Revived marathon brought forward
THE ‘discontinued’ Guernsey Marathon is officially returning next year, in the springtime and with a new look to it.
After Peter Head stepped down as Guernsey Waterfront Marathon head organiser for largely financial reasons, causing the cancellation of the 2019 edition, local endurance group Distance.gg have revived the event in partnership with Jersey Marathon organisers 3D Events.
Distance.gg have confirmed a date of 29 March 2020 for their take on a race that previously unfolded in late summer.
The locally popular relay races will return to the programme alongside the 26.2-mile main event, which previously had an international flavour and a substantial sports tourism element.
Organisers have confirmed that the event will feature a newly-designed – yet still primarily coastal – course based at Castle Emplacement in Town and incorporating several local landmarks.
‘We have a stunning island and a very scenic coastal marathon course,’ said Distance.gg manager Michael Quittenden.
‘So we are confident that this, combined with professional management, will see us able to attract hundreds of runners to the island, in what is a shoulder month, over the next few years.’
In his 10 years of organising the marathon, Head estimated that it had generated 15,000 bed nights for visitors across 45 different countries.
Overseas runners accounted for 85% of entrants in the final ‘Waterfront’ edition in 2018, although both of the top prizes still went to Guernsey athletes. Peter Amy shattered his personal best to break the tape in 2hrs 42min. 27sec. and former European champion Ulrike Maisch glided to women’s honours.
