|
Site /
Race Result October 2008 Nairobi Half Marathon � 26th October On a bright and warm October morning in Nairobi, 10,000 athletes lined up toe-to-toe ready to tackle a challenging half marathon course at an altitude of 1,600 meters. The fun had already started for me when I landed in Nairobi on the preceding Thursday night, as I was man-handled by a large Kenyan whilst exiting customs who escorted me to a safari park to face the Kenyan media. What did they want to know?......
Strangely and oddly they wanted my advice on how to run a half marathon, clearly as many of you know I don�t have a clue on how to run a HM. I just hope I didn�t ruin too many tactics in the race and subsequent running careers. There was an air of hunger and expectancy from the Kenyans who had turned up wanting to win the No. 1 prestige sporting event in the Kenya calendar, and thus becoming the next running immortal from the world�s powerbase of long distance running. I managed to get into the mix and get 5 meters from the front; this tactic would prove to be interesting. After the gun there was a mass scramble to reach the front, which made the opening of the Harrods sale and the Zayed 6 miler look tame. There were many casualties who had fallen to the ground in this mad rush, these runners were hurdled in true Kenyan steeplechasing style, no wonder Kenya dominate this event in the Olympics. I had also raced too keenly in the first 2km (7min 15) so I applied the hand brake and settled into a sensible cruising speed. Encouraged by the large partisan crowd who had lined the streets to cheer their national hero�s (not me) I started to pick off runners who were feeling the blistering early pace. At 10km the altitude was affecting my breathing and my heartbeat was at 185 bpm, I continued the assault to the finish line knowing if I stopped it would only break my resolve. I finished the race in 1:30:20 (Gun time) and plunged straight into the Tusker beers. Gil Madrid from the Dubai Creek Striders ran a good race in 1:42.  ABRaS Mina 10K Race Series 2008/09 Friday 17th October saw the first of the ABRaS 10km trilogy for the 2008/9 season, held at the Mina Seyahi. Near perfect weather conditions for this time of year meant a turn out of close to 220 runners toed the line. Amidst rumours of international athletes beforehand and a fast, flat course, quick times were anticipated. As well as the red hot looking runners at the front there were lots of new faces throughout the field and amongst the regular UAE runners. With some looking to complete the distance for the first time, others looking to improve on their PB, there was a healthy competitive spirit in the air as the field toed the line. From the gun Andrey Varakin from Russian, opportunely holidaying in Dubai, Kenyan athlete Isack Lagat and ABRaS new sensation Christian Pollock took to the front, hotly pursued by Emma Phillips. Chris Sellar of Dubai Tri Club, winner of the last ABRaS 10k in May, adopted a similar approach to that race, starting off steadily and slowly increasing the pace. Just behind were the familiar trio of Terry Hislop , Chris Taylor and Andy Keron - the latter sporting a nice shiny new ABRaS vest (despite Andy being one of the original ABRaS this was the vests first outing)!! Hislop is still not talking to him and no doubt Murph will be having words. After the first couple of kilometres, Varakin had eased gently into the lead, looking very comfortable and smooth. Lagat, in a rather fetching DRR vest (DRR Chief, Graham Rafferty clearly showing he is a man with connections at Dubai�s immigration department!) was also looking strong. Pollock, quickly realising he was not going to maintain that kind of blistering pace over the longer distance (only his second competitive 10km race) dropped back and went head to head in an eagerly anticipated tussle with Sellar. Further down, Emma had dropped just behind Taylor, Hislop and Keron, who had started to drop off slightly. Phil Clarke, in the shape of his life, was giving chase just behind. Anna Berrill was looking good even after a week of hard marathon training but was being keenly pursued by fellow ABRaS runner Frederique Idris. Likewise, Frederique was being chased by DCS runner Sarah Opperman who is in great shape having smashed her 5 k PB only a few weeks previously . DCS� Tracey Watson was in fine form, as ever, and comfortably leading the womens vets field, while ABRaS runners Angeline Wehbe and Amanda Nimon Peters were having a tussle with DCS� Naomi Ferguson. By the end of the first lap, Varakin, had effortlessly extended his lead over Lagat by a considerable margin and was looking strong. As the field went out on its second lap it was great to see so many ABRaS putting all the hard training to good use as they settled into the pace of the race, including that of new ABRaS coach Julie Rayfield who was on for a much better time than in May. It was also good to see so many club runners throughout the whole field, including DRRs Graham Rafferty and DCS Chairman Malcolm Murphy and a good number of Abu Dhabi Striders making the drive over from the capital. Unfortunately Mirdiff Milers Chairman Martin Scadden was unable to race although many milers were spotted in the pack. On the 2nd lap not too much changed in the