Stevenage Striders
Despite the weather’s challenges this week, including the Welwyn Half being flooded out, several races still went ahead this weekend.
We would like to highlight the following achievements:
- Martin Scales achieved a new Stevenage Parkrun personal best (PB) of 20:40 and placed 3rd in his age category.
- Linton Findlay also set a new Stevenage Parkrun PB of 26:58.
- Peter Bampton-Clare completed his 100th Parkrun.
- Harry Ives-Keeler celebrated his 25th Parkrun.
- Chris Mann marked his 50th Parkrun.
- Teressa Sutherill finished 1st in her age category.
- Chris Rowlands came in 3rd overall, 1st in his age category, and set a course PB.
- Laura Duffield ran a new Parkrun PB at Kings Lynn with a time of 28:16.
- Steve Moore was 1st in his age category with an age grading of 76.05%.
- Helen Moye was 2nd in her age category with an age grading of 75.98%.
- Andrew Manning achieved a course PB at Stevenage.
At the Hitchin 5k, a significant local race, nine Striders lined up at the start:
- Harry Ives Keeler finished in 21:51.
- Jess Ives-Keeler in 22:15.
- Kate Towsey in 24:05.
- Tina Buckeridge in 24:55.
- Esperanza Castro in 27:05.
- Danielle Das in 28:16.
- Eden Hudson in 29:22.
- Isla Hudson in 36:56.
Congratulations to the team!
Adam Hough participated in the Spartan Deka at Stronger Together Fitness. He praised the venue as an amazing gym in Little Wymondley and described the event as very fast-paced with a high atmosphere for a small venue. His completion times were:
- Deka Mile Solo: 21:59.
- Deka Mile Teams: 18:51.
- Deka Strong Solo: 17:00.
Well done, Adam!
Lennie and Jack Cant tackled the Loch Ness marathon, both achieving significant personal bests. Lennie finished in 4:54.12, while Jack completed the race in 4:16.09.
Stevenage Phoenix Running Club
Spartan Deka Mile challenge
It was a weekend of racing for Charlie Day who completed the Spartan Deka Mile challenge on Saturday 28th September. The challenge is made up of 10 different exercises such as burpees, weighted lunges and farmer carries, with a 160m run in-between each station. Charlie was aiming to complete the course in 1hr and managed 56mins 40s.
Hitchin 5k
On Sunday 29th September, 20 Phoenicians travelled to the nearby town of Hitchin to complete the fast and flat 2-lap course organised by Burnt Hare. PBs were made and a club record was broken. A big thank you to coaches Emma and Lisa for Marshalling and to other club members and family members who went along to show support.
Alex Wasley was first home in 19mins 12s, followed by new club member Christopher Nunn in 21mins 53s and Conor O’Neill in 22mins 09s. Martin Harris and Katie Mitham ran 24mins 15s and 24mins 17s, with the latter being a PB for Katie and she broke the club record for senior female. Next up was Katka Laughton in 25mins 06s, Ben Murphy in 25mins 26s, Phil Gover in 27mins 08s and Neil Homewood in 27mins 59s. Ladies Captain, Caitlin Evans completed the race in 28mins 08s and paced Kerry Cunnane to a PB time of 28mins 07s.
The third PB of the morning went to John Harris who ran the 5k in 28mins 58s. Joanna Heasman ran 28mins 59s, and Simona Leadbetter wasn’t far behind in 29mins 07s. Jacky Murphy had a great run with 30mins 38s, with energy in the tank for a sprint finish. Sue Leigh and Wendy Summerbee ran together in 33mins 36s and 33mins 37s respectively. Next up was Emma Wick who crossed the finish line in 35mins 05s and Sue Pudner was a minute behind in 36mins 03s, both sporting their Phoenix 5 t-shirts. Charlie Day had a memorable run in 38mins 29s, pacing his wife for her first ever 5k race.
Sea to summit – Scafell Pike
This weekend Pete Tungate conquered Race 2 of the UK Ultra trilogy, which was “even more brutal than Ben Nevis”. Starting off on the beach in Seascale, Pete and the other runners faced a lovely, runnable 14-mile stretch to the bottom of the mountains. From there, they ascended the steep side of Scafell Pike to the top, thinking the hardest part was over—but it really wasn’t. A very steep descent on loose shale followed, before they were sent up a waterfall that required scrambling and rock climbing to ascend.
