Stevenage Striders Running Club
It’s been a fairly busy week for the Stevenage Striders at various events as lots of us gear up for spring marathons. From the picturesque QE Olympic Park to the challenging Twin Lakes 20 miler, our runners have been all over smashing their personal bests and earning lots of medals along the way!
On Saturday, Keith Dennis and Sarah Dennis took on the QE Olympic Park 10K. Keith completed the course in 0:47:54, achieving a course best. He described the race as having a nice wide course, great surface, and perfect weather. Sarah Dennis also set a course best with a time of 1:10:56, also enjoying the course – sounds like one to bookmark for future!
The following day, Marc Hagland participated in the Phoenix Dragonfly Half Marathon, marking his 90th half marathon with a time of 2:22. Huge congratulations for getting this far – we are all looking forward to seeing you run your final 10 in 10 very soon!
Meanwhile, at the Lee Valley Run Fest 10K, Adam Mead celebrated both a personal best and season’s best with a time of 01:03:41. Adam had a great race and managed to achieve PBs in both the 5k and 10k distances. He described it as the most comfortable he has ever felt during a race and loved running with fellow Striders.
Helen Moye and Peter Moye took on the Hillingdon 20-miler on March 23rd. Helen completed the race in 03:04:58, setting a season’s best. As it was a four lap race, Helen got to know the marshalls very well by the end! Helen also earned two additional medals as the race hosted the Herts County Championships – 3rd female overall, and 1st in the FV55-65 category. Peter Moye achieved a personal best and completed his first race at this distance with a time of 02:22:52, in excellent prep for his upcoming marathon.
Chrissie Thomas tackled the Twin Lakes 20 miler, securing a personal best with a time of 3:42:03, beating her previous PB by over 4 minutes. The course sounded flat and Chrissie had a great start to the race that obviously put her in great stead for that fab PB!
We had 3 Striders at the Lee Valley this weekend; Lianne Loosley completed the 10k race in 01:01:46. Laura Owen-Brown also aced the 10k, achieving a personal best with a time of 01:03:33 – fantastic job, well done! Additionally, Marc Cecil participated in the Half Marathon, achieving a personal best with a time of 01:21:12. Despite his race strategy not going entirely to plan and his pace dropping off due to fatigued legs from last Sunday’s 35km, he was thrilled to set a new Half Marathon PB. Marc is now looking forward to the London Marathon in 5 weeks, with a few more weeks of training before tapering.
Fairlands Valley Spartans
Fairlands Valley Spartans brought home GOLD and BRONZE medals from Sunday’s County 20 mile championships.
SIMON JACKSON flew around the four lap Hillingdon course in 2 hours 2 minutes 8 seconds for the Hertfordshire County Bronze for men 40 plus.
JIM BROWN had a hard time of it in the second half with the trippy pavements, kerbs and generally not being in a good place but persisted getting a terrible time of 4:04:58 but holding on to win County Gold for men 70 plus. He said seventy smiling marshals helped get him round and certainly, in minutes per pound, he got good value for his entry fee.
Barcelona Marathon
Kristian ATANASOV ran a fantastic sub three race at the Barcelona Marathon. He finished in 2 hours 51 minutes 57 seconds (2:51:57).
Wymondham
CAROL PAUL ran the Wymondham 20 in Norfolk, just to the south/west of Norwich.
The race started in the Town and went 2 miles out of town through the country lanes where the competitors completed a 8 mile loop twice and then back to Wymondham. The course was undulating with a big hill in the last mile. Conditions were quite humid and Carol finished in 3:28:26, fifth in her age group F60-64 and 382nd out of 462. The race was really well organised with loads of marshals.
Twin Lakes
BRIAN WHITE ran the Twin Lakes 20 in 2 hours 42 minutes 1 second (2:42:01). He was 87th out of the 572 finishers in the multi-terrain event.
Ashridge Sam
It was a first time for SAM TOPHILL at the Ashridge Boundary Run. She said it was not her usual running terrain !! – but she went round the 17.5 miles in 3:09:06.
TIM ROBINSON finished in 3:54:31. The off road course with 1600ft of ascent took in Ivinghoe Beacon and a section of stairs through the woods! Was a tough run with most of the trails dried out, exposed tree roots, and heavily rutted tracks. The prize for completion was the traditional Beanie.
Classic Cross Country
Spartan MATTHEW NEWTON ran the classic cross country Orion 15 in the Epping Forest near Chingford. He finished in 2 hours 33 minutes 38 seconds.
Lee Valley PB Matt
On Sunday morning, MATT TUTTON ran the 10K at the Lee Valley Run Fest. It was a flat course starting and finishing at the Olympic White Water centre venturing through the Lee Valley Country Park. Conditions were decent and he managed a chip time of 51:37 which is now his new 10k PB. He was very happy to take a chunk of time off his personal best!
DANNY SCANLON ran the same race in 44:57.
Two Spartans ran the ATW Run Fest Half Marathon. SIMON HAIGH with 1:43:30 and MARTIN HAIGH with 2:09:28.
Preparing for Spring Events
42 Spartans took part in the FVS club 5, 10, 15 and 20 mile training runs on Sunday.
Parkrun Highlights Saturday 22nd March
A total of 498 parkrunners were at the 393rd Stevenage parkrun and despite it being the start of a very busy weekend 23 were Spartans. SIMON JACKSON was third in 18 minutes 30 seconds (18:30). He was running his 60th parkrun.
Altogether 40 Spartans were at parkruns across the country.
Stevenage Phoenix Running Club
Zig Zag Running’s Calf Half
On Saturday 22nd March, Scott Crawford travelled to Hyde Hall Farm in Buntingford for Zig Zag Running’s farm themed “Moo’rathon”. The route was an undulating mix of road and trail, and Scott completed the calf (half) marathon distance in 02:33:18. Scott commented that it was “a challenging run, fuelled by flapjacks and flat coke”.
Oakley 20
This undulating two lap course, organised by The Bedford Harriers, takes place in the villages north of Bedford and is a great training run in the lead up to marathons. On Sunday 23rd March, Kath Phoenix, James Woodcock and George Bradshaw travelled to Bedfordshire to take on the challenge. George remarked that “it was a good test for London that’s for sure. If anyone thought the hills round Stevenage are tough, give Oakley a go”. After running most of the race together, the trio were delighted to slip in under the three-hour mark. First to cross the line was Kath Phoenix in 02:58:07, followed by George Bradshaw in 02:58:57 and James Woodcock in 02:58:58.
ATW Run Fest at Lee Valley
On Sunday 23rd March, six Phoenixes travelled to the iconic Lee Valley White Water Centre to take part in the 10km distance. The course is carefully designed to be traffic-free, flat, and fast, giving runners the perfect opportunity to not only conquer a personal best but also to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature. Ben Murphy earned himself a 10k PB and Ashley Bates and Martin Wasley ran the course together. Full results below:
Ben Murphy 00:49:30 PB
Neal Crawley 00:50:18
Jon Boe 00:59:38
Katka Laughton 00:59:51
Ashley Bates 01:04:43
Martin Wasley 01:04:43
Grade Valley Harriers training run
The Gade Valley Harriers have been holding February/March marathon training runs for the last 25 years. The runs are designed for those building up to a Spring marathon, however, Emma and Lisa decided to take part in the run as it fitted in with their milage and it is “always nice to run in new places”. Emma commented that the event was “well organised with plenty of water points and jelly baby stops. Rewarded with cake at the end”. Emma and Lisa got around in approximately 03:45:00 (watch time).
