Middlesex 10k, Medoc Marathon, Hackney Half, &c
The weekend saw Heathsiders hoofing it round Victoria Park by the dozen in search of Middlesex 10k glory. Elsewhere, there were boozy marathons and double glory for team McCrossin in the tri that wasn't.
The Middlesex 10k
For the second year in succession, Dan 'The Madman' Madams was first Heathsider home, hoovering up the course in 34:11 and earning himself the MV40 prize.
Strong supporting runs from Steve and Chris (both inside 36 mins) added up to a very convincing win for the club in the Middlesex men's masters category.
There was also creaking oldie glory for Ash and Gavin, who were first and second MV50 respectively.
Great stuff from the gents, but once again it was the ladies who stole the show:
Katy Webster hammered round in 35:53 to win the ladies race by over a minute, plus taking the prize for first Middlesex Lady and exciting fans of palindromic numbers everywhere.
Cathy J and Elspeth were fifth and sixth ladies to complete the winning Middlesex Ladies team!
Jo Irwin picked up third VW35 and our ladies (Jo, Sandra and Barbara) won the masters' prize, although the organisers initially seemed intent on giving the gong to Serpentine instead. