100 Marathons (Not Out) – Dave Halford
Back in 1988, I’d planned only to run one marathon. All I wanted was to be able to say I’d run the entire distance – no walking, earn a medal, with a t-shirt and a photograph as a memento. I chose the Isle of Wight, as I could visit my sister, then living on the island. I finished in 3 hours 38 minutes, but unfortunately, I had to walk up the last of the 17 hills! No photograph, no medal (to gain a medal you had to run a sub 3.10 time), and no t-shirt. My family chose to watch the England v Scotland football game, as they believed I just wouldn’t make it. “Ye of little faith!”
A month later, now wearing a proper pair of running shoes (New Balance 420s), and better trained, I ran the Potteries marathon in 3.25 on a very hot June Sunday. I still failed to get a medal. The Potteries provided finishers with a plate. Wow! The photo was ruined by some runner ahead of me crossing the line with a toddler. It looked like they were coming off the beach. Of note though, I met a runner in the car park who told me he had completed his 100th marathon. A trifle excessive I thought at the time.
Well, that was it for me, and I gave up running for a year. Then in 1989 I ran the Northbrook 10km race and did quite well. A club runner, Ian Ladbrooke, transferred his number to me for the St Albans marathon, and I had another bash at this distance. This time I ran a PB 3.23. Everyone told me I was capable of going under 3 hours if I trained properly.
In 1991, after a couple of years running virtually constantly over a variety of distance, I ran 3 hours and 36 seconds in the Stratford Shakespeare marathon, just missing out on sub 3 hours. From then on I was well and truly hooked. Two more marathons followed, where I was a few seconds out. Then a further two marathons, where I was just under 2 minutes. My main problem was that I was basically a 7 minute miler, and it was quite easy to lose concentration of my pace during the race. I finally cracked the 3 hour barrier in London. Not the premier event, but a very small marathon held in Battersea Park with 26 laps. Having caught the National Express coach at 3am, with no sleep, my time was 2 hours 58 minutes, and a trophy for 3rd place overall.
FASTEST TIME: I broke 3 hours five times, my best being in a very hot Blackpool marathon finishing in 2.56.36 in 2006.
In 2006, I also returned to compete in the Isle of Wight marathon. It was still on the same course, but now held in October, and on a Sunday rather than a Saturday. This was the 50th continuous running of this historic event. I ran 3.09 and was 10th. Medals were also provided – a horrible chunk of painted metal about the size and shape of a table tennis bat.
In 2011, I entered the Isle of Wight marathon again, to finish 8th in 3.22, and to pick up a trophy for the first over 50, and £20. The big time! I repeated this the following year finishing in 3.20. I was on a roll.
Unfortunately, subsequent years have seen a slow collapse of form. The course has now shifted to the town of Cowes, as traffic problems were making the race very dangerous. But the hills continue to dominate. Last year I came home in 4.12.34 to win the over 60s prize. I was hoping to do the same this year on my 100th marathon. I’m now 65, but sadly the over 65s trophy has been discontinued. But I did run the entire distance in a time of 4.31.28. My style over the last mammoth hill must have resembled manic baby steps.
The 100 marathons in this count were all held on the road. I discounted those that run across parkland and cross-country tracks. I must have run 15 of these races, enjoying them all, even winning two races – the Canal CanterMarathon in Birmingham and the Needles Marathon held on the Isle of Wight as well. I was also 3rd in the Belvoir Marathon.
MOST DIFFICULT MARATHON: The Langdale marathon – two stupendous climbs, to be repeated on a second lap. I finished 3rd and never went back. Snowdon was similarly difficult with a huge climb at 23 miles; the road changed to rough track as it headed into the clouds.
BEST NAMED MARATHON: Bungay Black Dog – I’d always wanted the t-shirt featuring (you guessed it) a black dog which looked like it had just had 300 volts blasted through it.
MOST DIFFICULT CONDITIONS: The Fleetwood marathon heading out to Blackpool and back. On the return the gale force wind, loaded with sand from the beach, hit me like a sledgehammer. I had to squint and keep my head down. I don’t think anyone broke three hours that day.
