Growing up I remember Marlboro cigarettes sponsoring the tennis and Benson & Hedges the cricket, but we never thought anything of it. Couldn't do that today! Thankfully, chocolate is still allowed to sponsor running events but I still think its funny.
This event is a great running tradition in Tasmania. The 41st running in fact. And this year was their highest participant numbers ever.
The event starts and finishes at the Cadbury factory in Claremont, about 20kms outside of Hobart.
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| That's me in the green top/white hat on the left heading off from the start. Only 42.1km to go! |
Not the biggest marathon but a really nice event. About 300 in the full and 600 in the Half. There's also a 10k, 5k and 1k family run.
The course is 2 laps, beginning with a couple of laps around the old factory workers area and then out past MONA and over the bridge and back.
It's rather different to train for and run a marathon in January - you never know what the weather will be like. But it was spot on. 24 hours later it was wet and would have been nowhere near the fun.
Hobart has another marathon event starting this year in April in downtown Hobart. That could impact this one, but its heritage - and free chocolate - will help! Did I say that Cadbury gave us chocolate in our post-event showbags?
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| Even Deeks on the chocolate ... a nice touch |
We had a great weekend away and a great start to the running year.
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| Lots of excitement for a photo with some poor volunteer sweating up in a frog suit!! |
ANDREW'S RATINGS!
Organisation | 8 | Yep, all good. They know what they're doing and do it well. It was all very casual and all very relaxed. Just rock up and run. There was a muck up with the Half where they ran a bit longer, but that was a bit of a mistake, that's all. Given the size, bag drop and bib collection were really easy. Lots of nice vollies too. Only criticism was the return bus journey which was not well organised. | |
Crowd | 2 | No spectators to really mention out there. One great fan on course side calling everyone's names, but that shows how few were to be found! | |
Atmosphere | 7 | Good feel. Everyone was chilled and up beat. A great example ... who would have thought that the most prized photo after the event was a snap with Freddo Frog or Caramello Koala! There was a runner dressed as an Oompah-loompah - and carried chocolate around in a wheelbarrow, smiling happily the entire way! | |
Course | 6 | Couple of laps around the Cadbury factory and then we were away on course. It was much hillier than I was expecting. Not so much undulating as big hills with gradual climbs. Must make mention of the last km which is Cadbury Rd and is pretty much 1km up hill! 340 metres elevation over the entire course. | |
Expo | 1 | Wasn't one, it was pick up at a Hobart sports store. | |
Medal | 8 | Good medals:  | |
Runner’s pack | 6 | Score higher points because its the only (post event) showbag I can remember that has given us chocolate!! | |
Injuries | 0 | No black toe nails! | |
