Six Star Marathon finish
the long road to get it

by Malcolm Gatenby.

To complete the Abbots World Marathon Majors you need 3 things:

• Money, To fly to USA three times, Far East once and Europe twice doesn’t come cheap + hotels, new running shoes and must have marathon jacket, tee shirts and latest bling
• Time, 6 x 16 week training plans and 4-5 weeks away for the marathons
• Understanding partner/family/company. With the above 2 points and most of your company holidays taken up with the marathons trips ,you really do need support from those closest to you!

Happily/fortunately I was/am ok on all 3 points

London April 2014
// finish Time 3hrs 29m

I entered this marathon via charity NSPCC it cost £1,500 in a ‘donation.’ The start at Greenwich was easy to get to and only 2hrs before the race.

The weather was perfect about 15oC at the start I was in Pen 3 and could see the start and it took about 5 mins to get over the line. The 1st 6 miles were slightly downhill and I remember thinking I am going too fast but I was excited so carried on.

At 6 miles 2 roads meet like a giant snake in the distance and all runners meet up from the 2 different start points. When you get to Cutty Sark the noise so loud, then over Tower bridge which was amazing the spectators were 10 deep.

Then you run around the banking district Canary wharf, which was a bit lonely re crowds , then at about 30K you hit the long Embankment road towards home, I spotted Sheena & Grace in the crowed dived over for a hug and off I went, you can see Big ben and the London Eye in the distance, crowds immense and by now my fast start was catching up with me but I soldiered on and at Big Ben there is only a mile to go, past the houses pf parliament turned up bird cage road past Buck palace waved at the queen and there was the finish line a great finish point.

New York Nov 2014
// finish Time 3hrs 34m

I qualified for this marathon based on my RAK half time of 1hr 28m against aged 50+ this was actually my 2nd NY marathon, having ran in the cancelled (Storm Sandy) in 2012 around Central Park.

The weather was awful for this marathon, it was cold, very, very windy as we lined up 4hrs before the start (6am) in the dark along the Verrazano Narrows bridge.

The start gun went off and to the tune of Sinatra singing New York, New York we moved forward, it took me about 10 mins to cross the line, running over the bridge (I was top deck) was fantastic I loved it, seeing thousands of heads bobbing over the 2km bridge.

The race itself takes you through the 5 boroughs of New York, Brooklyn & Queens I don’t remember that much and then just after the half way when you run over another bridge to Manhattan you hit 2nd avenue, the noise was tremendous from the crowds, it spurred you on for the 2nd half of the race, running all the way up 2nd avenue, into the Bronx then onto Central park, which is very undulating then you turn and see the finish line, the crowds are fantastic for a stunning finish.

Boston April 2015
// finish Time 3hrs 29m

I qualified for this marathon with my Dubai time of 3hrs 21m. The grandad of all marathons, the whole of Boston really does welcome you unlike NY or London which are used to hosting major sporting occasions.

But like NY you are bussed 4 hrs before the start gun, to the start area. It was raining, not too cold but raining. You are placed in pens of 2,000 other runners of similar time finish and walked from pen to pen till 20 mins after the gun started we got to our start.

Like London the 1st 10K is down hill but I controlled myself not to go too fast, lots of areas you run through are in country lanes so no crowds but you do get to sing at every mile marker Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline (the Boston Red Sox anthem of choice). At Wellesley College (20k in) you meet a wall of screaming college girls who give our kisses to all runners, then you get the famous heartbreak hill at 20 miles/32K a series of 4 hills that sap your legs, plus the rain came down very heavy at this point, and after the hills you ran through water, I was getting very cold at this point, but as I was running, a guy called out the Mirdif Milers, it was a runner I knew from Comrades called slow duck (he is a member of the 100 marathon club so not slow at all) we pushed each other along but both of us were cold wet and couldn’t wait to get home to a warm shower, we push to get sub 3:30 which we just did. I stayed in the shower/bath for an hour I have never been so cold after a race.

Tokyo February 2016
// finish Time 3hrs 22m

I entered this race via UK sports tours international as the lottery sold out in a day. Our hotel was 5 mins from the start and the organisation at the start was typically Japanese very efficient.

I could see the start line clearly in front and it only took 2 mins to cross the line when the huge fan fare of ticker tape and balloons went off with the gun.

The streets were wide as we all snaked down into the Imperial palace and high end shopping areas, the route took us in a figure 8 so you were constantly seeing other runners on both sides of the streets, the crowds were huge all ringing cattle bells? And singing, drinks stops were an art form giving out drinks in military style and no discarded cups or gels anywhere, you threw them in the bin.

At 30k you went around a sharp turn and headed the 12K back home, at this point I was on for a PB, and maintained the pace until about 4k to go them you ran over a series of bridges over canals and rivers the last being at 41K !! the crowds were sparse at this point as you finished in a bus car park next to an exhibition hall. The last 4k slowed me down with the bridges and I finished in my 2nd fastest marathon 1 min 30 seconds short of my PB.

I don’t actually remember that much about the route or the sites as I was too focused on getting a PB. When I went to collect my drop bag, about 100 or so volunteers in a large hall all started clapping me (and other finishers) which was very emotional.

Chicago Oct 2016
// Finished in 4hrs:02m

I entered this marathon through the web site lottery and go in. 14 hr flight and 10 hrs time difference (to Dubai) really does mess with you doing USA marathons.

