The London inline marathon 2009

Clair Evans skates the LSST Half Marathon

To give an overview, Hillingdon cycle track comprises delightfully smooth tarmac situated in a nature reserve which itself is situated within a largely industrial area not far from the M4 and Heathrow. The track was just short of a mile in length and had two uphill areas within it, one of which was long and fairly gentle. There was a back straight which was fantastic for getting up some speed and was great fun as there was a following wind. The true speed skaters were able to get speeds of around 30 mph. The track also catered for spectators with some good viewing areas. 

As the event was small, the atmosphere for the serious racers was more that of a local race. Some competitors like me had travelled from further afield and there were some competitors from oversees. Everyone was friendly. Most of the novice skaters (me included) were competing in the half marathon and when talking to some of my fellow novice competitors, most of us were competing for the first time. For some it had been following a bet in a pub and for others, following word of mouth after taking part in the Sunday London rollerstrolls. I had happened to Google 'rollerblade marathon' and found it that way.  

Clair Evans skates the LSST Half Marathon

The organisation from the registration and pre-race information point of view was well executed. Organisation and communication with the racers on the track was a little patchy and relied upon the racers hanging around the finish line sometime before the start to find out where they should be. The races did not start on time and it was not altogether clear when competitors could warm up on the track prior to races as there is no PA system and so relied on common sense.  

What would have been useful for the novices was a short get together with a marshal or trainer from the host club in order to give some tips prior to the start of the races. There was no practice of pace lines before the start which would have been helpful especially in the half marathon, even if just three or four novices had given it a go.  On the whole, the marshalling through the races was very good and when the pace line was charging up, warning was given so that others were not in the way. Needless to say, I personally was not nearly fast enough for the pace line and tried to keep out of the way. 

Clair Evans skates the LSST Half Marathon

During the races, a water station was on hand. It was the responsibility of the individual competitors to count their own laps, which did cause a little anxiety for some especially in the full marathon. (The advice I can give here for future racers is: Option 1 - have an attentive spectator keep your count; Option 2 - buy a GPS watch so that you can see when you have completed the distance; Option 3 - be fast enough to be in the leading pack because the race officials keep a lap board or failing all other options - when you think that you have reached the end do an extra lap just to be sure!) 

Overall, I think that the race was good experience. It certainly gives the novice an insight into inline speed skating and if you are not a one-pair-of-skates person you can fill your boots admiring the vast array of speedy footwear. I would like to see a speed skating team form in Scotland and show that London lot a thing or two. 1h13min or so for me (I'll do better next time, but at least I finished the half before the serious racers finished the full marathon). 

Clair Evans skates the LSST Half Marathon