We have a friend who is now living in Trinidad and who invited us last year to join him running the 2010 marathon. Unfortunately though the 2010 event was cancelled due to the Global recession and the collapse of the events major sponsor. We decided therefore to enter Edinburgh instead in May and so planed our training accordingly eg. Increased early nights in and more chocolate and bottles of wine in the autumn\winter months.
In early November however the Trinidian Government decided in line with many other Governments around the world to Bail out the main sponsor who in turn decided to reschedule the event at the last minute.
So ill prepared (due to no training and the snow in December and January), off we set for our mammoth journey via New York (where the Immigration officer advised us to be careful because of the crime in Trinidad). We were pleasantly surprised and pleased however to be greeted by the Trinidadian Immigration Officer on our arrival who said “Welcome we are so pleased to have invited you to Trinidad for the Marathon”, what a nice welcome we thought... That is until we met Dave outside the airport who waving the National Newspaper advised we had made the Sports section being quoted as the main contenders to beat the three times winner from Nigeria to scoop the top prize of TT 250,000.
With a total lack of training and temperatures around 34C we decided to join the Walkers start group at 3.30am with the intention of covering as many miles as possible before sun rise when it starts to get really hot! We were not the only ones with this intention but by the end of mile one Lynda and I were the lead runners. It was interesting to finally have an appreciation of what it must be like to be Paula Radcliffe with open roads, fields to either side, no runners in front (or anywhere visibly behind) and with the only sound being the Police Escort on a motor cycle riding beside us. It was also interesting to be asked by the Police Escort to take photos of him on his bike escorting Lynda rather than the other way around for a change!
As the miles ticked off and we passed the odd dead horse laying by the side of the road the fields finally gave way to a small village where despite there only being a handful of houses the locals were still in the street outside the only bar in village partying.
We got to Mile 15 as the sun started to rise, the humidity fell and a welcoming cool breeze washed over us, unfortunately this only lasted for around 5 minutes before the sun started to burn and we found ourselves on the edge of the Port of Spain (the capital). We managed another two miles of run\walking but by mile 20 it was simply too hot and the lack of training had brought us to a stroll. Still a great effort and it was only the sound of the Lead Marathon Runners now catching us up (they started at 5:30am) that brought about a last desperate attempt to run but after a couple of minutes and watching the TV crews disappear around the corner in distance we decided it was time to walk the rest of the race while taking in the sights of the town and interact with the locals, all of whom were very friendly.
The last six miles of the course snakes past the New Opera House - an imitation of the Sydney Opera House and one that has caused a huge stir amongst the locals as it cost more to build than a couple of hospitals. We passed around the main Park where you see a tantalizing glimpse of the National Athletics Stadium, home of the finish line before being sadistically directed three miles in the opposite direction and out of town.
This latter part of the course goes through what our friend had advised was a NO GO area (You don’t stop at Traffic Lights for fear of being mugged in your car), yet put on a pair of trainers, (thoughts of Lee Evens sketch about running through Moss Side spring to mind!), wear a Marathon number and suddenly you are escalated from Potential Mugging Victim to Demi God by the locals.
As we walked through the streets and past some very unsavoury characters we were cheered and welcomed by many we would normally cross the road to get away from being in fear for our lives.
Finally and in soaring temperatures of around 35C and under a fierce sun the Stadium appeared before our eyes, the finish line at last... But no we were directed a further half mile in the opposite direction before being allowed to turn around and join the finishing 5k’ers (around a 1,000 of them).
Finally the National Stadium entrance appeared and as we ran the last 300m hand in hand to the cheers of locals we heard the PA announce that the UK newly weds had finished (I don’t remember proposing to Lynda but maybe the sun got the better of me ...)
In all a very well organised event with plenty of water\gator aid stations, great support from a small country and a race to be recommended.