Belfast Marathon 2015 Report

Post date: May 13, 2015 9:45:29 PM

By Jackie Fulton

Having completed the NY marathon as the as the once in a lifetime event I sneaked in the Lochaber marathon last year and this year… well, after a bit of research about marathons within easy travelling distance of Kintyre… second criteria was “mainly flat” I came up with the Belfast marathon J

Settled on the Runners’ World beginners schedule, again, but oh, the weather was not kind to me, so somewhat compromised the programme but managed to build up the distance to the recommended 22 miles.

So off to Belfast, same day as Gigha and had a great time, well an enjoyable time and quite pleased with the result. PB as was the fastest of my 3 marathons, finishing at 4.34, just 4 minutes short of the GFA.

Belfast had 2000 marathon runners plus about 10,000 other runners and walkers, including approx. 8,000 folk doing the 26 miles as a relay. Same time, same course which meant that at 10k, 20k and 30k you were joined by folk running along for all their worth like they had just started, which of course, they had! They kinda brought back my enthusiasm and spurred me on somehow.

I was delighted to stay ahead of the 4.30 hour pace-setters until 19 miles, when they caught up – but they were great motivators and I managed to stay with them and a pack of about 10 until about halfway between the 24 and 25 mile markers. A bit slower then with about ½ mile of speed walking – to unlock legs, followed by a bit of a slow pace for the final mile. Weather was good despite rain the day before and again the day after. A bit early in the year for any certainty with weather and therefore with the Kintyre Express so extra nights away and a bit of a journey – but had a great experience.