More than 1,000 runners took part in the first Hull Marathon on Easter Sunday 8th April 2012.
The race, which started in Alfred Gelder Street at 8am, weaved through some of the Hull’s most historic streets.
The route included landmarks including the KC Stadium, The Deep and the Humber Bridge.
The event, sponsored by Hugh Rice Jewellers, was won by Phil Taylor, of Bridlington, in just over two-and-a-half hours.
Lincsquad members taking part were Gav Mann, Phil Gibbs and Nick Robinson.
It was my first marathon and I was somewhat anxious having run no further than 20 miles in training. What would the last 6 miles be like on my body, many conversations with experienced marathoners had led me to expect this would be when the effects of the distance would really kick in.
The race started and I made a determined effort not to go off like a dog after a rabbit. I regularly checked my pace on my Garmin and held on to approx. 7 minute miles. Even Batman had passed me, never mind I would see him later. After a lap around the centre of Hull and the Hull New Theatre we were off along Anlaby Road and Boothferry Road towards the Humber Bridge. There was a light drizzle for most of the first half of the race, overcast with temperatures of around seven degrees. After an uphill drag along Boothferry road slowing my pace it was great to be crossing the Humber Bridge running on the carriageway. The views only slightly spoiled by the overcast conditions.
There were no mile markers (except at the 13 mile mark) so I was glad I had my Garmin to keep track of distance. Water stations were reasonably spaced with High 5 gels and bottled water with sports caps which meant you could easily take on water without having an unintentional shower in it.
From the bridge it was pretty much all downhill through Hessle, good to be heading back to Hull and the finish. A lap around Pickering Park nearly brought on a tussle with a Goose that decided to cross the lakeside path just at the wrong moment.
The route in to Hull was down Hessle road. It was great to keep running through all the red traffic lights which normally hamper my ride to work.
I was starting to feel a blister coming on my left foot and was praying this wouldn’t get any worse as I still felt relatively fresh.
Around the 17 mile mark my pace was starting to drop but only by 5 to 10 secs per mile. I ran with a chap for the next three mile who had 25 marathons to his credit and his conversation really took my mind off things which was good. On reaching the Ice arena at 20 miles I had to let him go as we turned to head to the riverside at Humber Quays.
As I came around Humber Quays where I work for Spencer (one of the race sponsors) some co-workers were and friends gave welcome shouts of encouragement. The last six miles with aches and niggles become ever more noticeable.
The route followed past the Marina, the Deep and along to a turn point before the ferry terminal. Gav had already turned and was heading back to the finish. I managed to pick off a few runners on this stretch with people cramping up and the slight head wind making things just that bit harder. I was now down to about 8:30 min/miles but thought I had done enough to achieve my 3:15 target finish. I daren’t look at my overall time as I knew I was doing all I could manage and just had to dig in and keep going. It’s definitely mind over body by this point.
The route back into the centre of Hull was great as the crowd support was a big lift. Where was the finish? At this point some mile markers would have been great just to take out any uncertainty around the accuracy of my Garmin (foot pod not gps).
The crowd down the finish straight was great and even managed a sprint finish although there was no one close behind me at the time.
I had finished 3:07:48, very pleased. Now for a massage.
http://www.runbritainrankings.com/results/results.aspx?meetingid=59004
Gav Mann PB 26th 3:00:39
Phil Gibbs PB 42nd 3:07:48
Nick Robinson 6:50th 4:39:05
Scunthorpe & District runner Julian Newell was 10th in an excellent 2:51:01.