Rotary Shakespeare Half Marathon

Guess who?

Ready for a town centre start

GRC’s Robert McArdle joined almost two thousand runners in last Sunday’s Shakespeare Half Marathon. Taking the chance to experience world famous Stratford-upon-Avon and to run amongst some of the most historical buildings in the country and through miles of beautiful Warwickshire countryside. Starting in the centre of the town, opposite Shakespeare’s old school, taking in sights such as the River Avon, Holy Trinity Church (home to the grave of William Shakespeare) and the Royal Shakespeare Theatres. The route passed through quintessential English villages, where chocolate box thatch roof cottages, hump back bridges and pretty dry stone walls are a joy to behold. The tourist books fail to mention the infamous Greenway section where runner’s mind is tested to breaking point and the endless quotation from the Bard including “Now bid me run / And I will strive with things impossible” from Julius Caesar. On a surprisingly hot day Robert completed the thirteen point one miles in 99:59 which was 199^th overall and fourth in his age category. Aylin Doerpinghaus finished as 384th lady.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
199	1:39:59	Robert McArdle		MV55		71:22%
1293	2:08:46	Aylin Doerpinghaus		FS		51.13%