CONTENTS
Cover story: Smoke on the water &
For Orla Rabey, swimming is therapy
Cover story Beneath the surface
Guernsey 2023 got Ross Yeates back competing as a masters swimmer
Island Games
Daily timetable
Walk of life
Mark Prevel on overcoming challenges to push the limits
In at the deep end
Guernsey's young water polo squad experience county action
Walk. Don't run!
Walking Football is a sport for all with ambitions on the international stage
Wheels of change
An in-depth look at community cycling initiatives
Track & Field picture special
Moments in time from Guernsey Athletics' Aztec Track & Field season
Sure Guernsey Marathon
Reaction and results from a big day out
Taming the beast
Graham Merfield returns to Boston to settle a score
Tokyo dream
Dr Vicky Carre completes her six star journey in Japan
Inspiring islanders
You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone in Guernsey who has not been touched by the Island Games.
If you're not a competitor, volunteer, official or organiser, you will know someone who is.
That is how sporting events can seep into a community and their effects take hold.
The Games has inspired generations of athletes to push themselves to achieve their best and has provided a platform to promote some sports that do not usually grab the attention.
The positive impact on the community will be intangible, but it will be there.
A spectator on the side of the road who goes home and picks the bike out of the garage or dusts off a tennis racket.
A pupil who in their next PE lesson runs that little bit faster or further.
Someone who in five years' time runs their first half marathon.
The person in 20 years time who has stayed out of the health system.
People who are happier and more productive because of the lifestyle choices they make.
But Guernsey needs to help nurture these changes and create an environment in which they can flourish.
Which is why it is so galling that Education, Sport & Culture is busy slashing funding for supporting activity at the very same time it will be unselfconsciously basking in the reflected glory of islanders sporting success at the Games.
Politicians like things that are tangible. Things that can be seen and most of all can be seen in their four year term before the next election comes around.
It is why they spend a relative pittance on issues like increasing activity levels or preventing obesity.
We are fortunate that there are so many passionate people involved in local sport and activity that it can thrive to the extent it does.
Now is not the time to cut, but to inject further public investment for the long term health and success of our island.
Nick Mann Editor
Email: editor@activegsy.com
Smoke on the water
For Orla Rabey, swimming is a kind of therapy.
It has also provided her with some unforgettable moments, none more so than competing at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Now a home Island Games is set to add another before she faces up to having surgery on an ACL injury that she has been managing in the build up.
The 21-year-old is a self-confessed water baby, and it is a sport that runs in the family with her two sisters also competing.
‘I find swimming so therapeutic, coming to the pool and training gets my mind off everything that's going on in my life. I just come out feeling really refreshed and ready to go again.’
Swimming requires dedication, 12 plus hours in and out of the pool a week, a daily routine of early mornings swimming or in the gym before work to fit it all in.
‘These games are really, really important to me,’ she said.
‘Especially because of the home crowd, everyone's so excited. People at work are volunteering to come and watch me. I've been to two Games now but I think this one will definitely be the most special.’
She will have a game plan going into the races, especially for events that are more strategic like the 400m freestyle or 200m butterfly.
The 100m butterfly is her speciality, one of the toughest races there is.
‘I don't really know how I got into it. But I think I ended up being quite talented at it and just continued ever since. I think also being a bit small, I can't get the advantage in terms of the freestyle like my younger sister can because she’s five foot 10 and I'm five foot three, but I definitely have that advantage going for swimming butterfly because I use a lot more power than length.’
Race day will bring a regular routine. Fueled by porridge and bananas, then a warm-up, keeping everything consistent brings comfort.
Just before she races she’ll put some music in, some house or R&B, ignoring everyone and getting hyped up.
There will be nerves. There could well be more records. There should be individual and relay medals. Orla says the Guernsey team is incredible.
Then comes the surgery.
‘I tore my ACL last October. And so pretty much straight off the Games I’m going into surgery. So that will be a long, long recovery and hopefully, I'll be back in time to qualify the next Games.’
It will probably be three months out of the water and six before she can train properly.
‘That’s a long time for me, but to be fair, Covid had that impact as well.’
Those big competitions on the horizon are important in those difficult moments.
‘It definitely motivates me to wake up early in the mornings, drive to swimming and then come back again for more training in the evenings.’
Beneath The Surface
Twelve years on from his last Island Games appearance and now in his 40s, Ross Yeates’ competitive spirit has been ignited.
When Guernsey 2021 became Guernsey 2023, things began to align for another tilt at the swimming team and when he dives into the pool, he will be making a splash of history as the island’s oldest representative.
‘It's a drive of how far can I go? How far can I push myself? Even at my age,’ he said.
Ross started swimming as a six-year-old and went to the Beau Sejour Swim School.
He began at Barracudas quite late when he was 12, trying to mix swimming with his love of football. Those two sports have been a thread through his life.
‘I did a lot of team sports so to do something just for myself was something that really interested me, just to try and push myself as much as I could.’
Fast forward and you get to the Isle of Wight in 2011, Ross’ last Games.
In between times he dabbled with triathlon, but predominantly was concentrating on football for St Martins.
‘When the Island Games were supposed to happen in 2021, it wasn’t on my mind to do it. But when it got delayed that gave me the push. It really is the age, I was 40, what am I going to do for my 40s as a challenge? I thought, “well, the Island Games is here.” I was in the 2003 Games and the atmosphere, especially pool side, is just electric. That really drove me to try to achieve it. I didn’t know if I would, to be honest, I didn’t know how far I could go.’
There have been doubts.
‘In September I started to question whether I had it in me to keep going for the next 10 months. But you just push yourself through it and keep going.’
That motivation and confidence came back after swimming at the Tigers Open meet in Jersey the following month and now it is full focus on the Games.
Two factors are behind his love of swimming, fitness and competition.
‘I don't feel there's a much better sport than swimming to be able to keep fit,’ he said.
‘As you get older you find it harder to keep that fitness going and with swimming I've always found I can get in, I can train. And again, it's that drive of the competition, pushing yourself every time how fast can you go? Can you get that time down a little bit more? My goal for the Island Games is to try and get a lifetime best. If I can do that at my age of 40 than I’d be pretty happy.’
Training is a balancing act: family life with two young daughters, a full time job, swimming six days a week and a gym programme.
It comes with less wear and tear than football.
‘Swimming is the one sport that I find I just don't seem to, luckily enough, get many injuries, shoulders every now and then, I guess with the natural rotation constantly. I’d say football injuries are prone, left, right and center, knees, ankles, everything. But swimming is just so nice.’
He is likely to call time on the competitive side of swimming with this Games, but there remains masters competitions and Ross is keen to get more involved generally in the sport if the association is happy to have him on board.
‘I think there's an issue with the development of the sport on the island at the moment, especially from a boy's point of view at this time. So I'd like to try and find a way of how we can sort of get that developed. All the sports have sports development officers, swimming doesn't have one. So it's trying to find a way of perhaps getting one of those on board and pushing it through the schools. We live on an island, you need to be able to swim.’
