Last Friday of the Month - Outing to the Toby Carvery

On 29th January 2010, there will be a club meal at the Toby Carvery, East Ewell.  This is a great pub with a varied menu at a cost of approximately £12.95 per person.  Please send expressions of interest to Kathy Wetherall who will book a table.  All enquiries to enquiries@epsomallsorts.org.uk.

Allsorts on Tour - Barcelona, 6th March 2010

There is still time to enter!  Set in the beautiful city of Barcelona, this mostly flat marathon meanders round the city steeped in Roman history and now enjoys the reputation for being a major holiday destination.    More details on the marathon are found here.

Allsorts on Tour - Paris, 5th April 2009

Sunday 5th April 2009 and the blue skies and ambient temperatures forecast a hot one despite the promises of rain made by the beeb.

The start area at the Champs-Elysees was fabulous. The imposing grandeur of the Arc du Triomphe to our rear coupled with the stunning architecture of the buildings heralding the first mile made for an impressive arena. The hype and buzz of runners arriving at the start was familiar. The oft seen well wishes from loved ones, last minute clothing decisions and panicking over forgotten items added with the air of expectation, unspoken dreams and fear of what was to come.

The majority of the Allsorts took their customary place close to the rear.  Last minute hugs and well wishes prevailled until the anticlimactic start ‘Un, deux, trios, GO!’ soon led to laughter as we surged forward and came to an abrupt halt with the masses of runners in front of us. We finally crawled over the line 15 minutes later and we were off!

A quick scan around the crowd revealed a distinct lack of fancy dress. One guy on stilts and the famous Beaujolais barrel being pulled along on wheels – more of that later! A traditionally dressed Frenchman avec des oignon wheeling his bike along passed within in the first mile but no sign of the man in the Sumo suit…yet.

The route follows various Paris landmarks and as we left the Champs-Elysees we headed into the Rue De Rivoli, past the Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre. The buildings were stunning, each surpassing the next. People were chatting, mostly in French, such a lovely language to listen to. Occasional snatches of English popped up resulting in sporadic conversations about home location before drifting away again. We started a recruitment campaign for the Allsorts with a number of English girls lamenting the lack of ladies running clubs.  One stated that the ratio of men to ladies in this marathon was approximately 5:1 and so our hopes of winning the mob trophy were raised.

Past the Hotel de Ville, the Place de la Bastille, the kilometre markers flying by, mile markers more slowly. The first water station, at mile three caused a massive bottleneck, runners losing 2 or 3 minutes waiting for the crowd to clear. The first casualty was stilt man who had managed to take a tumble and was gesticulating wildly at the helpers trying to unravel him from his extended legs. A pick up in pace to catch the lost minutes and then the first hill at mile 5, a surprise as the course was supposed to be flat. Talking ceased as the runners concentrated on plodding up the hill, hoping the promised descent was soon to come. The route led out onto the Chateau de Vincennes at the entrance to the Bois de Vincennes, the first of the two parks. The shade of the trees was welcome as the sun beat down on sweating runners below. Fabulous views from the park confirmed the climb was real and runners enjoyed a real downhill section leading out from the park and back towards the Latin Quarter.

The half way point was heralded by an arch of balloons across the road. A welcome sight, it was all psychologically downhill from here. A right turn and the path led onto the route of the River Seine. Here was the city most people are familiar with. The imposing Eiffel Town, the most recognisable icon in Paris was visible to our left across the river. We passed the cathedral du Notre-Dame and then revisited the Louvre. More overheard conversation confirmed I wasn’t the only one to whom the cooling waters of the Seine looked inviting. From the Musee d’Orsay to the Trocadero Centre were a series of underpasses. One made famous by a tragedy now over 10 years old. No monument or sign of the accident now visible and so each tunnel blurred into the next without note.

At the Trocadero we pulled parallel with the Eiffel Tower and then turned left to the magic 20 mile marker. So close but yet so far, it is often referred to as the ‘half way’ point in the marathon. Here we head into the unknown where the training ends and the pain really begins.

The streets were now quiet of chatter. The only sounds were the slap of feet on the pavement and the cheers of ‘Allez’. I was aware at this point of the forward momentum of the runners. It was almost like we were all being draw by magnets towards the finish. Thoughts of times now gone, replaced by the effort to just keep going. No looking at watches, no mental calculations, just keep moving forward and it’ll soon be over.

At mile 22 came another entrance to another park, the Bois de Boulogne, and a chance to stop and stretch. A young French man stopped to join me. His only words ‘C’est Difficile’ and a resigned Gaelic shrug. I couldn’t argue with him and thus finished my stretches and with a weary ‘allez’ left him to his thoughts.

Mile 23 was celebrated by the wonderful sight of the long forgotten Beaujolais barrel. Now set up with waiters bearing glasses to the passing runners. And not just wine, pain et fromage also. It was fabulous and scrummy.

Feeling suitable perked we pushed on through the park past the cruel point where we could see runners close to the finish on the other side of the barrier. Paris is also known as the ‘cheaters marathon’. It is here where unscrupulous souls would take a slight detour cutting out a good three kilometres of the course. As tempting as it was marshals were guarding the pass as so we trudged on only aware of how shattered the runners heading back towards the finish looked. Under no illusions we knew that we didn’t look any better.

Past the Marathon du Medoc with more wine on offer, this time strangely combined with Haribo Kiddies Super Mix. Not this time, just keep going out of the park towards the balloons of the 26 mile mark. Staff here were blowing whistles and urging runners on. Injecting a sense of urgency, they gave the impression of just wanting the whole thing to be finished. Endorsing their views I picked up the pace (this had nothing to do with seeing Sumo man out of my peripheral vision and refusing to be beaten by him). With the mantra of ‘just one lap of the track left’ I saw the finish line and ran as fast as I could towards it.

This really is a great event. The bands that lined the route were amazing, playing an eclectic mix of tunes from brass bands with fast marches to a bastardised version of Britney Spears ‘One more time’ to the Rolling Stones and ‘Brown Sugar’ to the most spectacularly out of tune horn blowers (who raised a laugh at Mile 24 when nothing else would). The water stations with their discarded banana skins and oranges were lethal. The whole area was like a skating rink with runners tip toeing through tentatively. Most of us did much better than expected or what we had dared to hope.  Roll on London…

Christmas Do

About 60 Allsorts turned up to the Woodman in Ashtead on the 10th December, which was a good turnout.  It was a great chance for runners to meet up (inside!) and have a chat about running and life outside the club.  Members all enjoyed a few festive tipples and many ordered food.  It was a fantastic way to get into the Christmas spirit and we’re already looking forward to drinks in the New Year!

All events are advertised in the club newsletter and details as well as photos will be updated regularly on this page.   Club volunteers organise the events, so if you want to help or have any suggestions please contact us using the ‘Contact Us’ link.