that starts with a canon.

The first few miles where through the city center at a different route than I had previously done. I was therefore surprised with the amount of hills, apart from the ones near the railway station and castle.

After the section through the city we then headed at to the university. Round the university there was some parts on gravel which was ok but there was also a number of other hills.

After leaving the university section we had down past the hospital. This direction of the route had changed so there was a nice long down hill section.

The next section was through the wollaton park. There was some more people cheering you on through there plus YET another hill.

At the drinks station leaving the park there was the Nottingham Caesars (American football) team in the full kit, it was a bit unusual to see this at a race.

The route then came back through the city center with a few more hills. We then ran on the road next to the river trent until those doing the half marathon turned left and ran up the finishing straight and those doing the full ran along the footpath next too the river. At this point the sun and warmth disappeared and the strong winds started.

We then ran past the notts county fc ground and then out towards the country side. This section was flatter from now on but there was some long constant gentle slopes. At this point we where starting to use a run/walk strategy with walking through the aid station to get the required water and sports drinks.

Then we effectively did 2.5 lengths of the national watersports center rowing lake. With 1.5 lengths of it in to strong 20mph (32 kmph) head winds.

Once we got to the far end of the rowing lake we could see that it was 2000m long!!!

From the far end of the lake we walked the last 6 or so miles, as my brother said his back was hurting a bit.

Then we head along footpath next to the river trent, again in the strong head winds. We ran up to the Nottingham Forrest FC ground which we ran under.

there was just under a mile from this point to the finish. As we crossed the bridge to the other side the river, this felt a massive hill at this point.

With the finish line almost in site you had to turn right and do a ½ mile loop. Then we saw the 26 mile sign :-)

Some of the marshal's had dressed up like robin hood.

Then there was the finishing straight, at this point there was not many people left.

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At this point my brothers back was ok and tried to out sprint me on the 150m finish straight on the grass. This was while I was taking a few photos, although I just about caught him up with about 20m from the finish line but at this point his conscience also got the better of him as stopped to let me go past him.

However there was enough medals there.

It was an enjoyable day and it was nice to just run and enjoy a race and not worry about my pace.