Walk of Life
Walking supremo Mark Prevel pushes himself to his limit... and beyond
‘My lung capacity is that of an 85 year old, but my body isn’t an 85 year old, I can use what I’ve got to get around and do what I want to do.’
‘I’ve got Crohn's disease, I had osteoporosis.
'I’ve only got part of my lungs because I had chronic emphysema at the age of 31 and they were worked on. But you can actually get over that, you can actually get further, you can actually make more of what you've got, once you’ve got over the psychological side.’
From lying in a Papworth Hospital bed in 1996 to taking on ultra challenges in his 60s, Mark’s journey has been transformative.
He is the embodiment of the saying it’s never too late to start and now jokes that it's getting harder to find anyone to walk with: ‘I wear them out’.
A book given to him by one of his daughters for his 58th birthday, How Not to Die by Michael Mcgregor, combined with getting deeper into healthy nutrition - concentrating on eating natural foods - ultimately led him to thinking of his first major challenge.
‘My lung capacity is that of an 85 year old, but my body isn’t an 85 year old, I can use what I’ve got to get around and do what I want to do.’
That turned out to be two lengths of the cliffs in 11 hours.
‘I was amazed.’
But it was just the beginning.
His son was running the 2020 Guernsey Marathon which had been delayed until October because of Covid.
‘As he ran past me, I was there at Salerie, the 25 mile mark, I said to him, “if you finish in such and such a time, the next one I’ll run with you”. So he just looked at me and laughed, “yeah, right!”’.
Mark jumped into his ‘wagon’ to drive home.
‘I'm thinking to myself, Papworth Hospital, 25 or 26 years ago, put me right, because I shouldn't be sitting here today, I thought, “it's time to pay them back”.’
That was the spark for the fundraising side of the challenges, an idea growing and evolving.
Mark told his son that he’d run two marathons in 24 hours.
‘He said, “Dad, you've never run a marathon, trust me, on the hard surface, it's pushing your luck, I can't imagine you even running 100 yards”.’
Casting aside the sensible advice to start by run/walking, he went out and ran a straight five miles, some of the natural family talent coming through.
Six weeks later, on 22 February, he ran the cliffs in four hours and 10 minutes.
Five days after that, with the help of someone to set the pace, he ran the Butterfield Half marathon route in two hours and 10 minutes.
His heartbeat averaged a pretty extraordinary 193 beats per minute. It peaked at 220.
But Mark knows his body and what is usual.
A second half marathon, this time in the race, followed in September 2021, finishing in two hours 20 minutes, sprinting down the Crown pier towards the finishing line.
He was, though, carrying a hidden injury.
Three days later Mark was at the doctor, checking out some back problems he’d suffered from since February but couldn’t get help with because of lockdown.
An MRI followed and a return to the surgery.
‘She said, “did you have any discomfort in the upper part of your neck? I said, “no, no, not really.”
It was then he was told he had three fractured vertebrae.
At the appointment he couldn't think of any reason why, but later at home talking to his wife things clicked.
In the summer, descending Pleinmont Hill he’d touched his brakes on a sharp bend, fallen and caught the wall.
At the time he felt it was nothing more than a few cuts and bruises.
‘It must have been the whiplash that just fractured those bones.’
Mark is a firm believer in the ability of the body to repair and get stronger with activity.
His bone density has got back to near normal levels, something he attributes to all the work on the roads.
‘There was this fallacy where people used to turn around and say if you run on the road it fractures bones, it does all sorts. It doesn't, it does the opposite. It builds, it makes it all a lot stronger. That's where I get a lot from, I think it's because you're putting in so many miles.’
In September Mark embarked on a 150-mile cliff challenge, walking two lengths of the 15-mile stretch between the Octopus Restaurant and the Imperial Hotel each day for a week.
It provided a classic moment in his life.
On the last day he had climbed the 232 steps at Jerbourg, passing a man on the way.
At the top Mark paused for something to eat, allowing time for him to catch up.
Mark had done media interviews talking about his lung capacity being that of an 85 year old.
The gentleman he had passed had seen them, and was, it turned out, 85.
‘The best part about all this, he said, “it takes me 20 minutes to get down there and 25 minutes to get back up, but I do it daily, and that's why an 85 year old still can do what you can do”. So I said, ”that's the same as myself”. It's because you can get up, you can get going every single day.’
As the challenge wore on, his body adapted. By the time he was 130 miles in and walking to the start of his last leg, there were no aches or pains.
‘No fatigue in my muscles at all. It really showed me that your body will adapt to whatever you push it to do.’
His motivation is strong, his only concession to the weather, for example, is to leave the dog at home so he doesn’t get wet.
‘I think partly what it is, you know what you're gaining at the end of it.’
He believes he is fitter now than before he was taken ill.
‘It's a no brainer. Okay, all different people are built differently, but at the end of the day, I don't care what anybody says, we've all got that ability where we can actually, get on and do it.’
Given Mark’s condition, his small lung capacity and heart working harder, the challenges he takes on require balance.
‘My goals are pushing myself to a limit.’
As he does that, he is also finding the limits of his family’s walking abilities too.
‘The trouble is everybody that comes with me, I wear them out.’
In June Mark completed his latest challenge, walking the Saffrey Rotary Walk route twice in 24 hours. To donate to his fundraising efforts visit https://www.papaprev.org/.
In at the deep end
Guernsey's young water players step up to county competition
Water polo is a great test of strength, stamina, speed and skill.
It is a team sport for those who love being in the water, offering a competitive edge and with the contact element thrown in - there is plenty to like.
Guernsey Water Polo was established eight years ago and is building on the sport’s legacy in the island.
Last year saw teams from the UK and Jersey travel over for an event at La Vallette and now as part of its continual development it has sent a junior team to compete in the Hampshire League for the first time.
That took the players to a tournament held in a private pool at Eton College, an experience which head coach James Cooper described as ‘incredible’.
James, formerly a university and Midland league player, a fully qualified Swim England Level 2 coach and was thrilled to have taken the junior team to the UK for their inaugural match.
‘Not only was our first match in the league played at Eton College – which was an amazing experience for us all – but the welcome we received from the opponents was exceptional. Eton College has a state-of-the-art pool and facilities, which was a real joy to play in.
‘This has only been possible thanks to the kind generosity of Skipton, who are sponsoring the junior team this year, and, on behalf of us all at Guernsey Water Polo, I’d like to publicly thank them for their support.’
Water polo has two goals, roughly the same size as a five-a-side football goal, and a ball around the same size as a netball, but lighter so that it floats on the water.
Teams of seven face each other, with rules governing things like ducking. The ball is caught and thrown one-handed.
‘It should be played in a double deep pool. So it’s very, very tiring. And it's a great test of strength, stamina, speed, and quite a lot of skill as well,’ said James.
It is a sport that appeals to a mix of people.
The contact element means that it attracts rugby players, for instance, while those from a swim background who want a team sport often make the transition.
