402 runners congregated at Stevenage's Shephalbury Park under blue skies and bright sunshine on Sunday morning to take on the flat pathed 5 mile route passing through green areas in Stevenage and the iconic Lamex Stadium. Runners were treated to a great view of 4,000 newly planted trees in Fairlands Valley park. Six North Herts Road Runners toed the line led in by James Dalton in 35:43, followed by Hannah Keeble 44:11; Richard Barker 53:00; Georgia Barker 53:00; Stephen Doran 53:38. Sheila Leavy race walked in a great time of 1:04:33 and said “it was warm and undulating in parts, but enjoyable”. Three top 10 finishes for Squirrels at Snowdonia Half Marathon A scurry of squirrels travelled to Wales for the Snowdonia Half Marathon, classified as 'very very tough' and 'one of the UK's toughest half marathons' with an elevation of 1900ft. And Georgia, one of the scurry agreed, “yes it was tough!! There was even a secondary medal for those with stamina and determination to run the final hill, which Caroline and Georgia achieved! Everyone was pleased with their results followed by the traditional swim in the local river.” The squirrels were led home by Kat Burr who 1:57:28 to take 5th position in her veteran 40-44 age group, closely followed in by Caroline Thrussell who took top spot by over 30 minutes in her veteran 60-64 age group and next was her daughter Georgia Head in 2:08:32 to finish 9th in the open category. Other Squirrels running were Dervla Downing 02:14:00; Alice Noakes 02:21:53; Paul Bowal 02:25:30; Helen Ankers 02:29:12; Andy Grudzinski 02:35:21 and Adam Wilson 02:40:39 Linda overcomes train strike to race at Battersea Linda was the only squirrel at the Veterans AC 5 miles champs at Battersea Park on Tues evening. It was a small, high quality field for the three and a half laps of the very fast and flat Battersea Park. Given the sunshine the park was very busy with many runners, walkers and cyclists, with Linda commenting “there was a certain amount of dodging necessary for those of us taking part in the race. Those of us near the back were soon lapped by the very speedy front runners, and it was a bit soul-destroying to have to run past the finish to do the final lap when most runners had already finished! I'm not sure I enjoyed the race, exactly, as I was running quite hard in warm conditions, but was happy with my finishing time of 43:13 (fastest 5 mile time since 2019, and following several years of recurrent injuries.). First W65 - also last W65 as I was the ONLY W65! Got quite a nice medal, anyway, which I definitely felt I'd earned. I narrowly avoided being last by beating a 65, a 70 and two 80 year olds - needless to say, they got a massive cheer as they went past and into the finish!” Parkrun roundup: Letchworth parkrun Sheriff Special update from Philip Flack, “We all know we couldn't have parkrun or any race without marshalls. Well, at Letchworth Parkrun this week, we had a Sheriff in attendance. The Sheriff of Hertfordshire adorned in traditional dress with ceremonial sword, gave a pre race speech in which she said she had the power to punish anyone taking shortcuts. The run/walk proceeded in it's usual orderly way and no executions took place.” Danish double from Bev Rimmer, “Being something of a ParkRun obsessive, I made the a trip to Denmark to take part in their extra event on Ascension Day. This fell on Thursday 9 May this year, and my chosen venue was Fælledparken in Copenhagen. The race director opened, rather amusingly, by asking if any Danes were taking part. A scattered few hands went up … however, the rest were crazy/enthusiastic/insert adjective here tourists rather like myself. The race is a flat three-lapper, and I dragged myself home in a fairly respectable time of 00:29:44. I’ve been struggling with pace lately, knowing full well that my training has hit a brick wall, and I was pleased to have finished sub-30. My mile times (according to my watch) were: 09:45, 09:23, and 09:17 respectively, which is certainly taking the desired direction. Still in Denmark on Saturday, I plumped for Amager Strandpark ParkRun (also in Copenhagen) - a beautiful coastal course that consists of an anti-clockwise lap followed by a clockwise one. I must add that the weather was absolutely stunning; the shorts and vest have made their first appearance of what I hope will be many this year. Again, the route is flat and fast, and I pushed with all my heart/lungs/aching muscles/flashy new trainers/increasing lactic acid to finish in the much better time of 00:28:40. Danish double completed…now to keep up the ParkRun attendance and the pace. It’s the Netherlands’ turn to have a double next weekend, as their nominated special day is Whit Monday. Is that the sound of temptation I hear?” And well done to Sharon French who went to Stevenage to complete her second ever parkrun!
