HAVING jumped through a variety of health and safety hoops to make it happen, organisers of the Isle of Wight Marathon are delighted it will be going ahead as planned this morning (Sunday).
After putting in much spadework to prove they can meet the Covid-19 guidelines set out by UK Athletics and Run Britain, Ryde Harriers this year’s event will go ahead from the Isle of Wight Community Club, Cowes, at 11am.
Event co-organiser, Chris Lewis, said: "Many thanks to the Isle of Wight Council's safety advisory group and Public Health England for helping us to set this up this year.
"The race will be very different this year, with a socially distanced, seeded start that will allow the runners to spread out quickly.
"To limit the time on the course, there will be an 11am start for slower runners, with the main group starting as normal at 11.30am — expected to catch the slower ones at the four-mile stage, where overtaking can be done safely and socially distanced."
This year, the Isle of Wight Marathon will see some returning winners, with the likes of Gary Marshall (Ryde Harriers) and Sarah Hill (Farnham Runners), who also holds the women’s record for the Cowes course.
Other runners to look out for are Ross Skelton and Ryde Harriers Joe Wade and Charlie Metcalfe.
Due to Covid-19 mitigations there is no entry on the day with 220 runners pre-entered.
The history
First run in 1957, the Isle of Wight Marathon is the oldest continuously run marathon in the UK and 25th in the world list of oldest marathons.
In its early years, it was seen as an elite event, with the best marathon runners in the UK turning up to compete — officially men-only until 1976.
With its 1,505ft of ascent, the old ‘classic’ course was reckoned to be one of the toughest road marathons in the UK.
The modern route
The present course, run from Cowes, over the much 'quieter' — in terms of traffic — West Wight roads.
It is still no mean undertaking, with 785ft of ascent and a particularly long hill at 24 miles — a huge physical and mental challenge for any marathon runner.
"We are asking runners to turn up as late as possible, to limit their use of the venue and to leave straight after finishing, to limit contact between people," added Chris.
From the start, the course heads from Cowes to Shalfleet, via Gurnard and Porchfield, before taking the main road to Yarmouth.
After a brief section along the cycleway, runners return via Thorley, Wellow and Shalfleet, before heading to Porchfield again and returning to Cowes via Pallance Road, the notorious hill at 24 miles.
This year we have some returning winners in Gary Marshall (Ryde Harriers) and Sarah Hill (Farnham Runners) who also holds the women’s record for the Cowes course.
Other runners to look out for are Ross Skelton, Joe Wade and Charlie Metcalfe (last two Ryde Harriers).
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