Marathons "Real" and "Virtual" : London, Dorney Lake, & Goodwood
This week’s results are entirely taken up with Marathons, both real and virtual, with all runners having to overcome difficult conditions of rain and wind . Several excellent performances were recorded in the process
First up was the “ real “ Dorney Lake Marathon, as described by Gavin :
Dorney Lake Marathon, Windsor 4/10/20
Twelve Heathsiders ran the Dorney Lake Marathon in extremely testing conditions - 11 finishing, with six PBs and two club records.
This was one of the first ‘real’ (as opposed to virtual or ‘reimagined’) marathons of the Covid era, with chip-timed runners going off in waves during a two-hour spell. It is a four-lap course that is virtually flat expect for 16 little bridges (4 x 4).
The combination of rain, cold (9 degrees), wind and some huge puddles produced something of an extra-endurance event, which makes those PBs all the more remarkable, particularly for those who started at 9am. As the morning progressed the rain turned into drizzle and the thermometer rose a degree or two but the wind was still determined.
The first Heathsider was George Gurney in a fine PB of 2:41:45 followed by Sion Lewis in a PB of 2:42:23. Both would have had an excellent chance of getting under 2:40 in more temperate conditions. They were followed by Conor Brown in a PB of 2:48:15.
Next came V50 Steve Pennington whose 2:54:24 was remarkable considering that three weeks earlier he had run 2:53 in the ‘reimagined’ Milton Keynes Marathon, and had put in quite a big training week.
I was next in 2:58:49, which I was relieved with considering it was my first marathon as a V60 and I didn’t want to miss the three-hour target or the race itself (earlier in the week I picked up a sore throat, headache etc. but by Friday night my cold was starting to clear). I used sensible Steve as a pacer for much of the first half – to resist my usual temptation of going out too fast – and went through the half at just under 1:27, which was more realistic than normal.
Our first woman was V40 Sara Black who put in a fine PB of 3:04:53 (breaking her own V45 club record). It would have been even faster if not for a short stop to take off her rain jacket. With better weather she would have been very close to breaking the three-hour barrier. Next time!
V50 Oliver Murray was next in a PB of 3:11:26, followed by V50 Phil Hogg in 3:18:21 (a good comeback after prolonged injuries) and five seconds behind him was the second Heathside woman, V40 Julia Kelk in 3:18:27. Michael Fenton ran a PB of 3:19:54 and Holly Fenton ran a PB of 3:23:23.
Julia Bijl went off at a cracking pace in a bid to break her PB of 2:47:24 but had to pull up, injured, a few miles from the end. She walked for a while, but it was not to be.
Results:
37 George Gurney – 2:41:45 (PB)
40 Sion Lewis – 2:42:23 (PB)
69 Conor Brown – 2:48:15 (PB)
110 Steve Pennington – 2:54:24
153 Gavin Evans – 2:58:49 (club V60 record) 2nd V60
186 Sara Black - 3:04:53 (PB & club V45 record) 3rd W40
212 Oliver Murray 3:11:26 (PB)
252 Phil Hogg 3:18:21
253 Julia Kelk 3:18:27 (PB)
261 Michael Fenton 3:19.54
265 Holly Fenton 3:22:23.
522 runners
These results fed into the wider London Marathon, for those who had already signed up to do that race, although there are some unexplained small time differences in some cases between the two sets of results
Virgin Money London Marathon 4/10/20
Among the “ Virtual “ performances that took place, there were particularly strong solo efforts from Andy Barnes (2:50), Arturo Garcia-Huidobro (2:52) and Olivia Desborough (3:10).
Jim Connell sent in this report of his afternoon
“ Me and Damien Lane had a nice gentle "none race" London Virtual Marathon in the blustery flat lands of Southend on Sea. Our route took us inland through local villages for 15 miles before hitting the sea front and charging into a headwind for 6 miles until we turned and coasted the last 5 with the breeze behind us for a 3hr29min and a strong finish. It turned out to be a hugely enjoyable run despite the weather and then we rounded it off with pints and burgers in a nice beach side pub.