HOTTEST: The Isle of Man marathon held on the hottest day of the year in the hottest place in England, with the hottest temperature ever recorded in this country, starting at 3pm. 95% of the runners failed to show up. I came 2nd, but I’m sure I was 1st, as I can’t remember anyone passing me, and the winner’s times got faster and faster on each of the four laps.
BAD IDEAS: Walking to Leicester through the night along the Ashby canal. Too dark to read the map, but somehow, I made it, after sleeping in a field not far from the start. Unbelievably I was going quite well in the marathon, until my legs seized up with a mile to go. Similarly, cycling through the night to Trentham Gardens to compete in a Potteries marathon (1996). The bike pedals came off at Stone, and I had to walk to the start. I still ran 3.41 and managed to catch a lift home with a Massey Ferguson runner.
MOST MEMORABLE: The Sheffield marathon – I loved finishing in the recently built athletic stadium on a proper running track. I was on top form on a very hilly course, sprinting the last 400 yards to catch another runner on the finish line. A great time of 2.58 and a superb finishing photograph. The Millennium marathon was another key race. It was another 2.58 marathon, hitting top form after a lull, following a broken collarbone.
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED: After the Snowdon marathon my tent was trashed by a herd of sheep, when the collie dogs lost control of them while rounding them up. On another occasion, before another Snowdon marathon I spent the night holding the tent down during a force 8 gale. One hand and foot on every corner of the tent and totally soaked.
MOST BORING MARATHON: The Luton marathon has got to be the one that takes this prize. A maze of underpasses, subways, industrial sites, half a mile along an ‘A’ road and the clincher – 3 laps accompanied by a relay.
THE FLATTEST: Boston, that’s the UK Boston Marathon – totally featureless, no hills, no trees, no hedges and very few houses along this route.
LONDON MARATHON: The biggest and best. The first time I did it, the route encompassed a large number of building sites, and the crowds were down. But later years fulfilled my expectations. A continuous buzz of cheering crowds, bands and famous buildings, accompanied every runner. A must for all runners.
THE PIERREPONT MARATHON: Set on the outskirts of Nottingham and consisting of seven and three quarter laps of an Olympic boating lake. When I did it, the morning fog meant that visibility was down to only a few yards. This was the only race I was never to finish. I got confused by the number of laps, and ended one lap short. I collected my Christmas hat and Christmas stocking containing a medal and chocolate bar. I didn’t realise my mistake until I got home and looked at the results. I thought I was back on form, whereas sadly it was all a delusion!
OTHER BAD DECISIONS: Usually whenever I attempted the Wolverhampton marathon, I caught the Saturday tram, and spent the night camped out in West Park near the start of the race. I have since been told that this is a criminal hotspot for muggings, rapes and knife crimes. So, I was living dangerously. The Wolverhampton marathon also featured one of the craziest finishing commentators I have ever witnessed. He was going completely over the top, especially when encouraging the lady finishers; “Here comes delicious pouting Pamela”, “luscious, lovely Lucinda from Leeds”, “come on give us a smile, are you really a supermodel or what?” The women seemed to love it. Later I tried to buy a beer from the marquee, only to be told that they’d run out. Yeah, the commentator had drank most of the barrel.
Well, it’s been a long hard road to complete these 100 marathons, but I’ve met some extraordinary people along the way. The more extreme the events, the more extreme the people involved; runners who have tossed pancakes for the whole duration, blind runners attached by cords to buddy runners, runners pushing their offspring in prams, one legged runners on crutches, and all kinds of costumes, My sister was especially amused, when someone competing in the Isle of Wight marathon as a starship trooper, was left in his underwear after his costume fell to pieces. I did also dress up as well though, running as Dracula in the Rocky Horror marathon this year.
I’m glad I didn’t wait until next year’s Milton Keynes marathon when Steve Edwards will complete his 1,000th marathon. Talk about being upstaged.
Luckily, I’ve been fairly injury free. My main problem was always getting to the start of the race. A challenge in itself, for someone who doesn’t drive. But no race has ever broken my spirit, or forced me to throw in the towel.
Will I do another marathon? Well, possibly. If I’m still fit when I’m 70, I might consider my 101st, and of course it will be the Isle of Wight.