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A Polish view of the Salclear Isle of Man Marathon
Marathon in the country which does not exist.
Two
hours after departing from Liverpool we saw
appearing from the Irish Sea, the mountainous
and small IOM. Two hours later we docked in capital of island Douglas.
And that how I started my adventure in Isle of Man.
With
a population of just over 80 thousand it is a very strange country. Political maps
indicate that IOM is a part of GB but it is not possible to find it in
independent countries index. On the other hand IOM is a territory independent from
UK and recognizing the queen. So that is not exactly a British territory and IOM
is not a part of EU. You can see everywhere three legged flags – can not be any
better for the country organising marathon.
In the country of kangaroos (wallabies)…
IOM
has its own currency, post and parliament. Locals are proud of their heritage
and saying that Tynwald is continuation of the Viking tradition. One and a half
century ago locals still were using a Manx Gaelic language.
IOM
has a lot to offer for holiday makers. Like picturesque castles in Peel and
Castletown from the Middle Ages, scenic hills, high cliffs and historical
trains.
Interesting
is that they have living in the wild, kangaroos(wallabies) which escaped from
the Wildlife Park and found their place in island natural environment.
Unfortunately
polish tourists can be put off by a high hotel prices – double room from £40.00
per night.
Up
and down a hill.
Marathon took place on the 9th of August and was accompanied by a
half marathon. Competition was organised with perfection. All contestants could
use bus transport from Douglas to Ramsey where
were located start and finish. Half marathon contestants had to run one lap and
marathon runners had to do two laps and that was why they started an hour
earlier. Seeing the landscape you knew straight away that would not be an easy
run. We expected a lot of running up hill.
Over
130 contestants started from the promenade. The track was very well secured,
lots of drinking points but unfortunately not with isotonic drinks. Clear
distance signs but only in miles.
My
plan was to run a mile in 7 minutes and 5 seconds but runs up and runs down
made impossible keeping the same pace.
During the run I could find it out what is a real loneliness of the runner. After a
few kilometres I run just on my own. Sometimes I could not see any one from the
front as well as from the back, not contestant, not supporter not even building
or car.
Thankfully
I could improve my performance on the second lap when closing down other
runners helped me keeping a pace.
First sightseeing, then run
On
the track I paid the price for my enjoyment of sightseeing. On Friday before
the race I went cycling and climbed to the top of the local mountain Snaefell.
That all had to affect my performance and last kilometres I ran on the soft
legs. I was 65 second off my lifetime personal best. In a last 200 meters I
overtook a runner who I had been closing down for the last 5 kilometres. That how
I beat the first place woman – Rebecca Johnson and with the time 3:09:35 I took 8th place
in the general classification. In my age group I was second without any chance
for better because winner of the whole run Ben Scott took first place.
For
the first time I participated in a run where they use chips on the wrists and
on the finish line everyone received slip with his run time and place.
The world goes forward…
(tranlated by Arkadiusz, a manager of the Welbeck Hotel)
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