Just finished the first Marathon Race in 2011

[Gero]

Last Saturday I startet at the www.spreewaldmarathon.de , the first marathon race over 42.195 km in 2011.

Very early in the season, I just started with training 3 weeks ago outside every two days training with around 20-25 km.

However, after the bad floods of rain experiences last September at Berlin Marathon this was a dry and fair sunny day with light winds and around 15° C at start time 5pm. Not to cold and not to warm.

After the race started I went with a group of about 20 Inline Skater with a very fast speed... this was after about 10km to fast for me and I skated single a while with much reduced speed, I was nearly exhausted and it took about 10 minutes before I felt a bit of my power again in my bones. At that time I reached another skate who couldn't follow the fast group where I was in before. Together it was a little easier and it took about another 10 minutes a bigger group of around 15 skaters overtook us and we could follow and go their speed.

Up to the end of that race we were together in this group and the speed was fine for me, could be even 2 km/h higher for my taste, but with only about 350 inline participants and me the only one with Quadskates it was just a little race and if you find a working group of skaters you can be more than happy, because there are not as much other possibilities like in the big races like the Berlin Marathon with around 7500 skaters.

After a nice final sprint I was very astonished as I recognized my time. From my feeling from my first rainy marathon in Berlin where I finished with 1:59 hours I expected to be a little slower like 2:02-2:04 hours because of the long terms of skating single or just with one other participant during this race.
But the time was 1:41 hours, I couldn't believe that for the next hour but it was reality and I am the most proudest man in the world.

However... with a bit more training in my muscles and the same wheather conditions, I expect I could manage the 1:35 hours later this year. I will keep you updated...

Ah... my setup was:

SureGrip COMPETITOR Plate
Bont Quad Boots DERBY
VELOCITY RACE wheels 70mm, 84a
with the standard included micro bearings.

Cheers from sunny Germany

Gero

[yedaki_de]

Congratulation !!!

1h 41min, that is rearly a outstanding marathon time

Big respect from me.

Are there any photos somewhere?

Johannes

[Gero]

I will upload a few from before start and after race this evening in my Facebook profile.

[PeterM]

1:41 hours

Wow!!!!!! That is some going. Well done.

[Gero]

Originally Posted by PeterM

1:41 hours

Wow!!!!!! That is some going. Well done.

Thanks Johannes and Peter,

maybe we can top that at the Goodwood Marathon in August.

JBgerman and me are planning to join this race. Can anybody help with cheap rooms in that area that weekend? Any help is very welcome by Private Message here!

Cheers

Gero

[jbgerman]

... and any information, which is helpful for this trip to the countrified southern England.

[Nellie]

I'd like to come tooo! How could I resist a marathon without a time limit .
Even bf is willing to skate there.

[PeterM]

Hotels - not cheap in mid summer

I usually use the Premier Inn chain but it's £80 per night for a twin room (2 single beds)

[jbgerman]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Hotels - not cheap in mid summer

I usually use the Premier Inn chain but it's £80 per night for a twin room (2 single beds)

Where is the best place to stay? From Germany Goodwood looks like in the middle of nowhere.

[PeterM]

The Travelodge in Chichester is slightly cheaper £61-£65 a night - and more central than the Premier Inn

How are you planning to travel to Chichester?

Goodwood is indeed in the middle of nowhere but I am sure we can sort something out about getting there if necessary.

And you might like to know that you will be in good company with other quad skaters at Goodwood. Of the current entry so far, quadddies outnumber inlines by 2:1. Mostly down to roller derby of course but still significant.

If you are out to break records I think the Goodwood record for quads is around 1hr 45mins. But the surface is not ultra smooth, the circuit is not flat, and you will need to skate in a group because it can be windy

There is a rumour that a video of 2010 will be availabe soon, and if it includes any of the video I took while skating round, you will get a better idea of the circuit

[Gero]

Originally Posted by PeterM

The Travelodge in Chichester is slightly cheaper £61-£65 a night - and more central than the Premier Inn

How are you planning to travel to Chichester?

Goodwood is indeed in the middle of nowhere but I am sure we can sort something out about getting there if necessary.

We will go by ferry and car to Goodwood.
Maybe Camping could be an alternative with much cheaper prices?

However... I will create a new thread here for all around Goodwood Roller Marathon in August, please post everything there!!!

[jbgerman]

Chichester sounds good. Seems also a nice little city.

The most unsolved question is the trip to UK. By car, which would be necessary because of the "middle of nowhere". Which ferry line, Le Havre - Portsmouth, the advantage would be short distances in UK (less driving on the left ). Or Calais - Dover, which will be presumably cheaper, but from here it looks like a horrible way from Dover to Goodwood, straight through the southern English countryside or a long detour via London.

[PeterM]

Le Havre-Portsmouth is a much better option in terms of distance to drive in the UK. If you come via Dover you will have to face the perils of the M25.

When you come out of the Ferry terminal you take the motorway towards Brighton. You arrive at Chichester after about 15 miles. Goodwood is on the north east side of Chichester

And if you are coming via Portsmouth there is a Backpackers Hostel.

Don't know about camping - never do it - I like a comfortable bed to sleep in.

[PeterM]

If you fly, there are trains to Chichester from Gatwick and Southamption airports.