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Twenty nine North Herts Road Runners headed to compete in the brilliant local Hitchin 10k which played host to this year's Hertfordshire County Championship. They put in a smashing team effort with both male and female teams taking both first and third podium spots. Sophie Thrussell, Rhia Botha and Karen Townsend formed the gold medal winning women's team. Karen was delighted with her result, as it was her first run since becoming a mum just ten weeks ago! Astrid McKeown, Tracy Pitcairn and Rhiannon Brooks raced well to claim the bronze county female team medal. Ben Hadman led the male team to the male county title, supported by Shaun Allin in a PB time, Steve McKeown and David Edwards. The male third placed county team was led by Ian Datlen, who just 2 weeks after his London marathon PB paced Natalie Phillips to achieve a massive 10k best time. Ian was followed home by Simon Clapham, Andrew Wallis and Richard Barker. Ladies team captain Natalie Phillips reported the "Weather was sunny and warm, with beautiful blue skies, marshals were friendly. Club members offered each other plenty of support, including Ian Datlen who helped me achieve a (even better than I had hoped for) PB!"
Run to the sea Brighton 50k Ultra Laurie Scott headed south for his first Ultra marathon. The multi-terrain route from Horsham to Brighton seafront was a great introduction to the world of ultras. A beautiful slightly downhill first 25k then a very hilly next 20k across the beautiful South Downs and a “sprint” downhill to the sea front. Laurie managed to get home in 6hrs 45 min and 19 secs and says ‘he was extremely pleased after spraining both ankles (walking the dog on 2 separate occasions 4 weeks out!) and that it was a real well organised beautiful run with my Italian colleague, highly recommended to anyone wanting to try an ultra and a free 99 at the end of the run!’ Milton Keynes Marathon madness Rachel Arnott was back in marathon action just two weeks after her club record and personal best time at the London Marathon. She stormed round in a speedy 3:19:46 much to the astonishment of her clubmates, as some are still on light running duties post marathon! Running in the Half Marathon event was Dave Braybrook who finished in 1:57:36. First Saturday of the month 5k Saturday morning North Herts Road Runners hosted their FSOTM 5k on Norton common. The mud was back and made for some fun conditions. First home for the club was Tom Webb and first lady was Katie Harbon. Our next event is on June 1st and hopefully the course will be dry! Full result list.
Parkrun Roundup
Elwyn Howell completed the ocean city half marathon in a time of 1:42:20 to break the V65 club record by over 4 minutes which has been held for over 11 years. Elwyn commented “before I joined NHRR in 2018 I did this race a year earlier in 2017 my first race in over 45 minutes longer. The advantage of joining a brilliant running club.” The weekend also saw Monica Cullin celebrate her 80th birthday in typical runners style with a NHRR trip to Great Denham parkrun. Over 40 NHRR’s took part in the flat, 2 lap course. Happy Birthday Monica!
As April draws to a close, our members have been busy racing across the UK and beyond! Our club's running adventures this past week spanned the full spectrum, from exciting Parkruns to full marathons. Our members demonstrated their passion and dedication, achieving notable performances in both short-distance and long-distance races. London Marathon Legends: Records Shattered & Memorable Milestones Our club's squirrels tackled the London Marathon with incredible performances, celebrating personal achievements and memorable moments. Laura Fairbanks, who had qualified to run London thanks to her brilliant Manchester performance last year, celebrated her 10-year anniversary since her first London Marathon with a finish time of 3:41:51. A watch malfunction at Canary Wharf didn't dampen her spirits; she finished with a smile, supported by Anna Gibson's flat Coca-Cola pick-me-up at mile 22. Stuart Cocks achieved a new personal best of 3:31:50, reflecting his rigorous training block. Stuart fully embraced the electric atmosphere on the course and is still riding high on his success. Clare Hooley crossed the finish line in 6:33:02, completing her first marathon in four years. Though the race was tough, Clare is relieved and delighted to have accomplished this significant feat. On top of all the great performances today, we had two