I am back in Abingdon in time for the Abingdon Marathon. The Caution Runners signs were in place last night when I got home, and this morning the Abingdon Marathon started at Tilsley Park at 9 a.m.
Near the Oxford Road roundabout, three minutes into the race, the first runner, Alex Teuten of Southampton AC, already had a good lead over the other runners. He went on to win in a time of 2 hours 19 minutes and 22 seconds. The fastest ever time in 1986 was 2 hours 19 minutes and 7 seconds (ref 1). So this is the second fastest time and the record for the current course (used since 2016).
The sun was shining at the start and stayed dry throughout, which was a change from recent wet weather.
There were 738 competitors at the start line, and they took a few minutes to all get started.
On Abingdon Market Place (nearly 5 miles into the race), there was a good crowd of spectators to cheer the competitors on.
After the 5-mile mark at St Helen’s Wharf one of the marshals congratulated each of the competitor by name. He sounded like their personal coach. ‘Well done Mike. You are running well Tina & etc.’
I asked him how he knew so many of the runners and he said, their names are on their shirts. It’s an example of the incredible volunteers and marshals who line the course and make this such a fine community marathon.
The event is organised by Abingdon AC and volunteers from clubs across Oxfordshire.
The marathon also helps raise money for good causes, and fosters good relations. Scott was one person fostering good relations and making people smile. He is a Joggler (jogs and juggles) and finished with a time of 4 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds. He has a Sanctuary vest. Sanctuary runners bring people together in communities, especially, asylum seekers and refugees.
I was manning the Thrupp Lake Water Station and the gentleman who won it was already way out in front after only 3 miles. They were all very polite and said “Thank you Marshal” when I gave them water. Some even stopped and put the empty cup back on the table, which was unnecessary and caused a mix-up with the full cups. I tried to give the juggler a cup but he couldn’t take it. He must have been very thirsty by the finish. A good atmosphere all round.
Thank you for sharing your race review, I enjoyed reading your observations as a spectator. The names on the running numbers is a really nice touch, it is lovely to have personalised support all of the way round.
It was a pleasure to joggle the race, I hope to return in the future. I had 1 drop, at mile 21, and did stop at some of the feed stations to shake off my arms, drink water and eat some fruit. I made sure to take a couple of steps backwards before starting juggling again – the ‘rule’ is that I have to joggle every step of the way.
Joggling is niche, but there are several of us around, at least a dozen in the UK. One of us, Tim, has joggled 88 marathons, and counting, to raise money for charity. Read about him here: https://www.joggling.co.uk/. There are also jogglers who run close to, or under 3 hours – the world record is 2:50! I keep track of joggling results on this website: https://jogglingresults.streamlit.app/
Thanks again,
Scott