Green Chain Marathon: 18 September 2011

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All runners

Pos arrow Name arrow Time arrow Cat arrow Club arrow Pace arrow
1 1 Charlotte Jane Smith 4:16:34 FV35 Serpentine 9:47
2 2 Rostyslav Braharnyk 4:36:58 SM Serpentine 10:34

Report

This is a beautiful, unusual, varied course – from ancient woodland to suburban roads. You follow a significant part of the Green Chain Walk in south-east London, through areas including Oxleas Wood and Shooters Hill. Landmarks include the ruins of Lesnes Abbey, which was built in the twelfth century but destroyed during the Reformation. A stretch by the river heading east from Thamesmead goes near the historic Crossness engine sewage plant designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgate in 1858. The route back includes Eltham Park, Eltham Palace and Mottingham. The scenery changes from forest paths to urban tower blocks, including sports grounds, woodland steps, semi-detached houses and moat walls.
The navigation keeps you on your toes, but the courses is well signposted by both the Green Chain signs and orange spray paint for the race (possibly the former would have been more reliable if it had rained, but it didn’t this year). Some runners knew the route well and offered to stick together to help with navigation.
The race organisation by New Eltham Joggers is good, and the event attracts experienced and intrepid runners. There was a scarily high proportion with 100 Marathon Club shirts at the start, but also couples who finished together around the five- or six-hour mark, first-time marathoners and first-time trail marathoners. It goes without saying that this is a cross-country course, offering brambles, nettles and escape, not timing to the millisecond, portaloos and institutional sponsors. So not one for a personal best, but for vivid memories.
There were nice stops with squash, jelly babies, bananas, mars bars and marshals who knew the area. Changing facilities are good at the sports ground in Sparrows Lane, Avery Hill, where the race starts and finishes. The journey there is usually straightforward by train to New Eltham station, though watch out for engineering works. Surprisingly few Serpies were spotted, making this something of a well-kept secret. All in all, a really enjoyable day.

Result queries

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