GUERNSEY MARATHON
30-minute plane journey from Southampton or a two hour fast ferry trip from Poole, nestling in the Bay of St Malo, close to the French Coast, lies Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands. On Sunday the 28th August, runners will be taking part in the 2011 Guernsey Marathon along with a taste of continental Europe without the worries of the exchange rate or leaving Britain. 2011 will be 102 years since the first Guernsey Marathon. Guernsey, an amazing blend of ancient and modern, English and French, frenetic and calm. From tourism to horticulture and now finance, Guernsey’s main industries have changed over the years, but the island itself has remained just as beautiful and enticing. It is not only renowned for its laid-back atmosphere and balmy summer days, it is now known for its international
T
here is no doubt that a marathon is a great way to see a city or some new countryside. With just a
marathon with runners from all over the world taking part. History shows allegiance to the British Crown, but Guernsey’s customs tend to be closer to those of Brittany and Normandy, and although the national language is patois, English is spoken everywhere and a warm and friendly welcome is assured. A large part of the marathon is along the island’s amazing west coast where runners enjoy some of the most stunning sandy beaches anywhere on the Atlantic coast, with fishermen’s cottages, surfers, fishing boats, inlets and coves. Inland, runners pass along flower-lined lanes and roads and through valleys shaded by panoplies of lofty beeches. The
course is UKA accredited and runners can look forward to running the last 300 metres on a track with a sprint finish in front of a stand of hundreds of cheering spectators. The Athlete’s Foot Pub, only 20 metres from the finish line, serves hot and cold food, breakfast, lunch, supper, and well earned liquid refreshment! It’s the August Bank Holiday weekend,
so runners and their families can take a few days break and relax after the big race. There’s a wealth of history to visit, golden sandy beaches, picturesque harbours and coves, a mouth watering array of restaurants, cafes and bistros and a unique shopping experience with tax-free prices.
A NEW CONCEPT IN RUNNING GEAR X
empo is the newest clothing brand in the UK running market; but it’s a market that is saturated with
dozens of brands, so what is it that makes Xempo stand out as a unique concept? Well, it’s a very simple idea, in that each colour in their range of vests and T-shirts corresponds to a different running standard. The only brand that specifically targets long distance runners, athletes are asked to provide proof of their marathon or half marathon times which are verified to ensure credibility. Thus the only way to acquire a Xempo top is to earn it. Every distance runner should be proud of their running achievements and shouldn’t be shy about saying so. “Xempo was designed as the brand for the competitive runner in all of us, not just for the elites,” says Dan Afshar, who developed the brand as a result of his own quest to improve his marathon time, the idea being further inspired by South Africa’s famous Comrades Marathon where different colour medals are
36 n RUNNING FREE
awarded according to finishing times. “No matter what our competitive
level, we all have individual running aspirations. These shirts are an excellent incentive to setting your racing goals, rewarding yourself when you achieve them and sharing your pride with fellow runners. What a brilliant idea and product!” says David Cairns, a 2:52 marathon runner and Xempo supporter. While happy to leave the likes of Paula
and Haile to the more established brands, Xempo supports runners such as England international marathoner Steve Way. As someone who took up running in 2007 as an unfit beginner but improved dramatically, culminating in London Marathon times of 2:19 in 2010 and 2011, Steve is the personification of the Xempo concept of being the best that you can be by removing one’s own personal limits.
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