MARATHON DU MÉDOC, FRANCE
Only the French could get away with a marathon during which wine is offered
every 2km, and where your resolve is tested in the final stretch by the
offer of roadside steak and oysters. But every September the Marathon du
Médoc, an hour north of Bordeaux, does just that.
About 8,000 people line up at the start in the small town of Pauillac. Half
the competitors take the event seriously and stop for nothing stronger than
water. The other half are in fancy dress and out to make the most of the
offerings from the 53 châteaux en route, including Latour, Mouton Rothschild
and Lafite-Rothschild. And then there was me - wanting to make a serious
attempt on the 42km course, but aiming to have a few snifters on the way
round.
The starting gun fired, and we were off - everyone from Papa Smurf to Jesus,
complete with cross. We ran through vineyards over mostly flat terrain with
plenty of camaraderie and bantering to test my French. My first tipple was
after 10km at Château Beychevelle, and then slightly farther on at Château
Gruaud-Larose. And Château Lagrange. And...
I ran-walked-ran the last third of the race, to take in the scenery and the
titbits on the tables outside Château Lafite-Rothschild, and a few more
besides. We looped back towards Pauillac and I crossed the finish line just
under five hours - fairly respectable considering the distractions. I was
nicely matured, full-bodied and with plenty of character, but very
definitely one to lay down for a while.
Places for this year's marathon on September 6 are full - registration for
2009 starts next January at www.marathondumedoc.com
LEWA MARATHON, KENYA
I wasn't sure if it was a good sign when the pilot of the six-seater plane
that flew me an hour's flight north from Nairobi handed me his business
card: “Matumshi Humphrey Nguma: Rainbow Faith Ministries. Preparing you in
difficult times on earth for settlement in God's kingdom.”
Running 21km across a rhino and elephant-infested course several degrees above
the Equator, I could certainly do with all the help going. The Lewa marathon
(and half-marathon - I decided to take the easier option) was set up in 2001
to raise money for Kenya's rhinos. In the early 1980s the country's black
rhino population had been decimated from more than 20,000 to about 230 as
poachers killed them for their horns for the Chinese medicine and Arabian
dagger-handle markets. Today the figure has risen to about 500, 48 of which
are at Lewa.
The race is held at 1,670m (5,500ft) and attracts world-class local runners
such as Paul Tergat (former marathon world-record holder) and Catherine
Ndereba (women's marathon world record holder). To beat the heat it starts
at 7am, with helicopters buzzing overhead to scare away any animals,
especially elephants, that might wander too close.
I enjoyed it enormously. At the finish there was a party atmosphere, with
hundreds of local villagers enjoying the food stalls and music that blared
out over loud speakers. I was too tired to join in, instead succumbing to a
wonderful leg massage and a few beers, before falling asleep dreaming of how
I'd competed against some world-class Kenyan runners.
This year's marathon is on June 28. More details at www.tusk.org.
Tim Best Travel (020-7591 0300, www.timbesttravel.com)
can organise entry as part of its Kenya trips.
MARATHON DES SABLES, MOROCCO
People ask the same question: “Why would anyone do it?” “It” being run a
marathon a day, sometimes two, through the Sahara for a week, 240km in
total. My answer's always the same. It's like Everest - because it's there.
When I started training I ran with 10kg weights in my backpack. Come the real
thing you have to carry everything except your tent and water.
The low point was day one. I had no idea what I was doing or how to run in
that terrain or heat, which got up to 50C. One good thing was that I never
got blisters because I ran in shoes three sizes too big to let my feet
expand. My high point was finishing the 82km section. You're allowed to
break it up and arrive by 5pm the following day, but I just pushed on and
finished by 11pm that night.
The marathon is next March, although it's so popular that even if you apply
now you're unlikely to get a place before 2011. Details: www.saharamarathon.co.uk.
Best of Morocco (0845 0264585, www.morocco-travel.com)
are UK agents.
CHICAGO MARATHON
My flatmate Andy and I bought our places for about £55; all we had to do was
pitch up for an 8am kick-off downtown. The opening chords of Bruce
Springsteen's Born to Run signalled the start as 40,000 of us lurched
toward Chicago's silver skyline.
I ran the London marathon in 2004, but only enjoyed the bits where everyone
waves you on. Chicago had 1.5 million spectators, so we resolved to give the
American crowd something to cheer about, high-fiving anything that moved,
applauding the crowd and essentially mucking about. They were warmly
appreciative. The spectators were remarkable, changing in character if not
volume as we went through the Irish, Italian, Hispanic, Greek and Chinese
districts.
The only downside was a lack of obvious medical support. When, after 19 miles,
my left leg stopped working, I yearned for the eager St John's Ambulance
kids you see at the London Marathon. A doctor in the crowd saw me hobbling
and explained I'd strained my iliotibial band... nothing serious, but
spending an hour not knowing makes you feel vulnerable. Still, I crossed the
finish line, picked up a medal - and a licence to gorge on pizza pie and
margaritas for a week.
This year's event is on October 12 (www.chicagomarathon.com).
Sports Tours International (0161-703 8161, www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk)
can organise participation, flights and accommodation for UK runners.
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Since the 18th century Stratford-upon-Avon has been going Shakespeare crazy at
the end of April to celebrate his birthday - 444 this year. You'll find
costumed characters parading all over town, as well as a couple of thousand
enthusiasts taking part in the local Rotary Club's marathon and
half-marathon.
The start is next to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, with the runners
completing a loop around the town centre. The course then heads off towards
the villages of Luddington and Welford, before finishing at The Greenway
next to the river.
Entries have closed for this year's race on April 27. See the website www.shakespearemarathon.org.ukfor details of the 2009 race.
