Windermere

Report from Suzanne on the Brathay Windermere marathon. On Sunday 20 May I ran the Brathay Windermere Marathon. It starts just outside Ambleside in the Lake District, and the route takes you round Lake Windermere via Hawkshead and Newby Bridge. This is not a fast course, in fact I was stuggling to find any flat sections. The first half is on closed ‘B’ roads and the second half takes you up towards Windermere on the A952/A591 which does get a little busy with traffic, but the drivers were careful. Most of the course is ‘hilly undulating’ interspersed with some bigger hills between, 1-3 miles, 7-8 miles, 13-17 miles and a ‘mountain’ at 22 miles. The ‘mountain’ has a viewpoint and an ice-cream van at the top should you wish your efforts to be rewarded with a double nougat or a 99 cone. Despite the hills the course is beautiful and there is great support all the way round – helped by the glorious sunshine we had. If you enjoy a challenge and taking part in a beautiful hilly marathon, with a good local atmosphere then this is for you. If you are chasing a PB then probably best to avoid. There was about 800 participants. http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/ First woman: Nicola Shaw at 3:15:46 First man: Mike Jeffries 2:45:30 (Swaledale Road Runners) First and only Bella – me at 4:06:32!