Surely, the hard part was over now? Not quite. After another steep descent, Pete was met with yet another hill, complete with four false summits, followed by two more big hills. “The pace was slow, the weather was wet, and the mood was miserable”. With over 2,000m of elevation and a total distance of 35 miles, it took Pete 13hrs 55mins to complete. Well done Pete, two down, one to go.
LDWA – The Marlow donkey
On Sunday 29th September, three runners travelled to Marlow to take part in the LDWA’s off road self-navigation trail run. The 25-mile course is a figure of eight route from Marlow through the pretty villages of Frieth, Fingest and Turville and is named after a nearby Pub. Combining 2070ft of ascent with stunning views, Chris Leigh finished the course in 5hrs 14mins. Jodie Kantas and Mason Simmons ran together and finished in 6hrs 4mins. This was Mason’s first time covering this distance. When the runners completed the race, they were rewarded with sushi and vegetarian curry.
Fairlands Valley Spartans
Hitchin 5k
Spartan ANDREW PATTERSON won the Hitchin 5K in 16 minutes 10 seconds.
Other Spartan highlights included – on the basis of one runner one prize MIKE JEFFS took the male 40 plus award with his 18:01. He was eighth overall. BRIAN WHITE was second man 60 plus in 22:28 and ANDY JAY third in 27:36. JACKIE PERRY was second woman 60 plus in 27:36.
MARIE COLUCCI was the fastest female from Fairlands with 23:05 while HARRIET SMITH was not far behind with 23:45.
Yuko’s A Winner In Berlin
At the Berlin Marathon Spartan YUKO GORDON won her age category, women 70 plus, in 3:34:45.
That makes it her third time winning out of three outings in Berlin.
She said “the conditions were perfect, just the wait in the starting area was too long on a cold morning, so I needed a pit stop only after 5K as I wanted to enjoy the run without a full bladder.”
SIMON FRASER was easily under three hours with 2:48:09.
Great Shelford 5K.
CHARLES ARNOLD took his Spartan stripes to South Cambs and the 11th annual Great Shelford 5K. An England Athletics (EA) certified out-and-back road race, flat and picturesque so no excuses for not getting at least a season’s best (SB) of 21:28.
Can You Help The Stevenage Marathon and Half Marathon?
It’s on Sunday 20th October.
The event has got a course, got a licence and permit, and already got 862 entries. Now the event needs more help on the day.
This is the genuine article. A community event organised by volunteers from a local club, not a commercial venture. All the proceeds go to charity. This is the 40th Anniversary Event. The half marathon is every year but the full 26.2 miles marathon is a bit special. It only happens every ten years.
Organiser Andy Prior said:
“We need marshals for our event on Sunday 20th October – Stevenage Half and Full Marathon.
Absolutely anyone can do this if you have a few hours spare. It just requires directing runners to make sure they don’t go wrong. And cheering them on with a big smile, easy peasy!!
The full marathon only comes around every 10 years so it’s an extra special event this time and any help would be hugely appreciated! As you might imagine dozens of people are needed to keep people safe and on course.
Oh and did I mention that all proceeds from this race are going to the club’s chosen Charity which is Pancreatic Cancer UK this year.
If you are interested in helping please contact Andy Prior on the following email address: SHM@fvspartans.org.uk”
Last Friday at Serpentine
Torrential rain until just before the start ensured everything was very wet for the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park.
Despite that there were 143 runners in the lunch-time race. JIM BROWN was 132nd in 28:23 giving him a series average of 64.0% so far.
Parkrun Highlights 28th September
The total finishers at Stevenage parkrun went over 500 again on Saturday and 22 of them were Spartans. GRANT RAMSAY was back in the Top Ten at sixth with his 18:57 and SUZY HAWKINS third woman with 21:08. KARL SHREEVE ran his 25th parkrun in 31:30. A total of 525 parkrunners took part.
Altogether there were 33 Spartans running parkruns and those elsewhere included KELLY McHALE who ran a new parkrun personal best of 23 minutes 29 seconds (23:29) at Panshanger and PETE SMITH who ran 26:35 at the North Yorkshire Water parkrun.
A total of 525 parkrunners took part.