results and VLM placings as follows
72 George Gurney 2.41.46
80 Sion Lewis 2.42.25
232 Andrew Barnes 2.50.00
302 Arturo Garcia – Huidobro 2.52.46 ( 80th V40 )
319 Steven Pennington 2.53.14 ( 2.54 ?) ( 20th V50 )
779 Sara Black 3.04.57 ( 34th W, 7th W45 )
812 Thomas Stottor 3.05.53
995 Olivia Desborough 3.10.14 ( 65th W )
1045 Justin Badger 3.11.35 ( 94th V50 )
1307 Michael Fenton 3.16.37 ( 3.19 ? )
1323 Simon Nichols 3.16.46
1405 Julia Kelk 3.18.26 ( 30th W40 )
1596 Sif Sumarlidadottor 3.21.29 ( 36th W45 )
1662 Holly Fenton 3.22.26
1852 Danny O’Reilly 3.24.56
2198 James Connell 3.29.05
3949 Philip McDermott 3.47.05
4296 Melvin Lewis 3.49.50
4563 Glen Taylor 3.51.53
4596 Jonathan Horsford 3.52.12
5261 Glen Brown 3.56.59
11857 Claire Briggs 4.44.04
15342 Thangavelu Senthil Kumar 5.09.00
31957 Rachel Scott Halls 8.50.20
35469 Steven Murnane 11.36.01
Goodwood Marathon 27/09/20
Report in from Rebecca who ran the Goodwood Marathon in blustery conditions the previous week, came in only 20 seconds off 1st place, and writes :
“ I ran Goodwood Marathon, 11 laps of Goodwood Motor Circuit on a 20+mph windy day. There is an aerodrome on the infield so you get to see planes take off during the race. The head wind on the back straight 11 times was also memorable. On a less windy day this would have all the PB potential you could dream of.”
Rebecca Bunting 2.53.27 2nd woman/ 11th overall
113 runners
Lee Valley Run Fest 10k, Waltham Cross, 27th September 2020
1st A Baldwin (Unattch) 33:26
2nd George Gurney 33:58
21st Declan Hamblin (V50) 37:10 (1st V50)
400 Runners
Harrow Mile and 3,000m Open
Another open meeting at Harrow saw Kimberli Butler, more commonly seen whipping Heathsiders into shape at FP on Tuesday evenings, run her first track race of the season. Ruby Walls also continued her strong season by breaking her U15G 3000m record by 3 seconds.
Harrow Mile and 3000m Open, Bannister Stadium, Harrow, 1st October 2020
3000m
H1 9th Kimberli Butler 13:45.26
H2 2nd Ruby Walls (U15G) 11:23.28 PB New Club Record
H8 DNF Thomas Archer (U17)
BFTTA Academy Middle Distance Open
The track action continues with 4 Heathsiders in action at Dagenham at the Be Fit Track Academy Open Meeting which was notable for Shakira King (Wreake & Soar Valley) recording 2:14.75 in the Girls 800m the 4th fastest time ever by a British U13 Girl and run in challenging weather. Of the Heathsiders Mary Kehoe ran 600m which is we believe is probably another Club V55 record. She holds all the V55 Club records from 100m to 800m. Larissa Wilson recorded a PB in the 800m with Amara Odeogberin producing another good run. Finally Mia Rosen added to her fine series of 800m races this year with her third fastest time despite the wet conditions and is ranked 6th UK U13G this year.
BFTTA Academy Middle Distance Open, Dagenham, 3rd October 2020
600m
H1 10th Helene Kehoe (V55) 2:16.6 New Club V55 Record
800m Girls
H3 3rd Amara Odeogberin (U15G) 2:38.8
H4 4th Larissa Wilson (U15G) 2:30.43 PB
H7 7th Mia Rosen (U13G) 2:27.1
Junior XC and Middlesex Virtual Medal Presentations
Club Chairman Jerry Odlin presented a host of Juniors with their Medals and trophies from the NWLL and Virtual Middlesex Races at the Finsbury Park Track on Tuesday Evening. 24 Heathside juniors received medals including NWLL Golds for Mimi Blake (U17W), Tynan Parker (U13B) and silvers for Mia Rosen (U13G), Ben Redland (U11B) and 3rd places for Spike Blake (U15B) and Oliver O'Connor (U17M). Stars were also awarded to the 5 Junior Heathsiders who competed in all possible XC races for the club last season NWLL/Met League and Championships). Thank you Ruth for Organising.
The Club will be participating again in the next Middlesex Virtual Club Races which take place between 18th October and 1st November. Coaches will arrange races and timed runs for the Juniors with Seniors able to take part in a virtual 10km competition entry details on OpenTrack.
Compiled by Mark George, thanks to Gavin, Jim, & Rebecca for the commentary
Ben Redland receiving his medal from Club Chairman Jerry