Race review: #52: Southend Pier marathon

Southend-On-Sea Pier Marathon. Sunday, 12th March 2018 

Spot the Pier...

In my journey to complete 100 marathons, I do like to enter quirky oddball races. Last year I had completed the multi-storey car marathon, organised by Sussex Trail Events.  This year STE had once again outdone themselves, organising the world's first marathon run entirely on a pier, and the worlds first marathon completely over water. Nothing else would do, but to chose the worlds longest pleasure pier in Southend-on-Sea.  It is just over 2K long (2,158 meters if you want the exact figure). Wikipedia tells me it is nearly twice as long as the second longest one in Southport.

The week leading up to the run I had been over in Poland with work. I had a very early flight on the Saturday back from Krakow, with the race being the next day. Coming into Heathrow, we flew right over Southend and I could see the pier jutting out into sea. My heart sank a little as I realised in 24 hours time, I'd be running up and down the damn thing 11 times. 

No sooner had I got home from my flight, it was time to pick up my race kit (packed the weekend before), bundle the family into the car and then head over from Hampshire to Essex. I had booked a night in the Premier Inn in Southend.  

We passed on the opportunity to view the local tourist attraction, which was the Kelvedon Hatch nuclear bunker... I wonder what else Southend had to offer... except the pier.  We had a brief wander along the seafront, around the entrance to the pier and then around the shops. We found a lovely greasy spoon (Lena's Cafe) under the arches of the pier, where I had my customary pre-race dinner of fish and chips, and apple crumble. A cheerful singing waiter completed the night.

After sleeping like a dead thing all night, I woke up nice and early, got my running kit on and headed down for breakfast. Sadly I had to pass on the full English, running 26.2 miles on greasy bacon and eggs would make for an 'interesting' experience.  I left the hotel. The cheery recepitionist called me mad when I told her what I was about to do, and offered me a bottle of water. I walked the half a mile towards the pier - it was quite chilly and lightly raining, and looked like it had been all night.

Race instructions told us to meet Danny and Jay from STE underneath the pier to collect our race bibs and timing chips. There was a little crowd of runners milling about, but no sign of the organisers. I did bump into my running buddy Julie though, who'd I'd run Punchbowl with the previous year. It was great to catch up. A little moment of panic set in - had STE had one too many in the pub the night before and slept in?  My fears were unfounded, as the pier visitor centre doors swung open, and we headed inside to form an orderly queue.

I collected my race number - 415 - and made my way up a set of stairs and out onto the pier. I had to pass the booth, where a lady took my name and ticked me off the list for the 'free' entry to the Pier.  Well, I was going to be here for at least six hours so at least I'd get my moneys worth. The pier wasn't open to the general public yet, so it was just a crowd of nervous looking runners milling about. I took the opportunity for a quick selfie with Julie and some light hearted banter about the race, before focusing on avoiding the nerves which had set in.

As I was waiting at the start, I saw Stephen Cousins who makes the 'Film My Run' videos on YouTube. He was filming and I said hello - I even made it onto the video.

After a short wait, Jay from Sussex Trail Events asked us to gather round for a race briefing. There was also the lady from Southend Council present. We'd got six and a half hours to get the job done, which I thought was generous for a flat course.  There was a bit of confusion about do runners keep left or do you keep right - I think most people just thought, "just don't bump into anyone!". The council lady sounded the start horn and we were off.

From the start line we headed onto the pier proper, and a short downhill section which was quite slippery. The pier was dead straight, and in the distance you could clearly see the end of the pier and just make out the turn around point.  To the left was the train tracks - the pier is so long, you can actually take a light railway to get you to the end.

2K to go to the end

That first lap everyone just charged off, but I kept to my run/walk strategy of 90 seconds run, 30 seconds walk.  Further out into the Thames Estuary, it got windier and felt colder. I had on my running jacket and a base layer, full length leggings, hat and gloves. I was glad I was wrapped up so well yet I still felt chilly. I've no idea how the speedy ones cope in just vest and shorts.

As we all headed down to the end of the pier, there were little shelters with benches on, and also miler markers every third of a mile. As we reached the end of the pier, there were a few little food places (all closed of course) and Jamie Oliver's Cafe (from Jimmy and Jamies Friday Night Feasts, which was shown on Channel 4). We went past a sign telling us that it was the end of the pier, went around a cone and a friendly marshal then turned around.  Now we had to run back to the start, once again along the dead straight pier.  There were a few little beach huts here, which were attractively painted. 

It was still raining at this point, but more of an annoying drizzle.  Back we went, back past the same shelters, mile markers and train tracks. There was a great view of the shoreline though, and the boats in the distance.  I headed back up the ramped section of the pier and toward the lap point (which also served as the finish line). Marshals shouted a lot of encouragement, as they did on each lap - that really helped keep me motivated.  I went around yet another cone and the first lap was done!  Here there was an aid station, with loads of nibbles - crisps, sausage rolls, sweets, coke, squash, water etc.  I stuffed my face as best I could, and started on lap 2.  Only 10 more laps to go....?!

On I ran, and as I reached the end of the pier, the faster runners were starting to overtake me. This made for a bit of congestion here and there as people almost hit into each other.  As I reached the end of the second lap, I saw a guy slip up turning around past the cone. He was alright though, he picked himself up and went off.  As I started lap 3, the rain had finally stopped and the sun even started peeping through the clouds.  As I completed lap 3, I decided to go down to a single layer on my top half, as I was feeling quite warm.  That was a big mistake!  The wind off the Thames Estuary cut right through me and I felt very cold by the end of that third lap.  The coat went back on. Warmth restored, and more sweets consumed, I started on my third lap.

I was worried that going up and down would be dead boring, but there was plenty to see as you went along. I also chatted to a few of my fellow runners, including some Medway Runners which helped pass the time as we swapped stories.

Now it was a matter of digging in and getting the job done. The laps went up... 3...4...5.  As I got into higher numbers I somehow lost count but fortunately had my Garmin on so could try and work it out. By now the pier was open to the public, with increasing numbers of people milling about. I got the usual sort of comments about "is this for charity", "you are mad", "run Forrest run" and so on.  By lap six some of the faster runners had finished. The running was getting a bit easier as there were less of us to dodge around.

The train was going back and forth along the pier, and each time the driver was waving and tooting the train horn , this was great.  I was on lap 9 now, and it was getting really tough. The problem with running on dead flat surfaces, is that the same muscles get a real beasting. There are no hills to force you to slow down or use different muscles. After twenty miles of it, I was really feeling it.  The train went past and I saw Mel and the kids, they waved then pulled silly faces at me!  They were just getting off the train at the end of the pier. "It's so cold!" they said - haha trying running it... they wished me good luck and I told them I just had 1.5 laps left.  I was feeling really tired by now, so I just power walked my way back to the start point.

At last, I was on my last lap - number 11. I resumed the run/walk, although I had slowed down a lot by now. I was chatting to some fellow runners who had enough too, I offered plenty of encouragement. This helped me keep going to the turn point. At last! My final plod along the pier, towards the finish.

That last section just seemed to go on forever - I just seemed to crawl along even though I was still going at a reasonable pace. Eventually I got to the ramp back up the entrance, where Jay was waiting for me with a finishers medal and even gave me a quick "race director hug"! At last, I was done. The medal was really very nice. I had finished in what I thought was a reasonable 5 hours 13 - well that's good for me anyway!  I walked back downstairs and waited for the train to come back in - to be reunited the family.  I limped back to the car, and made our way home, but satisfied that the Pier had been conquered!