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This was the first of the Enigma series of marathons I have
run in Milton Keynes - 7 and a bit laps of Caldecotte Lake.
Most of these marathons have some kind of double (or triple
or quadruple) element. This one allowed runners to do the
usual course backwards (anticlockwise) at 9am and then
forwards (clockwise) at 3.30pm. I opted to just do the
afternoon marathon!
After a miserably drizzly start to the day (at St Albans
parkun as my warm-up) I was greeted by clouds and a blustery
wind in the afternoon. 24 of us lined up for the start of
the 2nd race, 16 of whom had completed the morning's event
too. I had chosen to try out "run/walk" for this marathon,
running up to a mile, walking for a minute, and then running
up to the next mile. This worked out VERY well for me -
knocking nearly 20 minutes off my last time. Definitely a
tactic I shall use again at another marathon.
Enigma events are low-key (25-40 competitors) and cheap
(about £25), well organised, friendly, and always a good
medal. Many of the regular runners there are 100 marathon
club members. One of them will earn her 1000 mile t-shirt
this year for running over 38 marathons around Milton Keynes
lakes (Caldecotte being the main one, but other marathons
use Willen and Furzton lakes too).
See http://www.enigmarunning.co.uk for more events. |
