2008 Race Analysis (Part 2)

A slightly alarming aspect noticed a few minutes before the 'off' , was the narrowing of the course just after the start by many bystanders (including small children) edging onto the road. Combined with a row of empty deckchairs seaward side and a beach hut and stack of deckchairs the other side, there was the possibility of an incident to mar the start of the race. Fortunately, Marshals quickly cleared the standing deckchairs and moved the crowd back to the side.

Then exactly at 9. 30 am, the 1200 plus field surged forward, preceded by a phalanx of Cycle Marshals. From his perch on the commentating gantry, Race Director David Hyde breathed a sigh of relief. After months of planning, numerous meetings, many sleepless nights, it was now down to his team around the course.

The two one mile laps of Paignton Green saw the cream of the field establish themselves at the head of the field.

The first test of the course was the turn by the harbour second time round as the front runners came to lap the tail enders. This year a set of railings had been put in place in the centre of the road to keep the main field to their left and allow free passage for the leaders. It worked!

Streaming off the Green, the cycle formation peeled off to take up their pre-assigned stations, leaving myself at the head of the race and three 'ultra' lead cyclists some 250 metres further ahead as sweepers to give advance warning of the lead runners approaching.

Passing Corbyn Head and the sweep down on to the Torre Abbey promenade, I glanced back to see that the race pattern had already been well established. After a fast start and a short sharp tussle, Toby Lambert had struck the front and was just in front of one of the Kenyans, Zak Kihara, a 2 hour 15 mins marathon man - and a formidable opponent for Toby seeking his fifth consecutive win. The pair had drawn some way clear of the next Kenyan Joseph Mbithi, who was running well considering that he had only arrived from Nairobi on the Friday evening previous.

By the turn at the Torquay Pavilion, Toby had a slender lead over Zak Kihara with over 150 metres back to Joe Mbithi but in fourth place and running noticeably comfortably was fourth placer Adrian Marriot from Yeovil.

For a brief moment Kihara headed Lambert on the run back to Paignton but on looking back a half mile later, the die had been cast.....with Toby clear and running very strongly indeed.

In the ladies race, the Tanzanian import, Banvelia Katesigwa was comfortably clear approaching the turn but Torbay's Helen Parkinson was herself well clear of the rest in second place and closer to the hugely talented leader (2 hrs 25 performer) than anticipated.

Even with the gusting wind - the bane of all runners - it looked like a fast run race and Toby Lambert simply pulled further and further ahead and was clearly enjoying himself.

In the last five miles, Adrian Marriott moved from the third place he had taken before half way to close down and pass Zak Kihara to take second place at the finish.

Zak, who found the Torbay hills somewhat of a shock to his system, finished a highly creditable third.

Approaching the finish in fourth place, Joseph Mbithi was unexpectedly diverted onto the loop back to Torquay and officials chased after him to redirect him back to the finish. Unfortunately, he ran an extra 700 metres or so and lost three places. The reason for this regrettable incident was that he was wearing a 'fun run' number which he and the other Kenyan runner had mistakenly worn.

Storming onto the Green, Toby, who had been cheered on throughout the race by onlookers and competitors alike, was clearly set to demolish his own course record - and he did so in style, crossing the line in 67 minutes 21 seconds.......a remarkable time for the windy conditions.

Ominously for his opponents, Toby was quick to say that he would be back next year!

Part 3 to follow: Reflections

2008 Race Analysis (Part 1)

A sunny day but interspersed on some exposed parts of the course by a significant gusting wind.
The introduction by the sponsors Mizuno of two male Kenyans and one lady Kenyan runner certainly added spice to this year's race.

On paper, the times of the male Kenyans made them significant threats to Toby Lambert and his bid to win the race for a fifth year in a row. However, after a 2hour 18 minutes clocking in this year's London Marathon, Toby was clearly still improving and his course experience would undoubtedly stand him in good stead.

With a record race entry of 1600, the race officials were bracing themselves (Del Boy style) to see how the course would stand up to the extra influx of numbers. The Mid Devon Cycling Club formed the majority of an extra strong cycling marshal contingent.

However, for varied reasons, 'only' about 1200 runners started on Sunday and the course was not tested to its limit.

A major part of the smooth running of the 2008 race was the discipline and awareness of all runners throughout the race. On course cyclists reported that athletes moved over immediately to let overtaking runners past on narrow parts of the course and were every bit as 'professional' as the marshals....as lead cyclist, it was a great relief to see this....huge thankyou to ALL athletes. PART 2 - The race itself to follow...

'Second' lady crossing the line, BUT....

...it's NOT! She's NOT run the complete course AND she's wearing a male race number (someone from Hove in Sussex)..... after being scanned, she quickly disappeared into the crowd. This sort of behaviour causes many problems with results collating and takes up valuable time of officials who are trying their hardest to get the results out as quickly as possible on the day.

Toby Lambert makes it Five Wins!

..and smashes his own course record in the process, breasting the tape in 67 mins 21 secs after a fierce tussle with Kenyan Zak Kihara. Report from the lead cyclist and pictures later today.

It's shaping up for an epic!