James' passion for water polo began at university.
‘I'd done a bit of swimming growing up and I'd injured my ankle and was struggling with my football,’ he said.
‘I got chatting to a girl at a bar and she found out I was from a swimming background and she said “oh, I play water polo”. So I followed her down to water polo and I'm still there now, although I got nowhere with the girl.’
About three years into the inception of Guernsey Water Polo they decided to tackle the problem of a limited pool of players by focusing on junior development.
‘We've got two really good swim clubs over here, plus lots of other small swim clubs, all these great juniors or seniors, and a lot of them leave quite early. So if they can take up a sport that keeps them swimming, that’s great.
‘We’ve brought some players all the way through now. My lad Ed started off in the junior section and is now playing for the men’s team. Long may that continue. As they come through, go off to university they will hopefully play there and if they come back to the island, they will come back and play with us again.’
The idea for competing in the Hampshire League was formulated in James’ back yard after Winchester juniors visited Guernsey to play.
He was chatting to a couple of their coaches who he knew well.
‘We've got two or three of our kids that have played nationally now as part of the national training squad, so they get lots of exposure, but not everybody's got exposure in the club. When you’ve got different levels, you want everybody to experience going away and playing with proper referees, playing in much better pools than we've got here. We wanted that experience for everybody to try and encourage more and more people to play water polo, not just the elite 10, which is well catered for in the UK, particularly junior level. The idea was to get all the local clubs and get the whole range of players.’
It is also a chance for the better players to develop.
‘We want to challenge our best players to be in the water and be leaders and try and organise their team. It’s a challenge for the new players because they won’t be sure of what’s going on, it’s all new to them. It’s a great experience for them. Then there’s team building, bonding. You hopefully see a few of them coming back striding a bit taller.’
The ultimate vision is to build the sport to have at least 15 players for the men’s squad and another 15 for the women’s with competitive age groups leading into that.
One obstacle is facilities, and even the pools Guernsey do have come at a premium cost to hire.
Water Polo cannot have as many players training at one time as a swimming club because of safety.
It costs £30 an hour less to higher the state-of-the-art pool at Eaton, with a moveable floor, full depth and the proper width, than it does to use one of Guernsey’s high school pools for an hour.
The players' perspective
The Hampshire League adventure was a special opportunity for junior players.
Despite the early start to catch the morning red eye flight to Gatwick, Eve Hartley was thrilled to have been a part of the experience:
‘I’m a newbie to the sport and I’m quite competitive so this opportunity to play against UK teams is exciting. As a junior team, we train twice a week, and, at first, I found it really full on, but now I love it.’
Her comments were echoed by Aidan Payne, who is another newcomer to water polo, having joined just last summer. He was excited at the whole experience: ‘I never thought I’d get the opportunity to swim in such amazing facilities – Eton College is brilliant. It was great fun to play against others and get much more experience. I enjoy many other sports too, especially rugby, but this was a special opportunity.’
‘I’ve been in the team for a while now,’ added Florrie Cooper, ‘ and it just gets better. The opportunity to have joined a UK league will give us so much more experience and I hope we progress well.’
The team played four matches.
Tara Linton played in the Youth Games in 2016 as well as the Nationals, and simply loves her chosen sport: ‘I’m passionate about Water Polo and, being such a competitive person, I just want us as a team to represent Guernsey well in this league. It’s a really exciting development for the island to have a junior team to compete at such a high level,’ she said.
The parents’ view
Catherine McClay’s eldest son Padraid got involved after a taster session at the Youth Games and her youngest, Lorcan, followed him into the sport.
‘It’s a great mixture because they’re into swimming anyway. So it’s a natural progression to have a team sport where you can use the swimming.’
She said it was a really exciting sport to watch.
‘It’s a really fast moving game and everybody gets involved.’
Jenny Peters found out about water polo from Catherine.
Her son Sebby, 14, was swimming but grew disillusioned with it.
‘This was a good opportunity to still use your swimming skills but in a team sport rather than just individually swimming up and down. He started when he was just 11, with massive towering teenagers, and has been doing it ever since.’
Training commitment has stepped up as the club grew the youth team.
Sebby has travelled before to play with a London team, Kingston, not knowing any of his teammates.
‘He absolutely loved it. The pool facilities in Sheffield were absolutely amazing. The experience was amazing.’
Entry into the Hampshire League will give more Guernsey players exposure to bigger games and competition.
‘Hopefully with this new league there will be a couple more visiting teams and that will be really great from a participation point of view but also from a spectator point of view,’ said Catherine.
It should also help keep interest levels high among the players.
‘Week in and week out they are playing against each other, there’s no other clubs over here so they are limited for exposure. If we can get more teams coming over too that will be fantastic for the game over here.’
She praised the work of the coaches in Guernsey.
‘They put so much into the organisation and everything else and we’re really grateful for what they do.’
Walk. Don't run!
Guernsey Walking Football is going places. ActiveGsy was on the sidelines as the island's O70s took on England's O75s in an enthralling clash at KGV.
There is no limit to where walking football could take Guernsey.
And it seems clear that wherever it is, the players will be smiling and laughing along the way.
By its very nature the sport is a leveller, one for all ages and one where you potentially could play at an international level as Guernsey’s O70s experienced when they took on England’s O75s.
‘None of us are past it as far as I’m concerned and I would love it if Guernsey could become a world force in it,’ said coach Martin Scott after the match.
‘There’s a World Cup and we could potentially go to that. Just imagine? That would be a great story for this island and the thought of where this could go really drives me.’
The Guernsey Walking Football Club was formed early 2017.
Based at KGV, it wants to give everyone the opportunity to play.
Sessions are held on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, offering walking football at different levels with a strong social side.
‘It doesn't really matter whether you're old, young, male, female, whatever, because of the nature of the game, being non-contact and walking, it's a great leveller. It’s got such great potential. I really think as a sport, it could be huge. And that's why things like today are really important. If some of this crowd saw that and thought “I love that, actually, I could get involved,” that’s brilliant. That's what you want, because then that encourages a bigger social group, more friends get made.’
Ahead of the England clash, the island players spent six weeks training together.
The joy was evident in the warm-up as they worked on step-overs and Cruyff turns.
As the game progressed the early nerves subsided and a well-organised Guernsey enjoyed more time on the ball.
John Casey scored for the Greens, with England equalising with a volley as the first period drew to a close. Guernsey could have won it when they were awarded a penalty in the final 10 minutes, but the England keeper pulled off a smart diving save from Paul Rogers’ effort.
Guernsey had a major focus on discipline.
There is a fine line between what is deemed as running or contact and what isn’t.
‘We maintained our shape and our discipline and you saw one of the England players get sent off due to a lack of discipline, because they questioned the referee.’
Guernsey were set up with one defender, three across the middle of the park and one up top.
It means the wingers have a lot of work to do covering the flanks defensively as well, with players being rolled on and off to keep things fresh.
