All roads point to Hyde Park for festive running action: Last Friday 5k / NYD 10k
Not many races to report on this week as Christmas and New Year festivities understandably took priority over the few events that were taking place but those who were out and about were mainly heading to Hyde Park, with the Last Friday of the Month 5k rounding off 2017 and the Serpentine New Year's Day 10k seeing in 2018 in style. First off, Gabi Johnson was one of 5 Heathsiders who made a start on burning off the turkey and other excesses, along with Rob Shulman, Jennifer Wing, Alun Nash and Nick Dodd.
Caroline White sent in details of the intrepid Heathisders who a couple of days later eschewed NYE celebrations in lieu of heading down to Hyde Park and kicking off the year in fine style: “13 of us blew the cobwebs and alcohol fumes away on New Years day by running in the Serpentine New Years Day 10K. It was a bright breezy day - and despite it being the morning after the night before they managed some good running Rebecca Piggott achieved a PB and was 3rd lady, Sion Lewis was 13th overall and 2nd V35, Caroline White 1st VW60, Nick Dodd 3rd V60 and Jim 4th V65!”
Nick deserves a nod for having ‘doubled up’ by doing the Last Friday of the Month 5k a couple of days earlier. Also worthy of mention is Benjy Bediako who took part in the 3k race - he came home in 6th place and was 3rd U11 (one hopes the youth races were less affected by hangovers).
Elsewhere, Dutch correspondent Bas Vlaming was also rounding the year off with a run as he took on wonderfully named Winterbosloop, a local trail race through the woods. Over to Bas: "I figured it might be a good plan to end the year with the Winterbosloop on Dec. 31. Good fun, fairly wet but luckily not too slippery or muddy". Bas ended up 23rd out of 74 runners.
No parkrun results this week as the consolodated reports seem to have gone a bit mental but well done to everyone who got out and about on Christmas morning or took part in the traditional New Years Day 'double' and did two in one morning!
Happy New Year to everyone at Heatside and here's hoping for a good year's running for everyone.
Results:
Hyde Park Last Friday of the Month 5k Fri 29th Dec
43rd Rob Shulman 19:22
72nd Jennifer Wing 20:47
79th Nick Dodd 21:14
107th Alun Nash 22:55
108th Gabrielle Johnson 22:57
Winterbosloop 8.8k trail race, Netherlands, Sunday 31st Dec
23rd Bas Vlaming 42:48
Serpentine New Year’s Day 10k, Monday 1st Jan
13th Sion Lewis 34:54 (2nd V35)
27th Kimon Doulis 36:45
29th Rebecca Piggott 36:45 (3rd female)
43rd Alan Smith 38:11
45th Alex Sweet 38:21
50th Chris Vincent 38:48
51st Dennis Curry 38:50
114th Nick Dodd 43:31 (3rd V60)
160th Anthony Chin 46:41
164th Caroline White 46:59 (1st VW60)
185th Nilesh Goswami 47:48
325th James Taggart 55:27 (4th V65)
364th Laura Boothman 57:30