club records broken at London! Matt Sayers broke his own MV45 record in 2:36:57, and Rachel Arnott broke the FV45 record (previously held for 6 months) in 3:09:10. In addition, 9 other members put in impressive performances. Here is the complete list: Congratulations to all our runners for your dedication in training and your achievements on the day in the London Marathon! Your efforts inspire us all. Other Marathons Mastery: Adventures Across Diverse Races The club’s marathon adventures didn’t end at London, as other squirrels chose to enter a variety of different marathons, each with its unique challenges and rewards. Ollie Parsons took on the legendary Boston Marathon on Monday 15/04, experiencing the city's enthusiasm for the event and running-themed activities everywhere. Despite the heat and the challenging hills, including the notorious Heartbreak Hill, Ollie crossed the finish line in 3:14. Although it wasn't his target time, he appreciated the incredible experience and soaked in the event's vibrant atmosphere. Sue Foot participated in The Other Run marathon in Barrow Suffolk, organized by ZigZag Running. She described the one-lap course as undulating with some challenging hills. Sue appreciated the event's well-organized nature, including free tea, coffee, and cake at the finish. Having just run the Haverhill marathon two weeks prior, she was delighted to complete this race 16 minutes faster, with a time of 4:44. Simon Clapham embarked on his marathon journey at midnight, running the inaugural Flawed Hero virtual London marathon. Despite limited training and sleep, Simon managed to finish in an impressive 4:26. Although it wasn't a personal best, Simon is proud of his performance given the circumstances. Congratulations to all three runners for their determination and achievements in these marathons! Their experiences showcase the variety and spirit of our club's runners. Parkrun Roundup Our members were also busy across various parkrun events, showing great energy and enthusiasm:
A 12-strong North Herts Road Runners turned in a series of superb performances at the Manchester Marathon. The potential for fast times on a flat course has made the event increasingly popular in recent years and the Squirrels had been training hard to make the most of the opportunity. Tom Barclay led the way with an outstanding 11th place out of 21,000 finishers in a scorching time of 2:33:22. Ben Sewell was close behind in 2:42:14 and Shaun Allin said he ‘couldn’t be happier with a massive personal best’ of 3:07:50, despite ‘paying the price at 22 miles’ for attempting a sub-3 hour pace in the earlier stages. Rhia Botha recorded a 10-minute PB with 3:16:11, even after ‘really struggling’ in the last 5km. She said ‘the NHRR support along the route was amazing, and seeing my coaches around the 10-mile and 23-mile spots made the world of difference’. Helen Nuttall was on pacing duties for husband Steve – until ‘he decided at 21.5 miles he wanted some peace and quiet, so told me to run ahead to the finish!’ Helen finished in 3:50:56, with Steve crossing the line in 4:03:48. Flitwick 10k Hannah Ridley was delighted to finish as second lady in a ‘massive PB’ of 42:22 at the Flitwick 10k, reporting ‘It was quite an undulating course but a good one, and the sunshine made it 10 times better’. Parkrun round-up This week’s outstanding Parkrun performance came courtesy of Elwyn Howell at Teignmouth in Devon. Elwyn demolished the existing Club Parkrun record for the V65 age-group, knocking 5 minutes off the previous mark with a superb time of 21:09.
Elsewhere Sue Foot was out in the Suffolk countryside taking on the Haverhill Marathon. She took a podium place as the 2nd lady overall in a time 5 hours in spite of “an undulating course and a challenging run with gusty winds trying to blow me in the wrong direction”. Beyond the marathon... Lee Varley took part in the Ultra Marathon Windsor. Lee set out to break 4hr30 and came home in 4:23 and took 1st place overall, in a fantastic run, all of this whilst hitting the wall at 46k. “Probably the first and last time I come first in any race. Beautiful first 25km going along the River Thames and through Windsor Great Park and then running down the long walk listening to Parisienne Walkways made my day!”
NHRR results are as follows….
Parkrun Action...
Parkrun round up for Saturday 30 March below includes Sheila Leavy who said she “speed walked Stevenage parkrun and was pleased with my time although I did get beaten by the fridge!”
Oakley 20M 15 squirrels ran the Oakley 20 in the beautiful sunshine through the 'undulating' Bedfordshire countryside. Richard Springall was first home for the club, finishing 13th overall in 2:08:32. Closely followed by a trio of age category winners. Ian Datlen was first V50 finishing in 2:18:10. Rachel Arnott was first V45 finishing in 2:26:03 and Rhia Botha was first V35 finishing in 2:28:35. Rhia commented afterwards that “Oakley 20 was my first 20 mile race and it did not disappoint. The weather was perfect, except for the wind. The atmosphere was great and the marshals and volunteers were so friendly. It made for a great morning. I was very pleased to manage my target marathon pace despite the hills and wind.” The ladies team of Rachel Arnott, Rhia Botha and Laura Fairbanks were 2nd in the team competition. Full results are as follows
Thorney 10 Two Squirrels ventured up the A1 to the historic village of Thorney in northern Cambridgeshire to take part in the Keith Hall Memorial 10k road race. It's a pancake flat L shaped out and back course, renowned for fast times. However the winds on Sunday provided very fast times for the 5km out with a lovely tailwind propelling the runners forward, but the headwind on the way back put a dampener on the hope for fast times. Andrew Leach finished seventh male and first in his veteran 60 age category in 34:38 and Tash Pitman clinched 5th female and first in her veteran 45 age category in 41:23. ATW Run Fest at Lee Valley Tracy Pitcairn was 1st Lady and 10th overall out of 230 at Lee valley 10k this Sunday as part of the ATW run fest which also included a half marathon option. Tracy’s 10k chip time was 42:46 and due to injuries throughout the Summer, Autumn and Winter, this was her first 10k race since the mid week league last year. Tracey said that “I wanted to give it my best effort but did not expect to be near my best at this time. “ she added that it was a windy day but lovely and sunny. The course was fantastic, starting at the White Water Centre at Lee Valley it was all off road but good quality flat paths through the nature reserve. She would definitely recommend it for next year. Parkrun Roundup Lots of Parkrun action this week with the Harbon's going en masse to Sheringham parkrun to celebrate Jo's new Age Grading.
The North Herts Road Runners were out in force this weekend, tackling a range of race distances, as well as having a fantastic time celebrating the club’s achievements at their annual awards ceremony on Saturday evening. The squirrels were well represented at the Milton Keynes Festival of Running on Sunday, where several runners embraced the challenge of the 20-mile distance following the previous evening’s awards ceremony celebrations. John Auld decided that the opportunity to run for more than 3 hours in the fresh air was “the perfect hangover cure”, completing the 20-mile race in 3:11:57. He was joined by Mike Phillips (2:35:49), Ben Ryan (2:44:23), Ian Harvey (2:45:29), Alice Carty (2:50:36), and Stuart Cocks (2:50:38). Meanwhile, Rachel Arnott completed the half marathon in an impressive 1:32:24, while in the 5k race Hannah Ridley was 2nd lady and 13th runner overall, finishing in a fantastic time of 20:11. Also racing this weekend was newcomer to the club Becky Geekie, who competed in the “rather wet” Essex 20 mile race in a PB of 2:41:57. Ben Sewell (2:19:21), Tom Barclay (2:19:20) and Emma Sandham (2:47:26) also completed the race as part of their marathon training. Whilst further afield Joe Dixon ran his first marathon in Rome, he completed the course in an excellent debut marathon time of 3 hours and 36 minutes, despite the rather warm conditions. Lots of squirrels took part in parkrun events on Saturday, and this week’s full parkrun results for the club are as follows:
With spring marathons looming on the horizon, a lot of North Herts Road Runners are increasing their mileage and taking part in longer distance races of half marathons and 20 milers. The NHRR ladies certainly delivered some female inspiration on the weekend of International Women’s Day and Mothers Day. Fresh from her superb Cambridge Half Marathon 6 days previously Katie Harbon was the first runner to cross the line at the notoriously challenging Letchworth Parkrun in an impressive 19:37. Running conditions were not quite as favourable for those out on Sunday but four NHRR ladies headed up the A1 to scenic Stamford to run the Burghley 7 (miles) which starts and finishes in the very beautiful Burghley Estate and runs through the architecturally magnificent town of Stamford. Linda Aird came 2nd in her age category, Lucy O’Connor had an unfortunate mishap which exacerbated a pre-existing injury while perching precariously on a portaloo five minutes before the race started, but still managed to complete the course. Also receiving the ‘very nice medal’ for this event were Miranda Morgan and Jo Kenlin. It was a shame that it was so wet but otherwise the ladies said they would definitely recommend the Burghley 7. Rachel Arnott ran the Oundle 20 Mile race as a Mother’s Day gift to herself and managed to secure a PB and first place in her age category in a time of 2:27:46, almost 5min faster than her previous attempt at this course. She described it is as ‘a fun run, dodging puddles and potholes while enjoying the countryside views.’
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April 2024
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