Marathon Number 453- Steve Edwards completes his 18th Shakespeare Marathon

Cotswolds based Steve Edwards has completed marathon number 453 in his world record challenge to complete 500 marathons in an average time of under 200 minutes- 3 hours 20 minutes. Marathon number 453 was completed in 3 hours 12 minutes and 57 seconds - so Steve is well on target and for once this was a local marathon so he didn't have to spend hours travelling as well as hours running.

The Rotary Shakespeare Marathon 2008 was held on Sunday 27th April is organised by the Rotary Club of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. The Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a worldwide organisation of business and professional leaders.

The start of the Marathon was in Waterside, adjacent to the Theatre car park and it finished on the Recreation Ground, near the Bowling Club and opposite the Ferry point. The Marathon course was from Stratford-upon-Avon, through Luddington to Welford-on-Avon and Long Marston then back to Stratford along the Greenway.

Steve, again running for the 100 Marathon Club, was competitor No. 2500 and came home in 47th position out of a field of 748 finishers. His time was 3 hours, 12 minutes, 57 seconds which gave him 5th place in his Mens Veterans over 40 class.

Steve talked about the race afterwards "Another successful marathon completed yesterday. This was my 18th Shakespeare Marathon with another finish well under the required rate and nearly 11 minutes faster than last year. Having gone through halfway in just under 1 hour 37 minutes my plan was to try and do equal splits. In the end, I was actually slightly quicker on the second half, despite the warm 20 degrees weather. I felt good at 20 miles and pushed on a little to try and get well under the 3 hours 15 minutes rather than just inside it, so I was really pleased in the end to run the last 6.2 miles in just under 45 minutes"

"This was always going to be my last marathon (and long training run) before going up to Lake Windermere for my world record attempt to try and break the fastest combined time record for 10 marathons in 10 days at the Brathay 10 in 10 event. Just looking at my diary, I have run over 1200 miles in the last 15 weeks including 7 marathons, so now I will enjoy the taper period before the onslaught which begins in 12 days time!

Source: Steve Edwards and Shakespeare Marathon

www.100marathonclub.org.uk
www.shakespearemarathon.org.uk
www.brathay.org.uk
www.brathaychallenge.com
www.justgiving.com/steveedwards10in10

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Another World Record Challenge for Cotswold’s Steve Edwards- 10 Marathons in 10 Days