A couple of the squad of 10 did not make it onto the pitch.
‘They were disappointed. They should be.
'But hopefully they’re going to get the chance to play in the future. They’re going to kick on from this. They were part of the squad, they helped us train, they were involved in it.’
For more information visit www.gwfc.gg or email info@gwfc.gg
In profile
After a 35 year break from playing a sport he loved, Bryan Lowe saw walking football and thought, ‘why not?’
‘And here I am playing in an international. I think it’s fantastic,’ he said after putting in a man of the match performance in Guernsey’s O70s 1-1 draw with England O75s.
He started playing as an 11 year old, representing Rangers for many years as well as playing for Guernsey through the younger age groups.
Bryan trained as a PE teacher,
He loved the competitive side of football.
‘I love the fitness aspect of it. I've just always loved the sport. When I went to Loughborough, I was playing hockey, football and rugby and doing various other things, but it was always football that was my passion and I'm just delighted to be carrying on playing.’
He took up walking football two years ago.
‘I came down and didn’t know what to expect. Although walking football and 11-a-side football appear similar, there’s a whole different set of rules. So you have to learn a different game,’ he said
‘It’s the people who can’t adapt that don’t get on, but if you adapt you just enjoy it. I also do it for the social side.
'The guys I meet down here I wouldn’t normally meet anywhere else.’
There is the non-competitive side too, as walking football works with people affected by parkinsons or dementia.
Bryan, 71, is keen to carry on representing his island. He enjoyed what was an evenly matched contest with England.
‘I thought as the game progressed, we got more confident. It was a fantastic result. And even the fact we thought we could have won it in the end.’
Bryan was a confident figure in defence.
‘They’re quality players, so you can’t take your finger off the pulse at all.
'You’ve got to keep shepherding them and making sure they don’t get goal side or don’t get a shot in. So my job was to stop them shooting if possible and I think I did that fairly well.’
The most difficult aspect of walking football was avoiding running.
‘We think we're gliding beautifully across the pitch, but we're actually running. So you just have to get used to not running and not tackling and playing by the rules.
'You shouldn't start complaining if you get pulled up, because it's a learning process.’
He took his hat off to all the coaches who give up their time for the sport.
‘They’re dedicated and that’s the reason why we have some good teams.’
Community cycling special
Wheels of change
Different solutions to breaking down barriers
to cycling were showcased at the community cycling event.
A steady flow of people came through the doors at Beau Sejour, many of them drawn to adapted bikes and taking a chance to ride for the first time or get back on a bike after years.
‘It’s been really heart-warming,’ said Caroline Barby, part of the States Active 8 team working on inclusion in sport.
If things move forward, Guernsey could have a facility where the trikes could be rented out on one or two mornings a week.
That might be to care homes or schools for example, a model already tried and tested in Jersey.
What stands in the way is funding, both for buying the trikes and safe storage, while it would also need to be staffed.
Different venues are being investigated.
‘Jersey built a purpose-made site, but our thoughts are to see whether there’s demand on a smaller scale, then we can see what we actually need for this island.’
Everyone has a different reason for why they enjoy cycling, she said.
‘Whether that’s just that fresh air on your face, getting out with family or with your friends.
‘What I’ve noticed through the conversations I’ve had building up to this event is the freedom that comes with it.
‘If you can do it and you have access to a bike, whatever that bike looks like, then you don’t have to pay to go anywhere and you can enjoy it whenever you want to.’
Giovanni Vullo, from Van Raam, and Ian Brown
Giovanni Vullo, from Van Raam, and Ian Brown
Why should anyone be stuck at home?
The smiles of riders and passengers said everything about what had been a phenomenal day, Van Raam’s representative at Beau Sejour said.
Van Raam produces bikes for people with a disability and specialises in tricycles, wheelchair bikes and tandems.
‘In the small time I’ve been with the business it’s only going in one direction,’ Giovanni Vullo said.
‘I think inclusivity is a massive word that everybody’s using now.
‘And in this sector in particular, I’d say there’s much, much more awareness. The only problem we find in the UK is that the infrastructure of the roads works against us, but there’s so many cycle clubs, there’s so many schools invested in bikes like this for their children.
‘It’s growing, but we’re quite a bit of behind our fellow European brothers and sisters.’
The company’s range include trikes that could help older people who need more stability, or step-through bikes for someone who may have had a stroke and can’t lift their leg.
Their companion bikes are either side-by-side or work with a wheelchair so anyone can enjoy a day out.
‘It’s great for families, it’s great for everyone.’
‘It’s about just giving everybody the opportunity. Why should anybody be stuck at home? Let everybody go out.’
Charity helping break down barriers to work – and cycling
Thousands of islanders have been able to discover the joys of cycling thanks to a charity supporting people to get into the world of work.
Giving Opportunities (Go)was set up some 14 years ago to provide a path for younger people with communication difficulties to find their way into employment.
It has grown since then to help anyone who needs support.
‘We try to get people involved and feeling part of something,’ said general manager Chris Murphy.
‘So they start to learn new skills, turn up on a regular basis and start showing some of the core skills that any prospective employer would look for in an individual who may be coming to interview.’
Refurbishing old bikes that have been donated has been a key part of the operation.
‘There are so many lovely bikes that come down, and we’re very keen to make them available at an affordable price,’ said Chris.
‘So everyone can have the ability to have a bike whatever their budget and enjoy the wonderful feeling of being out in the fresh air.’
Cost can be a barrier to cycling, and Go breaks that down.
Last year the sale of secondhand bikes brought in around £15,000 for the charity.
They cost £10to £15 for a junior bike or around £70 to £80 for adult bikes.
It has also been providing bikes to prisoners who have been let out on temporary licences so they can get to their place of work during that time.
‘We’d encourage people to come down and if we can help any other charities too, please have a chat with us.’
Freedom to ride
Residents at the Autism Hub will be able to enjoy the freedom of being on a bike thanks to a donation by Only Fools and Donkeys.
The side by side trike is ideal for people who need support while riding.
‘We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of
cycling as well as experience the freedom and joy it brings,’ said Ray Smart, co-founder of Only Fools and Donkeys, a charity that has been raising money through cycling since 2010.
‘We’re excited to see how the residents take to the bike and enjoy the experiences.’
It was funded by a charity cycle ride in France last year.
‘We like to support one or two large-scale projects from each of our rides, and the combination of cycling and the challenges the residents of the Autism Hub face made this an obvious choice for us,’ said fellow founder Mike Marshall.
Ian Brown sourced and specced the bike.
A spokesperson for the Autism Hub, which has eight residents, said: ‘Due to the range of challenges the residents live with, none of them have had the opportunity to cycle before.
'The bike will give them so many new opportunities to exercise, socialise and explore the outdoors.’
Road comforts
GBG out to promote cycling as an enjoyable and easy way to get around
If the Guernsey Bicycle Group has one goal it is to make everyone on the island realise that cycling is an easy, comfortable and enjoyable way of getting around.
