(Foto e testo di Maurizio Crispi) La Whole Foods Market Breakfast Run si è svolta a Kingston-upon-Thames (l'antica città reale dei Re d'Inghilterra, attorno all'anno Mille: vi furono incoronati sette re sassoni) il 23 marzo 2014, ad orario antelucano (del resto si propone come un "breakfast run"), disponibile in due formati: la competizione su 8,2 miglia e quella su 16,2 miglia (cioè poco più di una Mezza Maratona), e, in questo secondo caso, gli atleti avevano da percorrere due giri completi.
La gara si è svolta su di un circuito in parte cittadino (con le strade completamente chiuse al traffico) e in parte all'esterno del centro abitato, in buona parte lungo le due rive del Tamigi che qui appare molto più stretto che nel cuore di Londra (dove già il suo estuario nella corsa del fiume verso il mare comincia ad aprirsi), ma pieno di luci e di colori e con grandi alberi al momento spogli che ne fiancheggiano le rive.
Una moltitudine gli iscritti alle due gare: i più hanno optato per la Mezza, propedeutica alla Maratona di Londra, ormai imminente.
Essendo il varco dello start piuttosto ristretto, i partenti (oltre un migliaio) sono stati fatti muovere a scaglioni ripartiti - tuttavia senza nessun obbligo, ma per effetto di una volontaria ed autocritica adesione - sulla base delle andature stimate di ciascuno (per ciascun gruppo, infatti, vi era un pacemaker con uno stendardo che indicava l'andatura al miglio: l'ultimo scaglione prevedeva un'andatura presunta di 12' al miglio).
Grande festa per tutti: al solito, come in tutto il mondo, i più forti ce l'hanno messa tutta e hanno spinto sulle gambe con facce tirate e concentrate.
Gli altri si sono divertiti, allenandosi allo stesso tempo, ciascuno secondo le proprie possibilità.
Alcuni erano in maschera: come il podista in vestagliona gialla di spugna (o era una buffa tuta?), oppure la runner con un tutù di tulle rosa, o ancora quello che ha indossato un mascheramento integrale da "Rhino" e che, probabilmente, era qui non solo per allenarsi, ma anche per mettere alla prova il suo mascheramento per la Maratona di Londra prossima ventura.
Purtroppo l'evento è stato funestato da un incidente mortale. Un podista della distanza lunga, appena tagliato il traguardo, si è accasciato a terra.
Ha ricevuto i primi soccorsi dagli operatori sanitari presenti ed è stato subito trasportato all'Ospedale di Kingston.
Ma - sfortunatamente - non c'è stato nulla da fare: all'arrivo nell'unità di cure intensive è stato dichiarato morto.
Alla fine, per tutti, una sportina piena di prodotti "Whole Foods Market", main sponsor dell'evento: e non solo prodotti alimentari, ma anche per la cosmesi.
Organizzazione perfetta, curata da Human Race (www.humanrace.co,uk). A tutti i classificati, nei giorni successivi è stata inviata una mail con una revisione "analitica" dell'andatura tenuta in corso di gara, sulla base dei tempi parziali ai diversi rilevamenti dei passaggi, per il tramite di microchip.
(Dal sito web di HumanRace) A crisp, bright morning was the order of the day as runners laced up their shoes for the Whole Foods Market Breakfast Run on Sunday. The event, which is part of the Human Race Pace Series, saw more than 2,600 competitors take to the streets of Kingston to take on distances of 8.2 and 16.2 miles. Fresh from her experience in the jungle, I’m a Celebrity contestant and former Miss World Amy Willerton joined runners embarking on the challenge as part of her London Marathon training.
Like Amy, many of the runners taking part were using the race as part of their build-up to a spring marathon. The Human Race Pace team were on hand to help runners achieve their target times and the mild weather made for perfect running conditions as many runners set PBs, giving them that all important confidence boost.
WholeFoodsx240A mass start saw the 8.2 mile and 16.2 mile runners race take off at 8am. The top three winners across each distance in the male and female categories were presented with an amazing Whole Foods Market hamper, and all race participants were treated to a fantastic goody-bag.
It was a female runner who was first across the line in the 8.2 mile race. Tish Jones came home in an impressive 45:35, beating the previous female record of 46:27 which was set 14 years ago. She told us “The first bit was very windy but I paced with the 16 mile guys for a bit and was really happy with my run.” She was followed by Tom Higgins (47:30) with Irishman Eoin O’Connell following in a time of 48:47. Tom said: “I went off a little too quick and needed to ease back a bit at Hampton Court but we had the wind behind us coming back which helped me home.” Third place was awarded to Mark Palser in 48:49. In the ladies field it was Sophie Horsburgh who took second in 56:24, followed by Caroline Kelly (56:50).
Across 16.2 miles it was local man Michael Skinner who took the honours in an impressive time of 1:28:09. “I really enjoyed it,” Michael told us. “I live really close by so I know the course and run it quite a lot but it was really nice to get out and race it today. The conditions were pretty perfect.” He was followed by Ben Shearer (1:29:26) and Edward Catmur (1:31:44). In the ladies' race it was Lucie Custance who took the honours in a time of 1:42:09. She was followed by Annie Emmerson (1:47:04) and Sarah Dudgeon took third in 1:50:19.
Sadly, at the Kingston Breakfast Run on Sunday, a male runner crossed the finish line of the 16.2 mile course and collapsed. After immediate medical treatment he was taken by ambulance to Kingston Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. Nick Rusling, CEO of Human Race said “Myself and everyone associated with the event are greatly saddened by the news, and our thoughts are with his family”.
What is Human Race? Human Race is the largest and most diverse mass participation events company in the UK, with a portfolio of over 55 events each year including Triathlon, Cycling, Running, Open Water Swimming, Duathlon, Off-Road, WomenOnly, Corporate and Youth events.
Included in our portfolio are the UK’s most prestigious sportive cycling event, the Wiggle Dragon Ride, the famous Windsor Triathlon, the gruelling BallBuster events and the unique WomenOnly series including the cycling series, Cycletta.
Alongside our own portfolio of events Human Race deliver a range of Corporate Events for clients including HSBC, Jones Lang LaSalle and the Marketing Industry. Human Race have also been appointed once again to organise the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon.
Human Race aims to provide market leading and innovative event experiences and delivery. Working closely with our range of expert partners our aim is to provide friendly, professional and considered event experiences for every one of our participants, from when they first enquire about an event, until the moment they cross the finish line and their celebratory and future event experiences beyond.
Human Race works closely with a variety of celebrities and sports stars that support our events and participants, including Olympic Gold Medallist Victoria Pendleton, Olympic Legend Daley Thompson, Triple Crown winning cyclist Stephen Roche, Spice Girl Melanie C and many more who can be found on our Community page.
As well as catering for regular participants and offering a variety of event types, distances and difficulties, Human Race are constantly helping to grow numbers of sports participants within the UK by inspiring tens of thousands of first time participants each year.
Working with a range of charity partners, millions of pounds are raised each year through participation in Human Race events and we continue to find innovative ways to maximise the amount of money that is generated.
Human Race staff were heavily engaged with the London Olympic Games with many of the crew working on the Olympic Triathlon. John Lunt, founder of Human race was the sport manager working on the event for 4.5 years.
Le galerie di foto, realizzate da Maurizio Crispi si possono visonare integralmente nella pagina Facebbok "Ultramaratone, maratone e dintroni".
Whole Foods Market Breakfast Run 2014. Passaggi (354 photos)
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