Archive News
Chairman of UK Athletics
Chairman of UK Athletics, Ed Warner, clocked 3:23:10. Warner has a best time of 3:17, but said he was affected by the heat.
Warner has been running for ten years and has a best of 3:17. He is a member of Fittleworth Flyers in Sussex. He has already run a 10km and half marathon in Brighton.
2011 Brighton Marathon
The Brighton Marathon celebrated its second year in style with two new sparkling course records on yet another morning of glorious sunny weather.
All the plaudits were for the women’s winner Alyson Dixon who obliterated the course record by over half an hour.
The Liz McColgan-coached Dixon demolished the inaugural time by a full 30mins and into the bargain set a qualifying time of 2:34:51for the World championships in Daegu later this summer.
On the men’s side Kenya’s Philemon Kiprop Boit smashed the record by almost three minutes, breaking the tape in 2:16:07. The previous benchmark of 2:19:05 stood to Mongolian B. Serod from 2010.
Second was compatriot, Richard Bett Rotich (2:16:32) and third, Ethiopian Ambessa Tolosa, a further 21sec adrift.
First Briton home was Stroud’s Dan Robinson in fourth, just outside the previous course record in a detached 2:19:11.
“The course is good,” said Dixon, but I found the first hill difficult. I had a bad patch at eight miles and I started to suffer but I managed to recover by half-way. At 23-24 miles I was suffering again but Richard Nerurkar (Elite athlete coordinator) was shouting encouragement and that helped a lot.
“I was hoping for a personal best, but to qualify for the world championships is amazing. I am so delighted.”
Local athlete Jo Bryce held the record from 2010 of 3:04:55.
Second woman was Lucy MacAlister in 2:40:35 with Julie Briscoe third in a time of 2:41:11. In fourth Jenny Blizard set a personal best 2:46:01 while Bryce broke 3hrs for the first time with a time of 2:59:39.
“The crowds were marvellous,” said Blizard. There were a lot of undulations and it was tough at the beginning but it was nice because the second half was easier. It was good to have our names on our vests because it gave it a personal touch.”
After two training spells in Kenya this winter, McColgan forecast at least a personal best for Dixon (by well over eight minutes as it turned out) but was ecstatic about the world championship qualifying time: “She is in fantastic shape and she showed it today. There is more to come. She only started running seriously at the age of 33. She did exactly today what we planned and stuck to the splits we had set ourselves. Now let’s see if she is picked for Daegu.”
Kiprop said he was happy, but the course was tough, especially the first half. But I hope to come back next year and run a better time.”
Bett described the course as “challenging. The second half was a lot better. I tried to push Kiprop but he was just too strong for me.
Tolosa experienced pain in his legs so was unable to attach his best time of 2:08:56 which had been his original intention: “I enjoyed the course immensely,” he said. “I was confident for most of the race, but the leg pain slowed me down.”
Women's race winner
First woman was the Liz McColgan-coached Alyson Dixon who obliterated the inaugural record and set a qualifying time of 2:34:51 for the World championships in Daegu later this summer.
“The course is good,” said Dixon, "but I found the first hill difficult. I had a bad patch at eight miles and I started to suffer but I managed to recover by half-way. At 23-24 miles I was suffering again but Richard Nerurkar was shouting encouragement and that helped a lot.
“I was hoping for a personal best, but to qualify for the world championships is amazing. I am so delighted.”
Local athlete Jo Bryce held the record from 2010 of 3:04:55.
Second woman was Lucy MacAlister in 2:40:35 with Julie Briscoe third in a time of 2:41:11
Men's race winner
Kenya’s Philemon Kiprop Boit smashed the course record by almost three minutes when he won the second Brighton marathon in 2:16:07on a warm, windless morning on the south coast.
The previous record stood to Mongolian B. Serod in 2:19:05.
Second was compatriot, Richard Bett Rotich (2:16:32) and third, Ethiopian Ambessa Tolosa, a further 22sec adrift.
First Briton home was Stroud’s Dan Robinson in fourth, just outside the previous course record in 2:19:13.
Five-mile mark
At the five-mile mark, Tolosa, Bett and Kiprop were leading with Robinson and pace maker Andi Jones alongside, the group of five going through in 25:50 which represents 2:15:28 pace, half a minute inside the qualifying time for Daegu.
Meanwhile, Dixon held a slender five-second advantage over Lucy MacAlister in the women’s race. Dixon went through in 29:20, representing a finish time close to 2:33. well on course for a new record if the pace was maintained. At this stage, Briscoe was a further 29sec down.
At the half-way mark reached in 67:16, Kiprop held a slender five-second lead over Bett. Then there was a 39sec gap to Robinson with Tolosa on his heels. Despite the gap, the Stroud man looked comfortable and could have been playing his usual waiting game.
Dixon had extended her lead in the women’s race, passing under the half-way arch in 77min approx, with MacAlister now a minute behind and Briscoe detached by a further minute.
Brighton Marathon Race Press Conference – April 8th Hilton Hotel
Former world 1500m champion, Steve Cram, and marathon Olympian, Dan Robinson, spoke this morning at the launch press conference for the second Brighton Marathon which takes place on Sunday April 10.
Cram said that the main aim in training for the marathon is “to have fun as well as bearing in mind the practicalities, such as careful rehydration starting the morning before the race.”
Cram, a world-class track runner in his heyday, first ran a marathon 13 years ago breaking three hours, but admitted that last year he was not prepared for the marathon he ran and had to walk in parts.
In the race, instead of taking deep draughts of water “it is best to take small sips on a regular basis and above all, not to rush yourself. Adopt a slow, steady pace at the start and, above all, have fun,” he advised.
Robinson, who had a poor European championships finishing well down the field, explained that he had a good rest after Barcelona, but that now he is fit and has been training since November. “My motivation has been the Brighton marathon and to finish in the top three or five.”
Talking about the Brighton course he said: “The first half is difficult with undulations, but the second half suits me better.
“If it is hot, I will start slow and steady and take on plenty of water. If it is hot (expected 21C) the times could be affected by some two minutes. I am aiming for 2:12 together with Ambessa (Tolosa Eth) but my priority is to qualify for the world championships in Daegu.” The qualifying time for Korea this summer is 2hr16min.
Tolosa added that he is planning to run with Robinson until the half-way mark and then pick up the pace for an expected 2hr12min finish. Tolosa’s best time of 2hr08min56sec came in Paris seven years ago, but he thinks the heat in Brighton will affect times by two to three minutes on Sunday.
To prepare for a marathon, Robinson concentrates on taking on carbohydrates and protein the night before and make sure that you take a rest on night before race day so that you are in good shape for the next day.”
Cram emphasised that the fun runner should ensure that their first marathon is a good experience: “People should set themselves realistic targets.” Concerning his own marathon running career, he was asked if he would consider running Brighton next year: “There is a slim chance,” he answered. “There are no plans yet. I have not chosen my charity events for next year.”
Robinson highlighted mental attitude as crucial to a successful race. “I will save myself for the last kilometres and dip my legs in the sea if I get a chance!” Commenting on the Grand Hotel Mini Mile with more than 1000 children participating over the final mile of the race, Robinson said: “The important thing is that it should be fun for young people to take part. It should give them the enthusiasm and drive to participate in further running events.”
For more information contact:
Press Officer Michael Butcher
Tel. 08453 100088
Email: info@brightonmarathon.co.uk