To help prove that, through the summer it organises rides on a Tuesday night where groups of 60 or 70 people ride together at an easy pace before the chance of some socialising over a drink and food.
The rides are in each parish to make them as accessible as possible.
‘We get a lot of people coming along who feel uncomfortable on the road and we get to show them that it's fine when you're in a nice group,’ said GBG chairman Phillip Le Poidevin (pictured).
‘We get to talk to them about how you cycle to feel comfortable, keeping your position on the road and not being too close to curbs. If there's gravel and grit, you're not going to be slipping on that. And also making yourself feel confident that if a car overtakes, you've got a lot of room to manoeuvre.’
The rides are also a great opportunity for parents and their children.
‘Lots of people are really nervous about taking their kids on the road for the first time,’ said GBG committee member Holly Lindsay.
‘Saumarez Park has got an amazing system for getting kids cycling, but there is a bit of a leap from there onto the roads.
‘Because there's quite a big group of us, sometimes it's a great opportunity for the kids to learn the skill of cycling next to people, they stop so much of that weaving. We've got families that come back every year, and as they've grown up the kids have massively improved.’
It is a great chance to explore parts of the island and discover lanes that you may have overlooked. You can also find routes off the main roads that are just as quick and efficient in moving around the island.
‘Cycling is important because it's good for your health, it's good for your mental health, and it's such great fun,’ he added.
‘You feel so different when you're cycling through a lane looking at it, just noticing everything. You're hearing the birds, you're enjoying it, it's relaxing and it's fresh.'
For Holly, riding also means arriving at work more relaxed than if she had driven.
‘You leave work and you're instantly doing exercise, which means that you don't have to go home and then think about that,’ she said.
‘And just that being out in the sun is amazing. When you're in the car, you're not getting any sunlight on you, you're still surrounded by glass. So from that side of things, it's great.
'Also, the cheapness. I mean, yes, you've got to get the bike to begin with, but there are so many amazing places to get stuff quite cheaply on the island for secondhand bikes. If you're driving you're using petrol, you're not doing that when you're biking. Being on the bike from that point up is great, especially with the cost of living crisis.’
The group has worked with Guernsey Chest and Heart to promote the 20 in Two challenge. It began in May and runs to July, asking people to replace 20 car journeys with cycling or walking instead.
‘It's just about deciding to cycle the five minutes to the shop, rather than jump in your car, and just start changing some of these habits that it's so easy to fall into, especially here when you know there's car parking everywhere,’ said Holly.
Breeze initiative aims to get more women cycling
An initiative to get more women cycling could be launched in Guernsey.
Andrea Nightingale (pictured) is keen to see British Cycling’s Breeze programme running in the island. It is aimed at helping women feel more confident and comfortable about going for a ride.
Currently, three times more men than women cycle for fun.
Andrea’s cycling journey has taken her around the world competing and winning at an international age-group level.
It all started when she took part in the Les Bourgs 30/30 cycling challenge to raise money after her dad died.
‘Breeze is all about inspiring women, motivating them, encouraging them to get on a bike and do some social riding, enjoying it in groups,’ said Andrea.
The initiative would be run under the umbrella of the Guernsey Velo Club, probably involving one ride a month.
‘We would find a cafe perhaps to end up at and have a nice drink and just enjoy ourselves,’ she said.
Andrea is 62 and finds any activity that puts too much stress on her knees hard.
‘Cycling and swimming I can do really very well. So it's really finding horses for courses, finding something that you enjoy. Health wise, socially, it's lovely things to do.
‘Hopefully women who perhaps want to do a bit more than walking, but can't cope with possibly swimming, then cycling is a great thing to get up and go for.
'Bikes are fairly reasonable, you don't need an expensive bike, there's also lots of secondhand bikes around. Find one and just go for it.’
How do we make cycling accessible for everyone?
A small step on a long journey in making cycling accessible to everyone was taken as the community gathered at Beau Sejour.
Physiotherapist Dan Guillemette (pictured right) has sent a career working with professional cycling teams.
He firmly believes that everybody should have the opportunity to be active, something the island could be better at.
Talks have begun about how Guernsey could replicate initiatives such as Cycle Without Limits in Jersey, where a range of adapted bikes allow adults and children with disabilities or mobility issues to enjoy riding in a safe outdoor space on a path around Les Quennevais.
Dan was at Beau Sejour to see a side-by-side bike donated by Only Fools and Donkeys to the Autism Hub and one of his friends, Harri.
‘She always used to enjoy cycling and would come out on a tagalong, but now she’s a young woman that’s not possible anymore,’ he said.
‘We’ve been constantly looking for solutions for her to enjoy being out in Guernsey and be physically active.’
He was watching as people tried out adapted bikes from Van Raam, including trikes and wheelchair bikes.
‘It's like everything, you know? This is just a very, very small step in a very long journey,’ he said.
‘There was someone riding before who was blind, it’s just that sensory input from riding. We can all do that little bit more. This is a really good way to start to educate and get people to experience things and see where we can go.’
One of the current limitations in Guernsey is safe places to ride.
But there are potential solutions, such as the bike track at Delancey Park.
Adapted bikes are also expensive.
‘Not everybody's going to be in the position to have their own bike, but maybe in the future we can look at a bit more of a social enterprise model – that's a discussion for a later day.’
Bikes can be adapted in all sorts of ways to help people who may no longer have the range of movement or control they once did after strokes or head injuries, for example.
One such bike being ridden in Beau Sejour had different settings so a passenger could control how much effort they put in compared to the pilot.
‘From a rehabilitation perspective, it's a really good bit of kit.’
The event showed there is a group of like-minded people who are keen to make everything accessible and inclusive.
‘We've probably all been thinking the same things in little silos and this event is bringing us all together. Suddenly there are more people having the same conversation, so the more powerful it becomes. Then you can really start to try and influence decisions.’
Moments in time: Aztec Track & Field
Sure Guernsey Marathon 2023
A cruise, a battle: both are winning formulae
Victory was the conclusion, but that was where the similarities ended as the winners of the men’s and women’s races in the Sure Guernsey Marathon had contrasting experiences out on the course.
Rick Weston cruised to an untroubled and comfortable victory in 2:35.50, especially once last year’s winner Dessie Burke dropped out just after Vistas at Vazon.
But the challenge in the second half of Rosie Williams’ race was not a fellow competitor so much as the stomach problems that left her nauseous and paused at the side of the course as the time ticked on.
Rick recently moved back to Guernsey and the local marathon is a race he has had his eyes on since its previous incarnation under a different organiser.
‘I wanted to enjoy it and relax into it,’ he said.
It was not a race that was top of his agenda, with a busy schedule in the build-up including the Wokingham Half on 26 February and Eastleigh 10K on 19 March.
But it still produced a new PB, bettering a time he set a decade ago at the London Marathon by 11 seconds.
Proceedings got off to a low-key start, as Rick and Dessie eased up Le Val des Terres together before the man from Sligo in Ireland pulled out a small gap.
