An introduction to Jaws

I'd only managed a week back at work before I was off again, this time to the other side of the pond. I had visited my friend Eleanor last year to help her out after a hip replacement, and she'd mentioned that she was hoping to be able to get back training again in time to run the Martha's Vineyard Marathon. I agreed to go along as well, as Martha's Vineyard was somewhere I'd heard about but never been to, though clearly I hadn't thought about the proximity of this to the Namib run.

Being tourists and enjoying local ice cream

Eleanor and I met up in Boston and spent a day wandering round in the rain (it was too cold and wet to really call it sightseeing) before getting the bus and ferry over to "the island". Martha's vineyard is not a haven of grapes but an island off Cape Cod where some of the rich and famous have holiday homes. One such person (well, not really, it's been in the family for several generations) is Brian Sherras, a member of Eleanor's running club (Ripley Running Club). He was aiming to run a good marathon in order to qualify for next year's Boston Marathon - and so had invited his club mates (I became an honorary Ripley member) over to join him and several of his family members.
 



Our international party

The two race routes

We had a great few days looking round the island on foot, on bikes and by bus....and I was even made to watch "Jaws" - a film I had always avoided as I'm such a woos when it comes to "scary" films. On watching it, I finally got a lot of the references that people had been making...and recognised many of the film locations, as it was set and filmed on the island (and wasn't actually very scary after all!!)

Unfortunately it was "unseasonably cold" and so Eleanor and I had to scavenge extra blankets and wear all the clothes we had with us in order to sleep at night, as the room we were sharing was freezing. Race day, however, proved to be the total opposite of this - and was by far the hottest day of the whole trip. As it turned out, I couldn't even run with Eleanor as she had in fact entered the half marathon whereas I was doing the full one. Of our group about 19 were running the half and 3 of us the full distance, but we all started and finished in the same location so could support each other. We were staying about a mile from the finish so it was easy for us to wander down there on race morning and board the yellow school buses to go to the start (that didn't half bring back memories of going to school in the US as a 12 year old!).

Pre-start group pic

After a group photo and some milling about (with Brian looking increasingly nervous, as he had a specific goal for the race....to run a qualifying time for the Boston marathon) we went to our various start pens. They were officially seeded wrt expected finish times, and would start a few minutes apart, but my pen seemed rather empty. This relieved my usual startline nerves somewhat, as I didn't want to get mown over by the faster half marathoners, but as it turns out, I could start last in my pen and still be relatively near the front. I chatted to two of the quicker Ripley men that were in my pen (Luke and Matt)....and we joked about the fact that all 3 of us were wearing cheap/old shoes, whereas most of those around us were shod in the expensive new Nike "wondershoes". As luck would have it, we were also the closest people to the US flag, and so got a surprise when people turned to look in our direction, hands on hearts, as the national anthem was played. 

The half marathon turnaround off the
marathon route

Shortly after that we were off, and I figured I'd never see the guys again. After less than 50m we did a 90 degree turn out of the school gates and into the main road - well onto the cycle path alongside the main road, and people started to settle into their running and stop jostling for positions. Just after the 2 mile point, the half marathoners turned back towards the main road, whereas the marathoners carried on into the State Park. It was a good chance to shout some encouragement at the lads as Luke was right up at the front with Matt only a couple of places behind. I had been feeling very tired and heavy-legged and was blaming having not recovered from the Namib race but realised that it might have been due to how I was running, as I'd not only had I worked my way up the field, but was actually ahead of the leading lady in the half marathon. I knew I'd be paying for this later, but found it very difficult to change my speed, as I felt like I was going really slowly and already was longing for the finish. 

Early on, with the halfmarathoners



Not what you want to see in a race!

I ran alone for the next couple of miles, meeting a few walkers and horserider out in the park, but I have to say that I wasn't that impressed to run through the smoke of a planned "burn off". Neither were a couple of local guys that had been relatively near to me up to this point. We joined forces and ran along chatting for the next couple of miles, though I have to say that I was very jealous of one of them as he removed his top and handed it to his partner who had come out to support him. I was finding it really hot, but it's not quite the done thing (or even comfortable) for girls to run topless!!

When Brian, Eleanor and I had cycled the course, we'd jokingly described miles 7.5-9.5 as being like a fell run. Yes, we were on the cycle path, but it was anything but flat. On bikes, we'd had to brake on some of the short sharp downhills, and stand up on our pedals for the climbs. They weren't long, but boy were they steep. The guys would run away from me on the descents, but I'd close them back down and even pass some on the climbs.

