Team Southampton Results

Overall Position	Name	Category	Category Position	Time
5	Owen Harries	M40	1	1:22:24
20	Emyr Morgan	SM	10	1:28:41
36	James Allen	SM	19	1:34:56
38	Hannah Fothergill	SW	2	1:35:19
83	Becky Mulley	SW	5	1:45:32

238 Finishers

Race (day trip!) Report

As part of the Berlin and Dublin marathon preparation the five of us decided to make the trip across the water to compete in the Isle of Wight half marathon. To make it a bit of triathon training as well the cars were all left at home and the bikes taken instead, we did draw the line at swimming across (that comes later in the year) and used the Southampton to Cowes ferry. First off the ferry at East Cowes it was on the bikes and straight into the first hill of the day. An hour of cycling later and we arrive at Sandown rugby club the race headquarters for both the half marathon and a boules competition.
The course for the race was a single lap taking in Sandown seafront, Bembridge, St Helens, Brading and then back to Sandown. On the way there would be a fair few hills and it wasnt expected to be a pb course. With an 11am start time the sun came out right on cue so the running was likely to be warm as well. The first mile took us through a housing estate and before long the undulating nature and fast start (I did a 5:45 first mile and was about 15th at that point) had spread the field out. Running along the seafront surprised a few of the holiday makers, one tried to join in but only lasted 100m before pulling off breathing rather heavily. After turning inland the next landmark was Bembridge airport where the planes landing seemed to be virtually on top of the runners. Thankfully just light aircraft. After skirting the edge of Bembridge harbour we then had a tough hill to climb up to the 8 mile point.
The road back from here to Sandown also had its fair share of hills and was also busy with cars. Thankfully there was a water and sponge station to take on water and marshals to encourage and try and control the traffic. The last mile back through the estate was hard (for me at least!) and the sight of the rugby pitch and finishing funnel was very welcome.
After a shower and it being a rugby club we re-hydrated at the bar and found a point near to all of the trophies to await the prize presentation. It was only after we heard clapping in the next room that we realised we were next to the boules competition prize table! Just about made it to the correct room in time for us all to accept 1st M40, 2nd woman and 2nd in the mens team competition. Had we had a 3rd woman runner we would probably have taken the womens team prize as well.
The running now done we could now enter holiday maker mode and relax on the beach for a while. Apart from the 40min swim training of course!A cool wind meant the planned ice-cream was substituted for cups of tea instead.
The cycle back took us past a garlic festival and as we rode past the site the Wurzles and 'Combine Harvester' could be heard playing from the stage, no time to stop though. A cycle path was found for the return trip which conveniently bypassed all the hills we had encountered on the way out. More re-hydration and supper at a pub in Cowes and we then caught the ferry back to Southampton. In all an excellent day out.

Please Note:
Any problems with names / times / positions please e-mail boardsbikes@yahoo.co.uk