Marathon Number 459 completed in Cornwall - the Cornish Marathon

Sunday November 16th 2008 and Steve Edwards completed Marathon Number 459 by running the Cornish Marathon which was celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary. This Marathon, which is run from Pensilva near Liskeards, is organised by the East Cornwall Harriers and is a very demanding course.

Steve was running again for Bourton Roadrunners with vest number 150 and finished 21st out of a field of 213 finishers.

His race report is as follows:-" I completed number 459 on Sunday at the Cornish Marathon. Starting and finishing in Pensilva, this is a tough out and back course over Bodmin Moor with several steepish climbs throughout the whole course, fortunately though, the weather conditions were a lot milder than normal for this time of year.
 
Still not fully fit after coming back from injury, I started off at 3:20 pace and reached halfway pretty much bang on in just over 1:40. However, I felt okay so pressed on a bit harder in the second half reaching 20 miles in just over 2:30 and then running 46 min for the last 10k for a finish time of 3:16:51 and a negative split by nearly 4 minutes. At halfway, I was in 35th place, but passed 14 other runners in the second half of the race to finish in 21st place out of 213 finishers and 4th Vet45, so top 10% of the overall field, but unfortunately just outside the prizes!
 
The winning time was 2:45 and less than 20% of the field finished in under 3:30, so considering the lack of training miles in my legs, I was pleased with my effort on what is probably the 4th toughest road marathon in the country and as it turns out, I finished 3 seconds quicker than last year!
 
As always, the traditional hot Cornish pasty was very welcome at the end!"

The Cornish Marathon is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Originally it started out from Saltash and wound its way down the A38 and A390 to Lostwithiel. Current traffic conditions on one of the busiest roads in Cornwall make that unimaginable. Relocating to Rilla Mill, taking in much of the present route, it presented competitors with an immediate steep start just to get out of the valley. Nowdays it starts from Millenium House in Pensilva, where its reletively flat gradient makes for a much gentler start, however it is most definately the 25 miles after that, particularly the climb to Foredown between miles 24 and 25, which most people will remember.

The 25th Cornish Marathon took place on an overcast but mild day and saw the course record smashed by Shaun Milford of Newquay Roadrunners in a mindboggling 2.45.22.

Source: Steve Edwards and East Cornwall Harriers 

East Cornwall Harriers: www.eastcornwallharriers.com 

Bourton Roadrunners: www.bourtonroadrunners.co.uk

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