It is not a life sentence at Parkhurst, just a potted history of my association with the Isle Of Wight marathon. It actually began a year earlier when on holiday with friends in the Gower. We came to an agreement, I would take him rock climbing, and he would take me running. Well the rock climbing has faded into distance, but the running has continued ever since.
Initially when we went out I would have a little walk every few minutes, so when I managed to run for a mile without stopping I thought I had this running lark cracked? Things progressed from there to joining Crawley AC and regular training runs. Pretty soon I got to thinking about running a marathon, and after listening to fellow club members I chose the Isle of Wight marathon, mainly on the basis that it is only one lap, therefore once started the temptation of dropping out is severely limited. So in May 1980 I started this race, with very little idea of what I was really taking on, and no idea of how many hills there were, with a total ascent of 1505 feet over the 26 miles and 385 yards. The weather was so hot that the tar on the road was tacky and could be heard sticking to your shoes as you ran along. Eventually after 3 hours 51 minutes I finished the race running along the seawall at Ryde, which gave the race a grandstand finish.
Finishing the race did not mean the end of my aches and pains, I was dehydrated felt sick, and was several times. The legs were suffering with cramp one leg after another taking it in turns, and was unable to put on my own socks and shoes, Sue had to do it for me. Desperate for some tea as a change from the squash that I had been given during the race, we went in search for a café, and found a fish and chip restaurant that served us. The atmosphere in the restaurant felt warm and stuffy. After having a cup of tea I could feel it coming back and rushed out into the street and was ill in the gutter. Leaving Sue to explain to the customers the reason for my behaviour was that I had just run a marathon, and not that I had drunk too much in the pub. I started to feel a little better so we went and found our B&B then met the rest of the Crawley party at the prearranged restaurant. There I could only pick at my meal as my stomach still felt rather elastic, and I still had to go and sit outside every now and again for some fresh air. Things improved though, and I returned more or less to normal by the end of the evening, apart from waking up in the middle of the night feeling ravenously hungry and rummaging in our bags for anything to eat.
After that experience you would think that I would never do another marathon, but I was hooked, and was determined to do better, so I was back the following year, and every year since, plus other marathons in-between.
With training, times were coming down. Then I had my next target.
Ryde Harriers used to hand out time standard medals. If you managed 2 hours 47 minutes or better, a gold medal was awarded to you. If you managed 3 hours 10 minutes you earned a silver medal.
A gold medal was way out of my league, but I thought that a silver one was within my reach. At my first serious attempt to gain one I did 3 hours 10 minutes and 25 seconds, just missed? But the following year I was rewarded with a time of 3 hours 3 minutes and 12 seconds, a very pleasing result, which also happens to be my fastest time on the Isle of Wight. Over the years I have gained 4 silver medals. Unfortunately this award scheme has been discontinued, so I prize those medals very much.
Another highlight was 1992 when I made the scoring team. We won third team prize plus first Vet team. We had 3 Crawley finishers in less than a minute. We were chasing each other into the finish fighting for team places.
Getting older has its benefits, as I managed to win the first over 50 prize in 1996 with a time of 3 hours 16 minutes and 2 seconds. So I am hoping to do as well in 2005 when I move into the Vet 60 class.
In 2001 I was given a special prize of a cut glass engraved tankard for completing 21 consecutive Isle of Wight Marathons, 1980-2000.
More often than not the weather for this event is warm, usually too warm for fast running, but it has rained on occasions. One year at around the 7 mile mark there was a sudden rain storm and the road was under 6 inches of water for about 100 yards or more, and in 2003 the weather was appalling, with it blowing a gale and heavy rain all the way.
This year (2004) was my 25th time of
running this event. Next year I move into the Vet 60 class, and the year after
is the fiftieth running of the marathon, so that’s at least two more I have to
do, after that it’s a matter of taking it one year at a time. And who knows I
may even make it into the vet 70 class. That would make it 36 Isle of Wight
Marathons. That would be some record?
Jim Parker - Crawley A.C.