A tale of two Bostons

Marathon season has kicked in – sometimes hot, sometimes cold: luck of the draw. This week our lot ran the 26.2 (42.2) in the heat of Boston, Massachusetts and the relative cool of Boston, Lincolnshire, after last week’s Paris, Rotterdam, Hannover and Brighton, and next Sunday’s little matter of London.

Earlier in the month we missed a podium finish worthy of highlighting – for the sprightly Kelly Thornycroft: a PB of 37:09 to give her second place in the Derby 10k

Boston Marathon, Massachusetts, USA, Monday April 17

Our seven Heathside ambassadors became six on the line because Captain Jake Spencer had to bow out a week before with a stress fracture – but he still made the trip and cheered the other six along with his usual enthusiasm. They faced ridiculously warm weather (the thermometer rose to 27C – this for a race that was once run in the snow in 3.8C temperature). To their great credit all six finished and although they were well shy of their hopes, Richard Peachment somehow managed a 3:22 PB.

Here’s Steve Armstrong’s report:

‘A very excited Heathside contingent headed out to Boston for the world's oldest annual marathon. It's an amazing event, the whole city gears up for it and they make the runners feel like royalty. Unfortunately that didn't really help us with the heat (which was savage) or the hills. Incredibly, given the conditions, Richard Peachment managed to smash out a PB, and Matt Cockerill also ran a great race, bombing past me at about mile 24. But for the rest of us, it was all about survival. Thanks also to Heathside superfan Jake, for bringing the bobble hat across the Atlantic and cheering us on!’

Results:

Matt Cockerill 3.04.43

Steve Armstrong 3.07.20

Dan Johns 3.08.40

Richard Peachment 3.22.14

Monika Newton 3.24.13

Henry Hamilton-Gould 3.47.20

Boston Marathon, Lincolnshire, Monday April 17

Michael Tant and Nick Dodd both put impressive performances in the other Boston. Michael was 26th out of 406 finishers in a big PB time of 3:07:10 despite having to pause for a loo break. Nick came 129th and broke the clubs V60 marathon record in a time of 3:39;11 (breaking Carl Heap’s record by six minutes) and was also the third V60 in the race.  

Nick Dodd writes: ‘The alternative Boston is a lovely course mainly over quiet country lanes, and dead flat.  Only 500 runners, but loads of water stations and good friendly organisation.  Definitely PB potential.’

Michael Tant adds: ‘Crashed and burned in my final hour after an enforced pitstop - legs never got going again. Am going to take a leaf out of Phil's book next time and go for 60+ mile weeks rather than my lazy 40s...’ 

Results (406 finishers)

26th Michael Tant – 3:07.10 (PB)

129th Nick Dodd – 3:39:11 (3rd V60 and club record)

Derby 10k, Derby, April 9

Kelly Thorneycroft knocked 36 seconds off her 10K PB, putting in one of her now-familiar big kick finishes in a time of 37:09. That gave her second place on the podium. Next time 36-something!

Result:

42nd Kelly Thorneycroft – 37:09 (PB and 2nd woman)

Parkruns

A grand total of 62 Heathsiders took part in 32 Parkruns on Saturday. There were first places for Andrew Brooker in Hampstead Heath (16:53), Elidh Wagstaff in Finsbury Park (20:25) and Rebecca Bunting in Mersea Island (19:23). Here are the Heathside results: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2017-04-15