Rick played a patient game, before sensing a slowing in pace from the leader and easing in front around the 13 mile mark.
Soon after, Dessie was walking back to the relay handover point at Vazon, his race done.
From then on it was mostly an enjoyable run.
‘The thing with the marathon is that you never know whether it's going to catch up with you at some point. So you’re almost a bit scared of the distance; that suddenly at 23 it’s all going to go horribly wrong. But luckily, I managed to hold it together for the last few miles.’
He was delighted with a PB that he was not expecting and the progress he has made in his racing in recent months, the Island Games being the carrot that has kept the motivation high and the training hard.
There will be no let up in the race programme, with his intention to race the 5K at the start of this year’s Easter Festival.
‘It’s been a long time since I’ve run a 5k. It’s my favourite distance really and I don't want to miss out, see all the great times everybody’s run and think I wasn’t there in the mix somewhere.’
The marathon remains on his agenda in the longer term, with the potential of Jersey in October or Valencia in December before taking up a championship spot in London next year.
‘I just want to say thanks to all of the organisers. It’s a fantastic event. You know, having the lead cars, all of the marshals out supporting, all of the people out supporting, it was just fantastic. It’s a great race. Anybody who hasn’t done it, I would encourage them to come and do it. It’s a fantastic, fantastic place to run. It’s also pretty cool looking at the map on Strava afterwards – you’ve pretty much run around the whole island.’
For Rosie, it was a mix of nerves and excitement as she lined up at the start.
‘I kind of had the view that I’m only ever going to be five miles from home, so if worst comes to worst, I can just run home. I was absolutely dreading the Val des Terres, but once we got that out of the way, then it’s all downhill. Except it’s not, there are still some really nasty hills.’
Just over a month ago she posted a new personal best in the half marathon out in Barcelona and confidence was high.
But then came a ‘disastrous’ March.
‘I was thinking, ‘you know what, I’m not sure I’m going be able to do it. I just want to be able to get around’. And then when I started, I was thinking, ‘Oh, this should be okay, actually, I feel quite good’.
But the second half of the race was, as she put it bluntly ‘really awful’.
‘I’d had too many gels and too much Powerade and was really sick a few times. So then I got to a point when I just wanted to finish, I don’t care what time I do. I just want to get to the end. I’m just so pleased to be able to do that.’
There was a sense of frustration.
‘My legs felt fine the whole way, they were like “you can go quicker, you can go quicker”, but my stomach was saying “you really can’t go any faster at all”. That’s quite difficult when you actually feel quite fresh, but you can’t use that. I think it was good that I wasn’t particularly hung up on times.’
She praised the support motorbike rider who accompanied her as lead woman, as they stopped and handed her water when she was being sick.
The Guernsey Marathon is a special race for Rosie – 18 months ago a serious boat accident ruled her out of a previous attempt.
‘It means a lot.’
Guernsey route leaves runners hungry for more
Guernsey left a lasting impression on runners taking part in the marathon.
The course has been designed to showcase the island, mostly hugging the perimeter with the sea a near constant companion for two-thirds of the race, more if you count the teasing glimpses from the upper parishes.
It was not just those views that stood out, but the opening climb of Les Val des Terres, a feature that is now more of a talking point than a detraction.
With the wind and the elevation, the 26.2 miles might not be an ideal PB course, but there were plenty of people ringing that bell as they crossed the line.
They included Paul Callaghan, a member of Selby Striders.
Guernsey appealed as part of a holiday based around a race, repeating a pattern of his previous marathon attempts.
His previous PB was 4:37 at the York Marathon and he was absolutely delighted to come in stopping the clock at 3:52.00.
‘That hill was a killer at the beginning, but it’s a bit of character-building. But the rest of the course was absolutely fantastic, really scenic. I’ve done London, Rome, Madrid, Ljubljana, Hull, Liverpool, a few of the others. And this has to be the most picturesque I’ve done so far.’
A testing northerly wind faced runners as they hit the flat section up the west coast, while there were a few short sharp climbs at Chouet and L’Ancresse to test weary legs.
‘The support around the coast was absolutely fantastic. It really gave you a boost.’
As he entered the final stages with the wind on his back, Paul picked up the pace.
‘I knew I had some spare in the tank and as I got into the town area, and people were jollying you along, it just spurred me along even faster and I was thinking I might be able to get under 3:50 here, but I just didn't quite do it.’
In four weeks time he will test his legs again over the distance alongside 40 other Selby Strider runners taking part in Leeds for charity.
Damian O’Rourke and Linden Hiscock, both Stockport Harriers (pictured), flew in the day before for the race.
Despite approaching it with the attitude of just wanting to enjoy the race, Linden still came away with the runner-up trophy, finishing in 3:29.32.
‘We did Jersey a couple of years ago, which is a little bit bigger, and we just got chatting to people afterwards and everybody said, “if you like Jersey, you’ll love Guernsey”,’ said Damian.
‘It was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. So beautiful. So scenic. Tough, you know, you have to start on a hill.
‘But really, really good. Everyone was really friendly all the way around. A different kind of marathon and we’d definitely come back and do it again.’
They had already been enjoying Guernsey’s hospitality and were looking forward to another night out after the race.
John Tack and his wife moved to Suffolk from Pennsylvania just over a year ago.
‘We were looking for a marathon that got us off the island at least. We found Guernsey and that’s why we’re here,’ he said.
This was his second attempt at a marathon and it secured him a PB by almost 25 minutes.
‘It was beautiful, really nice. I wish I’d taken more time to stop and take pictures,’ he joked.
Among those who had less far to travel to the startline were Lauren Watson.
She ran Guernsey last year, had an amazing time and caught the bug.
‘It was also like a personal victory, I guess, to do the marathon. I think only 1% of the population ever do a marathon, so it feels really good to be part of that.’
In contrast to 2022, for much of the race she ended up running alone.
‘This time, I just wanted to run it for fun, and try not to put pressure on myself that would take away from the marathon. But I started to put pressure on myself in training and then I realised it wasn’t doing me any good. So I decided just to enjoy it, enjoy partaking in it.’
Legs that had felt so strong at the end of the race in 2022 did not materialise this year.
‘It was much slower. And I had to sort of just appreciate my body and my muscles for working hard, give them a bit of a break and take it a bit more easy this time.’
Running is an important part of Lauren’s life.
‘I find that running is my therapy. It’s a time for me to think about things and often come up with solutions to my problems. And it’s a great way to be in nature and just appreciate the amazing location that we live in in Guernsey.’
Relaying the energy
Nearly 300 people got a taste of the marathon course through the supporting Mourant Relay races.
The two-person and five-person relays provided some friendly competition, boosted the numbers and also injected some extra energy and excitement on the roads.
It also provided a team element to what is predominantly an individual sport.
‘We all dug in, I think the important thing is that you're running for everyone,’ said Paul Hewitt having run the glory leg for the leading five-man team, The Kipchoge Plan.
