ORKNEY, UK
WITH THANKS TO THE DIGITAL MEDIA ORKNEYPROJECT FOR ORGANISING SAM MURPHYâS TRIPthe sudden approach offootsteps from behind,as someone whoâs pacedit better passes with amerry âWell done!âMost of the marathoncompetitors are local.Other than three overseasrunners, I think I take theprize for âlongest journeytravelledâ, having come upfrom the UKâs south coast,though I do meet a couplefrom Kent; itâs Simonâs90th marathon and heâshoping to join the 100Marathon Club by the endof the year. âItâs hard tofind marathons at thistime of year and we likedthe sound of Orkney,â hetells me. âItâs different.âDifferent it is. This isnot a race for those wholike the perpetual roar ofclapping and cheering.``````Here, spectators comemostly in ones and twos,standing at the bottom oftheir gardens offeringwords of encouragement.The stretch from thevillage of Evie, around18 miles in, gets hillier.And as the mile markersreach the early twentiesIâm beginning to think Iâllneed one of St Magnusâsmiracles to finish. Theshort offroad sectionduring the last mile hasme tottering like Bambi,on legs with nothing moreto give, but, finally, Iâmrunning beneath the finishgantry in front of a smallbut enthusiastic crowd.Within half an hour Iâvehad a gentle rubdownand a cup of tea. I feelmuch revived but Iâm stillwondering if Iâve enough``````energy for the eveningceilidh and prize-giving.However, an afternoonnap works wonders andIâm pleased to report thatStripping the Willow(the dance, that is, notsome kind of tree-hatingactivity) is a great wayto ease post-marathonstiffness. The ceilidh isa lovely touch, a way forrunners in all three racesto come together.As I head to the airportthe following day, after astiff-legged walk aroundKirkwall and a properlook at that stunningcathedral, I get just atantalising glimpse of theRing of Brodgar, a stonecircle to rival Stonehengeand one of many Neolithicmonuments on the island.It leaves me with theslightly giddy feelingthat I have unfinishedbusiness in Orkney.Iâll definitely be back.The 2018 St Magnus Marathontakes place on July 1.birsayhall.comFor information on reachingand staying in Orkney, go tovisitorkney.com ``````behind was built in 1137in honour of MagnusErlendsson, who ruledOrkney with his cousin,Hakon, from 1105 until 1117,when Hakon contrived tohave Magnus put to death.And itâs thanks to Magnusthat Iâm here. The raceis commemorating the900th anniversary of hisdeath, tracing (in reverse)the journey from Birsay,where he was first buried(and where miracleswere observed, leadingto his canonisation), tothe cathedral in Kirkwall,to where his remainswere later moved.A trial run of the racetook place in 2016. âSomesaid they found it verychallenging,â Ian told me.âOthers thought it wasbeautiful.â Itâs both.With just under 500mof climb, it is not an easycourse, made doublychallenging in thisinstance by the fact thatthe wind was blowing thewrong way (it being apoint-to-point route).Clues to the power of thewind on the island lie inits landscape. Trees arealmost entirely absent âthose that thrive musthuddle at the bottom ofvalleys â but the island isstill verdant, with pillowy,green hills and wide, openplains in shades of green,rust and yellow.After four mostlyupward miles, we reachthe highest point of theroute, gaining views ofthe Bay of Firth beforedescending into thevillage of Finstown.The route continuesto undulate gently, likea rollercoaster forbeginners, alongdrystone-walled lanes,past fields of cattle andShetland ponies.With just 63 runners inthe full marathon (anda further 370 in the 10Kand 5K runs, both startingnear the marathon finishat Birsay), I find myselfrunning alone much of thetime. Occasionally I spota flash of neon Lycra upahead and manage to reelin a flagging runner. Othertimes, itâs me who hears``````Finishing statsâ Under 3:45 16%â 3:45-4:15 32%â 4:15-5:00 32%â 5:00+ 20%``````THE RUNDOWNSt MagnusMarathon(2017 results)First man: JeffPyrah, 2:56:05First woman: ShonaYoung, 3:3 7:4 6No. of finishers: 63(100 per cent)Last finisher:5:52:35
ST MAGNUS MARATHON RACENORTHERNEXPOSUREThe St MagnusMarathon isa real tester,but the sightsare magnificentand the medal issuitably hefty``````JULY 2018 RUNNERSWORLD.CO.UK 089``````PHOTOGRAPHS: KEN AMER
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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