2004 'TORAY' Cup - Shanghai Marathon

Saturday 13th November 2004

During the summer of 2004, the Shanghai Sports Federation invited the City of Liverpool to send a team of 4 athletes to compete in the Shanghai Marathon. The four athletes elected were Jenny Clague, Christine Murphy and Glen Groves and Bernard Murphy. Both the men had run the London marathon earlier in the year in excellent times hence their selection. For Chris and Jenny it was their debut run at a marathon distance.

Due to the fact that the City Council were not sending any officials Arwel (Taff) Williams was asked to manage the team due to his previous experiences of visiting Shanghai with other athletic teams.

For over three months the athletes had been preparing themselves for the day with all running a number of half marathons/road races prior to the day. Christine's partner - Gavin Dixon also entered the half marathon which was being run on the same day and paid all his own expenses to be there.

The team met at the Wavertree track at 9am on Wednesday 10th November 2004 for transport to Manchester Airport. A flight was taken with Lufthansa to Frankfurt in order to be transferred for the 11 hour flight to Shanghai. We left Frankfurt around 6pm and arrived at Shanghai Pu Dong Airport early afternoon the following day (8 hours ahead). The flight to Shanghai with Lufthansa was excellent with good food and plenty to drink. The athletes drank water!

The team were transported to the Shanghai Olympic Hotel and were immediately fed and watered. An early night was in order and by 9pm every one was in their rooms.

The following day, being Friday (12th), breakfast was had at 08.00am and by 09.30 the team were being chauffeured around the course. The start was on Nanjing Road at it's junction with the 'Bund' outside the 'Peace' Hotel. It was clear that the course was mostly flat with the odd raise over a flyover. During this morning we were accompanied by a Kenyan runner who we adopted called Benson Mutisya Mbithi. He was a lovely man, aged 26yrs and was a policeman. He had a p.b of 2hrs and 11 mins, but was too slow for the Kenyan team who required their marathon runners to do at least 2.05/06. He remained with us for the remainder of our stay.

On our return to the hotel and after lunch it was decided to rest and then the team decided to have a short 30 min run at a nearby track. By 6.30pm we were being chauffeured to a top hotel where there was a pre-race banquet for the elite runners.

All the athlete's enjoyed their evening and although Jenny was asked to make the stage where she was questioned by local reporters she managed it well. It was then back to the hotel by 9pm for an early night. We were destined to leave the hotel at 06.15am for the 07.30am start. With 15,000 runners anticipated in all the races, we knew it would be a busy area at the start of the race.

On the morning of the race the team were ready to leave at the allotted time, but poor Benson had forgotten to wake up. We eventually left at 06.30am. By the time we arrived at the start the police and army were out in force with many athletes in the area.

The first picture shows the start of the race with the army holding the runners back, the second picture shows Glen popping his head above the rest with big Gavin waving at the camera. The 3rd picture is of the start of the fun run with the army holding back the runners.

The race started about 2 mins early and my task was then to find my escort to take me to the finish which we were all glad as outside our hotel. Just as the first runners in the half marathon were beginning to finish the start of one of the heaviest showers I have ever stood in  came down and continued all day and night.

Gavin was one of the first members of the team to finish in the half marathon with a time of 83mins, two minutes better then his p.b. Our adopted Kenyan friend 'Benson' was first home in the marathon with a time of 2hrs and 17 mins 55 secs, looking as fresh as when he started. Glen ran an excellent race to finish with a time of 2hrs and 34 mins followed by Bernie with a time of 2hrs and 43mins.

The girls made sure that they also had excellent races with Jenny finishing in 2hrs and 49 mins (14th) and Christine 2hrs and 57mins (18th). Everyone did extremely well. It was clear that some athlete's were affected by some pollution in the air which was about 2/3rd's of the race and although the course was marshalled, trying to run through vehicle and people at junctions compounded the issue. Overall the athlete's enjoyed themselves so much that they want to return for next years race.

The last day was enjoyed visiting a Chinese market and then a meal in Old China Town. No one was looking forward to the flight back but having left the hotel at 09am on Monday morning (+8hrs to GMT), it was 01.00 am on Tuesday when we arrived home in Liverpool - it equated to over 27hrs on our feet.

The trip was excellent but was short with only 4 nights in the City of Shanghai.

Some pictures below to remember the place.

           No 1                                    No 2                                    No 3                                      No 4                                  No 5

1st picture - 'Benson' drinking in Old China Town, No 2 - 'Benson' with his chopsticks, No 3 - the team at one of the many restaurants, No 4 - A view over the 'Bund' with the Shanghai Oriental Pearl tower in the background, and No 5  - the team with 'Benson' on the last night.

Arwel (Taff) Williams