This marathon was the simplest and easiest to get to the starting line up compared to NY & Boston, left my hotel at 6am got to the pen at 6 30 could easily see the start line and gun off at 7:30am.

it took me 2 mins to get over the starting line. you then head straight into a tunnel for a couple of Km that really messes up with your Garman sat nav your Av pace is all over the place.

Then you run through some very expensive parts of town by the marina, over the river lots of times winding in and out of the city, the crowds were really big and excited (Chicago Cubs could win the championship the same night at rounder’s for the 1st time in years) then at 19k my hamstring went tight, I tried to slow down but it got worse, so I jogged back, walking and jogging I was not going to give up, I tried to push, but felt awful.

Cheesed off and got home just after 4hrs, I had not even bother to look at the time, maybe if I did I would have pushed for sub 4hrs, but I wasn’t bothered at all. I remember China town that’s about it in the 2nd 21k

Berlin September 2017
//Finished in 3hr 27m

I entered this race again through UK sports tours .The last of the 6, training went very well I stuck to the plan. Getting to the start was easy, a 20 min walk from my Tiergarten hotel then in the pens with 1 hr to wait.

A guy next to me seeing my club vest said, are you Malcolm from the Mirdif Milers (My shirt did have Malcolm and Mirdif Milers on it, so you don’t have to be Sherlock to work that out) Turns out he was from Al Ain, and has ran the Donut 10 before and that’s where he had seen me doing the comparing bit, small world only 47,000 in the start and he was next to me.

It was drizzling at the start and it took me 6 mins to get over the line, you ran along a very wide duel carriage way and after 1 k you split either left or right around the Victory Column then meet up again the other side. For 2 more Km its fine lots of space then you all turn right and stop… it was so packed that for the next 5k I was weaving in and out of runners until about 8k when I got a free path in front of me. The water stops were treacherous plastic cups and water everywhere and runners darting across the road in front of you to get water.

The crowds were good, but although its only 2 weeks ago, I don’t remember much of the views for the 1st 30k or so, then as we headed into town I spotted the tourist sites. I had hoped for a fast time, maybe even a PB but my Garmin was bleeping a km mark well before the actual KM mark on the road, I had lost a lot of time during those 3-8k weaving in and out.

At 35K I knew I wouldn’t get a fast time, so I took in all the sites and relaxed chatted to other runners (I had a special sticker on the back of my shirt saying last of the six majors) so lots of runners were cheering me on, at 40K I am looking for the Brandenburg Gate, but still couldn’t see it, then at 41k around a corner it was there. We all made a last push as we went through only to realise its another 400m to the finish.

Finally I has completed the world 6 majors. My watch showed 43.5K so I must have ran in/out of runners for a km more between 3-8k. They gave me my Berlin medal, then another 50m after the finish I saw the Abbots Marathon Flags. This year they give out the 6 star finishers medals at the end of every major (previously they posted them).

There were 40 runners in Berlin that could get a six star, and became number 2,122 in the world to complete all 6. Lots of photos with the race director of Boston and other runners, who on the way to the station all congratulated me.

IN REVIEW

As with all my marathons I do an after marathon in the bars. In the USA for all 3 races I got the most free beers for being British and flying from Dubai, the Americans love that effort & commitment.

Berlin the best beers, London Free beer if you have your medal (in selective pubs only) Tokyo most expensive Kilkenny in an Irish pub

SO THE BEST Bits of the 6

Best start: New York Running over Verrazano Narrows bridge is amazing, Tokyo was also very good

Loudest crowd: London by Cutty Sark and NY 2nd avenue

Biggest crowd throughout: London/New York

Best after party New York, after the marathon shower & changed, I was out until 3am so 23hrs up that day as I was up at 4am to get to the start.

Best medal: Boston (and the six star)

Best marathon Jacket: White Tokyo

Best Expo: London or New York

My favourite: no one particular race, sure Tokyo was my fastest, NY was an amazing 24hrs. Its bits of all 6 are my favourites. Start NY 5K harbour area of Chicago 10k Cutty Sark, 21K Tokyo (Imperial Palace) 35k Embankment London, 35K Central park. Finish London, New York & Berlin

Worst Bits of the 6

Time difference of 10hrs in the USA marathons and getting up 6hrs before a race

Longest time hanging around before the start: New York 4hrs & Boston 4hrs

Coldest windiest: New York, the stopped the wheel chair competitors going over the start bridge as the wind was so strong

Wettest: Boston it rained non stop

No crowds: Canvey island London, final 4 K Tokyo, 30-35K Chicago we ran (I limped) along a highway

Worst marathon apparel Berlin horrible colours from Adidas and sizes ran out on day 1

Worst marathon Chicago (due to injury) end of Tokyo race in a bus depot

Suggestions if you wish to do the 6

Be prepared to pay charity (London) or sports tours Berlin /Tokyo. Use your Half marathon age time to qualify for NY (its easier) if you’re not fast do speed work each week or wait till your old to qualify for Boston.

Don’t book a bag drop in USA you walk miles to get your bag back and que, get the free poncho in most races and NY is a great one

PB in a Major? All 6 races are very busy at the start with 3 races over 45,000 plus you don’t get to see the sights chat to other runners if you are glued to your watch all the time, I tried in London, Tokyo and Berlin for a PB. London went off too fast, Tokyo the last 4k with bridges killed me and Berlin too crowded from 3-8k. If you are going to aim for a PB I suggest Tokyo as this has the widest roads and less bottlenecks

Always wear your medal at night after the race you get free beer