By the time we got to the 11 mile marker, we were back on the same course as the half marathoners, though they were only just into their 4th mile. I had not expected to catch up with anyone by this point, so was really surprised to find myself having to wend my way through the 'halfers', and even some people who were doing the half marathon as a relay.....still, I was very impressed with them all for being out there and giving it a go. We were still on the same route (though by now the relay runners had swopped over) when we passed our halfway point. I looked at my watch and was stunned to see it only showing 1:27 as I figured I must be going much slower than that. The boost this gave me lasted all of about 50m, as the marathon route then veered off at 90 degrees to the right.....straight up a very sunny, shade-free hill!



Taken at the finish, but sums me up
at every aid station!

It was at this point that the wheels fell off for me - I very nearly stepped off the course and made a beeline back to the half marathon route and so to the finish, but luckily there was an aid station at the 14mile point. I had been "a bit" silly earlier on, and not taken on any drinks at the first few support points, as I'd really not felt like it......big mistake, especially when it was hot and sunny, and I really hadn't recovered from Namibia yet. At the 14mile station, I stopped, drank 2 cups of water and poured another 2 over my head.....and then gave myself a stern talking to. If all the others were going to get round, no way was I going to DNF and let them down as they'd so kindly incorporated me into their club trip.

The next section of the race was not overly fun. There was an aid station every 2miles and so I just focused on trying to "run" to the next one, where I'd stop, drink a few cups and pour another couple over me. One or two guys passed me between 18 and 20 miles, but surprisingly no more than that. I knew we were going to rejoin the half marathon route for the last 5 miles so there would be more people about, but first I had to negotiate Edgartown. Although I'd been running along quiet country roads and cycle paths with hardly a soul in sight, I presumed there would be both spectators and marshals in the town. How wrong I was! I nearly missed a couple of turnings through the residential area, and at one point, I was actually running down a road (on the correct route I'd like to add), and had to suddenly stop as a couple of cars came from a side road and crossed mine. Not exactly what you need on doddery legs!!

Crossing "Jaws Bridge"

Having run down to Edgartown as a group one morning, I was pretty sure that I'd make it to the finish from there, but I still needed to break those last few miles down in my head as every slight incline (and it was mainly flat) felt like a massive hill to climb. I was overtaking half marathon runners and relay runners all the way (many of them for the second time) so add that to people out strolling in the sun and it became like a game of dodgems. There was nobody manning the last aidstation so I just helped myself to as much water as I could find and staggered on. I'd caught up to a guy who was also running the marathon and was desperate to get away from him  - partly because I hate someone running and heavy breathing on my shoulder, but partly as I'd been unimpressed with his music playing for all to hear earlier on in the day, so this helped to spur me on.

Having been handed a Ripley vest

Always fun - being filmed trying
to put a top on!

I counted down the last few segments....just get to "Jaws Bridge" and it's only a couple of miles from there.....when you pass the house with a mile to go, there will be people cheering you on and handing you a Ripley vest to wear for the finish etc. That was the plan anyway, but when I passed the house, there was no one there - they were having a drinks party across the other side of the road and didn't spot me, despite me shouting frantically for the vest they'd kept. There was no way that I was able to get over to them or go back for it - if I stopped, I felt that there would be no restarting possible, so I just focused on grinding out that last mile as best I could.



Managed to get it on!

Crossing the line!!

I spotted Luke walking along the road towards me just as I neared the finish field and then suddenly saw (and heard) a swarm of Ripley runners alongside the fence I had to run past. One of the girls handed me her vest as I still had a lap of the field to run....and Matt later told me that he'd never seen anyone manage to put a vest on so well whilst running on legs that looked so wobbly!!
 



A finish line hug from Eleanor

That field seemed to have multiplied in size many times over as I had to run away from everyone (and the line) before turning and coming back down across the grass and into the finish funnel. The girls met me as I crossed the line for some very welcome hugs and water. Everyone seemed to have struggled in the heat but Luke and Matt finished 3rd and 4th in the half and we had many age group trophies through our group. It wasn't long before we saw Brian approaching and so some of the others ran round the field with him....as he ran a fantastic new PB and Boston qualifier (in his shiny new flash Nike shoes :-) )and so there was lots of celebrating that evening to be had! Not my finest hour (and an unsurprising positive split) and the race organisation did have many things to work on, the the trip and experience as a whole was fantastic and I made many new friends as the Ripley crew were so lovely, friendly and welcoming!