Halstead & Essex Marathon

Is there anyone on here travelling from London  with room in their car for an extra passenger? I'm happy to share petrol costs.  Having checked timetables I can get an early train as far as Chelmsford but it looks like a cab after that as the Braintree connection (which would still involve a cab journey) would be liable to make me late.

 Alternatively is anyone else getting the train from London and willing to share a cab?

Weather is looking grimmer by the day  and I still haven't forgotten the er.. scent of the fields from last year so cheers for the warning Pete.

Good luck everyone, I'll see you there,

Cheers for the info Fenland runner, from what I know the body takes 18 hours to turn carbs into glycogon which is stored in the liver, this is then released into the bloodstream as glucogen.  So you need to stuff your face a few days beforehand.

As someone who lives on the edge of the fens, I'm guesin Fenland you've done as much hill training as me- none! Nevermind onwards and upwards...

Just gettin to the start line is an acheivement so people hold your heads up high!

See you all Sunday

P.s I'm 271 if you see me flagging give us a jelly bean.

Might live in the Fens but love the hills....

68 miles in a week during a weeks holiday at Easter in Keswick.

The highlights being recce'-ing the Lakeland 50 course from Elterwater to Coniston, plus getting to the top of Skiddaw from Keswick in 79 minutes ( 5 miles and 3000' ft of ascent)...

#377 (IIRC)

Helly d - if you can get to Witham (2 stops on from Chelmsford), we'll be leaving there at about 8 - 8:15 am to arrive at Halstead for around 8:30 - 8:45.

Room for one or two others in the same predicament.

PS: I'm #10, I haven't trained for this, but I did do Ironman New Zealand two months ago!

Fenland Runner - do you mind me asking what target time you're hoping for on Sunday? Sounds like you might be in impressive shape for this...

Looking forward to running this on Sunday, haven't seen a comment from anyone anywhere who doesn't love this race! Must be a good'un.

50% terrified, 50% excited.

Now I'm worried about the rape seed  - especially if it's windy - forecast doesn't seem too good.  (I'm already taking my inhaler to get me up the hills! )

Can anyone give me a lift?! Trains are all messed up, can't get to braintree til gone half 9. Happy to pay petrol costs or share cabs from Chelmsford (easiest place to get to from london).

Thanks!
MIke

Thanks for the offer Suffolk Punch but I'm not sure we can even  get that far ! As Mike above says, there's engineering work meaning the train only goes as far as Billericay, from then on it's a rail replacement bus which is supposed to get to Chelmsford about 08:35.

So far there's me, Mike and AN Other trying to get there on time. If anyone can offer lifts from either London or Chelmsford I'm sure we would be eternally grateful  

I'm not planning on completing in any time, if it starts with a four I'll be more than happy.

White Peak in two weeks which I will be hoping to run a little bit quicker.

Would love to help you guys, the problem is the personal drinks are delivered to the water stations at around 9:15, that really doesn't give enough time to get from Chelmsford to Halstead, even assuming the train/bus does arrive on time!

Didn't realise the trains were that bad on a Sunday, could give you lift back to Chelmsford after the event, if it saves you the cost of a taxi ride.

if you can PM me your mobile number we can meet after the finish. As I said I can make room for up to 3.

Just for fun I decided to jot down the climbs from the GPS Elevation graphic on the Halstead website.

Obviously GPS output must be taken with a pinch of salt but these should be near enough to give some indication of what's in store:

00.25m 95ft
02.00m 45ft
03.60m 25ft
04.60m 55ft
05.60m 25ft
08.10m 20ft
08.60m 85ft
11.30m 15ft
12.30m 60ft
13.65m 30ft
14.65m 15ft
15.30m 25ft
16.25m 55ft
17.25m 25ft
19.75m 20ft
20.25m 85ft
22.50m 25ft
24.00m 45ft
25.25m 40ft

So by that estimation there are 3 climbs of around 85ft or more, half a dozen of about 50ft & a further ten smaller uphills of approx 25ft.

I guess it's the climb that beings in mile 20 that's the part where most people may suffer.

GL everyone who does this.  I'm still 50/50, going to decide tomorrow morning..!

Cheers Chaz, hadn't considered that but think we're going for safety in numbers (all 3 of us).

Off to bed now so good luck all for tomorrow.

ETA, looking at website stansted express is also replaced by a bus till 12:00!