There will almost certainly be a record number of starters for this Sunday's Half Marathon. Entries were closed some time ago at 1600.

The quality has been in no way diluted either, with already four time winner and course record holder Tony Lambert toeing the line once more. However, this year he has formidable opposition not only from last year's runner up Kairn Stone from Torbay, but also from two Kenyans brought in by the sponsors, Mizuno. Another Kenyan lady will, inevitably, have a big say in the ladies race.

Info/stats on leading contenders:

Zak Kihara Kenya/Bichfield (29) pb 63-45

Loch Ness Marathon winner 06/07

Edniburgh Marathon winner 05 2-15 pb

Nottingham Half 06 Winner

Redcar Half 08 Winner

Joseph Mbithi Kenya (32)

Winner Istanbul Marathon 05

Winner Edinburgh Marathon 06

2nd Dubai 05 2-11 pb

Half pb 64-08 Eldoret Kenya 07

3RD EDINBURGH HALF 07

Banuelia Katesigwa Tanzania (30)

Marathon pb 2-25 Tokyo 04

Winner Edinburgh 05

Loch Ness 06

Runner Up Plymouth 08

Half pb 70-26 probably in 74/5 shape right now

Winner Kilimanjaro Marathon -Tanzania (altitude) 08

in a time of 2-39

Toby Lambert No1, 1.08.03 London 2008 19th 2.18.40

Kairn Stone No 3, 1.08.16

Helen Parkinson No 2 1.19.36

Torbay Half Marathon website is back online

...so don't panic!

ENTRIES HAVE NOW CLOSED

The 2008 race is full.

And now direct from your Race Director (somewhere on a Hash)...

...the latest update on entries... (David called over for a spontaneous interview, mid-hash!)

Get your entry in quickly......says your Race Director

Right, wakey, wakey.....

With only about 5 weeks to go to the race, there are bound to be enquiries from those new to the race, who need to know some snippet of information that will make them sleep more easily....training for a big race IS stressful, don't let people tell you it isn't.......Well, rather than e-mail or phone (DON'T please) the Race Director, just ask here......We have the answer to EVERY question you have....and we are open EVERY day to check......

This is your Race Director speaking.....(video)

PC hitch now resolved.....

The entry list should now be updating. A thousand entries will have been registered by the end of this week. The entry limit is 1600. You have been warned!

Problem with entry downloads.....

...on to the Half Marathon website. We apologise for the failure to produce up to date entry lists for this year's race. The site is showing about 500 entries but the true number is over 900. The race quota is fast filling up so you are advised to enter quickly before entries are closed. More information as soon as we get it!

Your Race Director....

...David Hyde

Positions make prizes.....

This is the prize list for the 2008 Event.

You will be able to win a position prize (See below) as well as an age category prize at this event.

Prize list Race Winner £400, 1st man£300. ( if not race winner) 1st Lady £300

2nd " £200 2nd " £150

3rd " £150 3rd " £100

4th " £100 4th " £60

5th " £50 5th " £40

Age category prizes worth £30 for 1st position etc.( subject to the level of entries in each category).

Please refer to the details again....

...for yesterday's post regarding the ladies race. Thanks.

Chris Paul

Regarding your queries for the ladies race, the following applies for this year:

... The race winner will receive £400 ..First lady if not the race winner will receive £300, plus every runner will also qualify to receive their age category prize, as per our age prize list. ie first over/ 20, prize value £30.( these will be subject to the level of entries in each category )

There are no other bonuses or course record prizes this year.

If you still wish to enter please do so on line or print off an entry form from our website www.torbayhalfmarathon.co.uk

Re Chris Paul's enquiry

Thanks Chris, we'll get back to you tomorrow with info for you. Sorry for delay as comments had been diverted elsewhere, my fault, sorry.

"Why can't I run with my mp3 player?"

The reason that we set restrictions on the use of mp3 players etc., is due to our concerns for safety on this 2 lap course.

Runners will be using both directions on half of the road width, which is narrow in several places.

Leading runners are lead by cyclists, who will be warning runners as they approach them from behind that they need to move over to allow overtaking and also allow enough space for runners to also pass them going in the opposite direction.

It is vital in these circumstances that marshals instructions can be clearly heard.

A few issues for starters......

1... Do I have to run for the Race charities?

You do not have to run for the Race charities Rowcroft or Macmillan , you can choose your own if you wish.

2..Do not be concerned if you are a slow runner, the finish will remain open until the last runner is in.

3...Currently the www.torbayhalfmarathon site is having a software change, so the entries listed are not up-to-date at present.

4...12 Weeks to go 700 entries so far, please do not leave it too late to enter, it may be full !

Belatedly, the TORBAY HALF MARATHON....

...blog site is up and running. Any enquiries will be answered ASAP.....blog is updated virtually daily, so no need to bite your nails and fret. Expertise is but an e-mail away......let's go....to make an enquiry simply click on the 'comments' logo beneath any post and follow the instructions.....don't worry if your comment is not immediately recognised as it has to be sent via e-mail for the moderator to publish. The answer to your query will, in most cases, be answered simultaneously.

Welcome to the Torbay Half Marathon 2008