positions at the front of the field with the male and female open teams looking sewn up by the ABRaS and DCS dominating the male vets team event, although the women�s vets team race was not so clear cut, could DRR snatch the first place medals?. DCS stalwart and top vet Hislop, obviously aging like a fine chardonnay, so oaky it tasted as if it had been aged in a box of No. 2 pencils, glided past the blowing Taylor (who is aging more like a stale, week old pint of Blue Nun). Further back, Phil Clarke was hunting down the tiring Emma Phillips after her customary sprint start. By this point many runners were locked in personal battles with the clock and fellow runners and the true competitive spirit that only racing can evoke was apparent throughout the field. The nature of the course provided good vocal support and it was encouraging to see runners rally to the shouts (and abuse) from supporters and marshals. During the final lap, Varakin remained way out in front while Pollock upped the pace and dropped Sellar. He then started chasing down Lagat, ultimately engaging in an incredible sprint to the finish � the young Aussie star just pipped Lagat on the line to snatch second place in what must surely be one of the most exciting finishes in a local race this year. Varakin had won the race with near perfect even splits of 11 minutes per lap to come in a little over 33 minutes!! He was now sipping pi�a colada�s on the promenade basking in his glory. Fourth was Sellar � still looking smooth in his usual relaxed style. Hislop came home an incredible fifth and first vet overall with a great sub-37 minute finishing time for a man of his age. Taylor, who had been seen injecting multiple sachet�s of Go Gels at 6 o�clock, limped home with mutterings of giving up racing for good to take up tiddlywinks. Andy �Wild man of Borneo� Keron, hair flowing behind him like a golden mane, priming himself for the next Timotei advert, cruised home in 7th (completing the ABRaS winning men�s team). Emma (first lady) came home shortly afterwards, just leading Clarke, who is now all set for his Nairobi half next week and in the shape of his life after training like a beast for the past 2 months. A fabulous run by relative ABRaS newcomer Darryl Chiles saw him knocking over 8 minutes off his PB to break 40 mins, finishing 11th in the mens field just behind the improving Abu Dhabi Strider Sean Stewart and 9th placed man, Andy Nielson. Mike Morris of DCS had a solid run to finish 1st VM40 and break 40 mins. In the womens field, Anna, Frederique and Sarah all held their positions for 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Although Tracey was safe in 5th (1st FV40) an exciting race for the next 3 positions had developed. Angeline came through in 6th with Amanda just managing to catch Naomi before the final bend. Following Hislops heroics as first VM45 and 5th place overall came two other outstanding performances by male vets. Jean Luc Pras finished 11th male overall and comfortably 1st MV50 in an excellent 40:56 and DRRs Tom Burgess in the MV55 + category ran a superb 43:34 finishing nearly 8 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Further down the men�s field another ABRaS runner Dominic Morris had a storming run to reduce his pb to 42:56 from 48 minutes! At the younger end of the field Ryan Harris of ABRaS had a solid run, finishing in 45:42, to win the Junior mens category for the second time. Jane Beere of ABRaS, outstanding as ever in the FV45 category, a clear winner by 8 minutes, finished in a superb 44:46. DRRs Carol Pollock had another great run to take the FV50 1st place, just missing out on a sub 50 mins clocking. The team placings proved more difficult to calculate given that not everyone had included the club they wished to run for in their registration. However, club vests worn during the race were noted by the race organisers and results calculated accordingly. For the second time running, ABRaS men and women teams took the overall team prizes with DCS and DRR second in both. The same DCS men�s team (Hislop, Morris Dave Thurley) that placed second mens team overall comfortably won the vets mens team from DRR and Abu Dhabi Striders. In the women�s vets team competition DCS just edged out DRR by 1 point. Special mention must go to Fabrice for being the fastest man on the day. Not on the actual 10km course, but upon hearing he had won a breakfast voucher in the prize draw. Team Results: Female Team: 1. ABRaS AC = 6
2. Dubai Creek Striders = 17
3. Dubai Road Runners = 55
Male Team: 1. ABRaS AC = 15
2. Dubai Creek Striders = 35
3. Dubai Road Runners = 43
Female Vets Team: 1. Dubai Creek Striders = 14
2. Dubai Road Runners = 15
Male Vets Team: 1. Dubai Creek Striders = 7
2. Dubai Road Runners = 39
3. Abu Dhabi Striders = 66
ABRaS AC would like to thank all those who took part in the race, the Mina Seyahi and Westin hotels, Chris, Maddie and all the Club Mina staff and all the volunteers and helpers on the day. These include: Race Committee: Malcolm & Jane, Carol, Angeline, Anna & Nick. Helpers � Fabrice (photos & results), Terry, Debbie, Gigi, Richard, Carole, Andy B, Neil, Pete, Karine, Valerie, Luc, Phil, Andy K, Angela, Amelia. Bernie � nurse. Premier Marathons & ChampionChip. See you all next time! |