The Kips can regularly be seen out training together on a Sunday in distinctive yellow tops, and supping on a coffee in a cafe afterwards.
There are nine of them, but only five were fit enough to run this time out.
A lot of the work was done on the first four legs, Paul said, as he benefited from a tailwind on the closing effort from Pembroke to Town.
‘The boys did a really good job on the early legs because they had the harder conditions. I think we had a pretty big lead, so fortunately it was straightforward for me.’
They finished in 2:48.51.
ActiveGsy’s sub 2:30 course record from 2021 remains intact for another year.
Mixed teams filled second and third, with Sisters and Misters with Blisters from IQ-EQ followed home by Tise Titans.
For the first time in the event’s short history, the quickest relay times came from the two-person field.
The Airport Fire Services men's pair were first in 2:39.53, while the mixed pair of Miles & Smiles were second in 2:47.47.
In all, there were 50 entries in the five-person relay and 24 in the two-person event.
A mile of smiles
Demand for the Guernsey Marathon Mile was so high that organisers were left scrambling to find extra bibs.
Primarily aimed at younger entrants, it gave them a chance to experience what it was like finishing down the chute and organisers hope it will sow the seeds of future marathoners.
Emil Friedrich, normally more focussed on sprinting, stretched his legs to break the tape in first.
There was some apprehension on the startline.
‘I was scared because it was cross country season and this is flat and it’s on the road and I wasn't prepared,’ he said.
‘But in the end I did enjoy it.’
He held third for most of the race, before using his speed to move through at the end.
Emil’s family has a strong connection with the Guernsey Marathon.
At the awards ceremony, his mum Ulrike, who has podiumed at the event and was part of the leading mixed two-person relay this time out, presented a memorial trophy named in honour of her late husband Richard, who won the 2020 edition. That trophy will go to the leading Guernsey marathon runner each year.
The mile was also a special day for a team of children born premature or running for a friend helped by the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation.
‘It was so lovely to see these children and their families taking part and enjoying this community event for the PPBF,’ said Jo Priaulx, Founder of the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation.
‘They wanted to help raise funds and awareness for families going through the same difficult start to life as they once did. Thank you to all who ran for us, they were superstars. I’d like to thank the organisers for putting together a very well organised event and choosing the PPBF as one of their charity partners.’
Bowel Cancer Guernsey was the other charity partner.
Taming the beast
Boston is often dubbed as one of the last pure races in the world. The 127th running took place on a cool, wet day, challenging the grit and determination of thousands of runners.
This legendary event is more than just a marathon; it's a tactical battle that demands a unique blend of strength and strategy.
For many, Boston is equivalent to the Olympics for amateur athletes, as it requires running a rigorous qualification just to toe the start line.
For Graham Merfield, this year's Boston Marathon held a special significance.
In 2018, amid freezing rain and a relentless headwind, he missed an age-group podium by a mere four seconds. Fuelled by that, he made a decision - to return to Boston when he turned 60 and secure an age group podium finish.
The journey to conquer the Boston Marathon began with intense training in January.
‘I had my dream, I outlined my training process, and a time goal was set,’ he said.
Over the course of the following months, he covered 1,000 miles, including gruelling cliff running that tested his endurance on vertical terrain. Some training sessions focused on speed, with parkruns incorporated into long runs on some weekends.
‘To gauge progress, I diligently monitored my VO2 max and did HRV (heart rate variability) tests every morning. Furthermore, I also prioritized strength, mobility, and balance, with two daily sessions on top of my run.’
Finally, the day arrived.
After a long journey from Guernsey to Dublin and then on to Boston, Graham was greeted by scorching 30-degree weather. Luckily, the temperature cooled off over the following days, providing some respite.
On the morning of the race, last-minute decisions were made - arm warmers were put on, and a smiley face was drawn on the back of his watch hand. Breakfast consisted of four bowls of porridge, a banana, and plain yoghurt, providing the fuel necessary for the miles ahead.
As he made his way to the bus pick-up to take him to the start outside Boston, he prepared for the race mentally and physically.
Equipped with rubbish bags (including two to keep shoes dry), a warm top, ski hand warmers, and an empty Gatorade bottle for a makeshift pillow, he was ready for the two hour wait at the start.. A quick second breakfast, comprising a banana, protein bar, and gel, was consumed just 45 minutes before the start. In a flurry of anticipation, Graham discarded his warm-up clothes and prepared to embark on this arduous journey.
The race kicked off amid a sea of eager runners.
With nearly 30,000 participants, the strategy was clear - monitor 5k splits, aiming for a consistent 20-minute time. The first eight miles were downhill, and he remained focused on not succumbing to the temptation of going too fast. The next eight miles were relatively flat, allowing him to comfortably maintain his goal pace. The atmosphere was electric with crowds 10 deep in places.
‘My pace did lift as I passed through the famous Wellesley College Scream Tunnel, where students line the course, scream, and offer kisses,’ he said.
By the halfway point, Graham was in fifth among his age group competitors with the lead five minutes ahead. With each passing mile, he fuelled himself with water sips and gels at designated stations, ensuring he remained hydrated and energized.
The true test awaited him in the form of five miles of hills, culminating in the infamous Heartbreak Hill at the 21-mile mark.
Graham dug deep, drawing on months of training to conquer the uphill battle. Slippery manhole covers posed an additional obstacle.
The last five miles were rolling hills down to the finish. Many runners pay the price here for going too fast in the early stages and struggle for pace.
Spurred by a runner who said, “You're looking strong, go for it, it's rolling downhill from here”, he pushed on to the finish on Boylestone St.
As the finish line grew closer, the intensity increased.
A final surge of determination propelled him through the cold deluge that awaited at the end of the race.
‘I finished in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 1 second, my fastest Boston marathon of three races since 2011. I also finished in second place in my age group and have something missing from Eliud Kipchoge’s cabinet, a Boston marathon trophy!’
Exhausted but elated, he met his wife Alison, then made his way to a nearby hotel in the freezing rain for a quick photo, a steaming bowl of broth, and a cup of coffee.
...and Japan makes six
It took three years longer than expected, but as Dr Vicky Carre stood at the start line of the Tokyo Marathon she knew it was worth the wait – and the training, planning and travel
It was 9am and I found myself huddled in a group with a woman called Celine from Belgium and two random blokes from London and Edinburgh.
I had met Celine as we entered the start corral an hour earlier, engaging in nervous chit-chat as we ‘warmed up’ or, in fact, got increasingly cold and anxious as we waited for an hour.
Myself, Celine and the London guy were all wondering how late we could leave it before shedding our ‘throwaway’ layers (clothing that is taken off at a race start-line, discarded by the owner, usually swept up and taken for charity by the race organisers), although the Scottish guy was clearly made of stronger stuff as he had removed his layers 10 minutes previously. Tokyo’s morning temperatures in March are rather cold, although it can get quite warm as the day progresses.
We were in the shadow of the huge Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the venue for the start of the Tokyo Marathon, and I had to pinch myself that it was actually happening.
