Although the weather was mild and dry, the athletes faced an overcast start to their marathon challenge on the Kent coastal pathway. It is a picturesque course with the first half of the marathon heading out east of Margate returning to run west of the town for the 2nd half.
Most of the age groups produced finishing times quicker than last year’s more undulating Anglesey marathon. First BMAF member over the line was Viesturs Dude from Crawley AC. finishing in a time of 2h-50-32s. The closest contested age group were the o/55s with just over 6 minutes separating Gold and Bronze positions. David Worcester (Chichester R&AC) winning Gold from David Smyth (Folkestone RC.) and SCVAC Road Running secretary Walter Hill from the Crawley Club receiving Bronze. Also amongst this group was the overall women’s race winner Sharon Hawkins of the Maidstone Harriers club in a creditable time of 3h-03-23s gaining Gold in the o/45 age group and o/60 winner Trevor Edgley with a 3h-05-10s finish. The second BMAF finisher, Peter Thompson (Nene Valley Harriers) gave us all a few minutes of anxiety as he collapsed immediately after crossing the line and needed medical assistance, thankfully he recovered quickly and was able to receive his o/40 Gold medal.
Two masters bettered their 2008 BMAF marathon times. Martin Wilkinson (Birchfield Harriers) now in the o/50 section ran 3 minutes quicker than his 0/45 time and Ann Bath (26.2 Road runners Club) in the 0/60 age group reduced her last year’s time by a massive 13 minutes.
My thanks go out to the Thanet Club, especially Race Director Phil Kinnell for a well organised event and for hosting our Championships. Next year we are up in Scotland for the Lochaber Marathon taking place on the 18th April, a week before the London Marathon.
Mel James Road Running Secretary