From Somaliland to Milton Keynes: PBs and podium finishes
This is the first part of this week’s race roundup, covering David Hellard’s podium finish in the Somaliland marathon, several super-fast finishes and PBs in half marathons in Milton Keynes and Hampton Court, as well as races in Armagh and Battersea Park.
Somaliland marathon
Prize for most exotic run of the week (and of the year so far) goes to David Hellard who reports: “Bit of a weird one, but I took part in the first Somaliland marathon last weekend - birthplace of Mo Farah. It was a pretty tough race - 32C, quite a bit of climbing and at altitude, but managed to come from behind at half-way to win the thing with a 5-minute negative split. Was pretty crazy as an hour of speeches from senior ministers and sponsors followed and I obtained minor celebrity status for a day”.
Half marathons and 10Ks
Coach Jacob kindly sent the following roundup of the week’s races: “Away from the Sunday League there were a bunch of really good runs on the road from Heathsiders this week, starting off with Thursday, when Captain Kelly and Bethany flew off for a quick 3k road race in the Armagh International. Both finished in the top 50 in good times; and they're encouraging more of you to join them next year.
Three Heathsiders made the most of the cold sunny weather to run in the regular Self Transcendence 10k around Battersea park on Saturday, Jennifer Wind had a good run, finishing in 42:40 and fifth woman, with Ed Samuel (36:37) and Phil Hogg (38:58) also recording great times. Phil highly commends the organisation, including the orange juice, bananas and biscuits afterwards.
Heathsiders were spoilt for choice for half marathons on Sunday. Jacob reports: “At Hampton Court, Bethany upped the distance from Thursday to win in a big PB in 1:22:37, whilst Charlie also broke his PB to finish fourth man in an impressive 73 minutes. There were several other good runs behind them, including Annabel Lichfield’s PB (1:26:28) on her LH debut.
The rearranged Milton Keynes Winter Half marathon saw Olivia Desborough also breaking 90 mins (1:27:11) and running a PB for second place, whilst Leigh was running in Wokingham, finishing in 1:27:46.”
Parkruns
Finally, there was a great turn-out for parkruns on Saurday. Congratulations for first place finishes go to Richard Macaulay (Grovelands, 17: 14), Olivia Desborough (Highbury Fields, 20:23), The results are available from the following link: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2018-02-17%27.
Results
NW London Young Athletes league, Harrow, 17/2/18
Girls Under 11 1200 metres
3 H. Munday 6.06
17 A. Odeogberin 7.02
Girls Under 13 2000 metres
17 F. Weston10.24
Boys Under 11 2000 metres
9 B. Baduako Badlako 9.11
36 N. Naylor 11.31
Hampton Court HM, 18/2/18
4. Charlie Ogilvie 73:22 (PB)
29. Danny O'Reilly 78:21
67. Bethany Scott 1:22:32 (PB, 1st woman)
163. Annabel Litchfield 1:26:28 (PB, 7th woman)
981. Marie-Claire Gallagher 1:43:00
1171. Georgia Lotter 1:43:30
1429. Yvette Ralston 1:46:10
2366. Calum Foden 1:57:30
Milton Keynes Winter HM, 18/2/18
16 Andrew McGeary - 80:26 (PB)
61. Olivia Desborough 1:27:11 (PB, 2nd woman)
309. Alice Hosking 1:42:41
Wokingham HM, 18/2/18
270. Leigh James 1:27:46
Self Transcendence 10k, Battersea Park, 17/2/18
10 35:37 Dan Madams (ran under Tonbridge now having moved to countryside!)
21. Ed Samuel 36:37
39. Philip Hogg 38:58
58. Jennifer Wing 42:40 (PB)
Armagh International 3k, 15/2/18
40. Bethany Scott 10:17
49. Kelly Thorneycroft 10:26