I originally had a place in 2020, but that was cancelled at the last minute as Covid struck. My place was deferred to 2021, which was also cancelled, as was the 2022 event.
Japan was only recently out of full lockdown, so even 2023 had been in the balance. There were still lots of checks in place, for example we had to download an app and log our temperature and wellbeing for 10 days before the race; log lateral flow results for the two days before; and have our temperature checked on arrival on race morning.
Even if we got through the Covid checks, it seemed as though we had to keep our fingers crossed that some other calamity would not strike at the last minute – several pages of the rather voluminous Runner’s Handbook for the Marathon were dedicated to what to do in the event of seismic activity during the race!
Back to the start-line. Focus, Vicky. At 9.10am, music booms out (Japanese children singing. What is it? Their national anthem? Who knows?). Focus, Vicky. Then BANG the start gun fires, confetti showers out over the start-line, and WE ARE OFF!
This is actually happening!
My training over the Winter had been going really well until four weeks before race day, when a calf strain had set me back and I had barely run for those weeks leading up to the race. My plans for a PB were put to bed and I just wanted to get around the course and grab that Six Star Medal.
The Tokyo Marathon was the culmination of a project seven years in the making to run the six Abbott World Marathon Majors and earn the coveted Six Star Finishers Medal. The journey started for me with the London Marathon 2017 and after that I had then run London again three more times, plus the other Majors in Chicago, Boston, New York and Berlin. Tokyo was the last one.
The race was spectacular, with a great tour of the sights of a truly incredible city and lots of crowds all the way around. The Japanese support made me chuckle. Not wishing to encourage stereotyping, but they are generally an ordered, regimented, reserved bunch, and this was reflected in the backing, with lots of gentle clapping and subtle acknowledgements with head nods.
Most of the signs held up by the crowds were obviously in Japanese, but a few were in English and I especially liked the one that said ‘Very good running’! The aid stations were staffed by the politest volunteers, who smiled and bowed as I ran by.
We were treated to displays of traditional drumming, a military brass band, and cheerleaders dancing to K-pop around the course.
I had been in Japan for the week leading up to the race, exploring Tokyo, and was completely wowed by the country already. It is the biggest metropolis in the world and yet it never felt chaotic or over-busy – I think due to the culture of lining up in orderly queues to cross the road or board the subway trains, and the general respect and space that everyone seems to give each other.
There was also very noticeably absolutely no litter on the streets and yet no bins either – the national culture is that you take your rubbish home with you. Tokyo just seemed to work so well.
I enjoyed visiting the iconic venues of Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing, the Olympic Stadium, Haranjuku’s Takeshita Street and various temples, museums and art galleries, as well as doing some gentle runs to test out my poorly (but thankfully improving) calf in the cutely named Yoyogi Park and around the Imperial Palace Gardens. I was struck by the contrast between old and new in the city; gleaming silver skyscrapers stood next to ancient golden Buddhist temples and teen girls in mini-skirts and patent boots walked alongside their peers in silk kimonos and wooden geta shoes.
I had also had fun exploring their decadent department store food halls, featuring arrays of the most beautifully presented packs of sushi and exquisite patisserie, as well as perfect fruits and vegetables packaged in presentation boxes with eye-watering prices (5500 Yen for a dozen strawberries? That’s about £35!). And of course the Japanese love green tea and everything was available in matcha varieties – matcha-flavoured biscuits, cakes, mousses, Kit-kats…
Which brings me to the food of Japan, definitely one of the highlights of the trip. I did not have a single meal there that was not delicious. Whether you are eating at cheap booth-style cafes where you order noodles or katsu at a screen and sit at a counter, or you go to a higher-end sushi restaurant you really will not be disappointed.
Even my bento box purchased at the train station convenience store and my sandwich from the Seven-Eleven were gourmet. There are also a few quirky styles of cuisine to try. Yakiniku restaurants are popular, where raw meat and vegetables are ordered and you cook them yourself on a grill at the table. I also tried an okonomiyaki diner in which egg omelettes are fried with anything from pork or cabbage to ramen noodles added and the whole dish is prepared on a hot plate set into the table in front of the customer.
But back to running. The Tokyo Marathon takes on even more significance when you come to understand what an important part the sport plays in Japanese culture. Japan is possibly the most running-obsessed country in the world, with running being their second favourite national sport after baseball.
They have ‘ekidens’ (long-distance relay races that go on over days) and corporations sponsor their employees to run. Japan comes third place in the world, behind Ethiopia and Kenya, for the number of athletes to have run the top thousand fastest marathon times.
And yet they don’t seem to play too much of a part on the international stage – probably because they are too engrossed in running ekidens than taking part in big international marathons.
Founded in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon further boosted the country’s running boom, hosting a massive 35,000 participants and enjoying a huge role on the global running stage as one of the Majors since 2013.
Dedication, perseverance and a warrior-mindset combined with respect, humility and wabi-sabi (seeing perfection in imperfection) are character traits noted in the Japanese and these are, I think, strongly aligned with what is required for marathon training.
All in all, Tokyo seemed like a fitting place to complete my Six Star Challenge.
I crossed the finish line 3 hrs 5 minutes and 27 seconds later, ecstatic to have completed the race but most importantly achieved the Six Star Medal. Like many things in Japan, the process through the finishers chute was astonishingly quick and efficient. I was handed a face-mask, a bottle of water, a branded Tokyo Marathon towelling robe and the marathon finishers’ medal, then onto the Abbott-sponsored tent to be given the big Six Star medal. Before I knew it I was spewed onto the streets of Tokyo wearing my towel, my mask and 2 massive medals jangling and clunking around my neck.
The job was done!
The Six Star project has taken me (and my family) to places we would never have visited, allowed me to meet people I would never have met (in person and virtually) and pushed me in ways I would have never thought possible.
The medal may represent the 157.2 miles run over the course of six marathons, but it actually represents tens of thousands of training miles, goodness knows how many litres of sweat, blood and tears, and three broken bones along the way.
Not to mention the cash spent on travel, entry fees and many pairs of Nike Next% trainers.
It is an all-encompassing project that I would simultaneously recommend and hesitate to recommend to any keen marathon-runner.
Japan, on the other hand, I would recommend unreservedly. In fact I am already planning my next back-packing trip, hopefully this time including an ascent of Mount Fuji.
Plus lots more meals of chicken katsu and matcha ice cream!
Matcha and almond loaf
A deliciously green loaf cake that takes me straight back to Kyoto.
175g butter
175g caster sugar
3 eggs
140g self-raising flour
½ teaspoon vanilla essence
100g ground almonds
A pinch of baking powder
2 tsp matcha powder
60ml milk
Heat the oven to 170C.
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Whisk the eggs together with the vanilla and beat them into the mixture, a little at a time.
Fold in the flour, baking powder, matcha and almonds, then add the milk.
Spoon the mixture into a 900g greased and lined loaf tin and bake for 50-60 minutes.
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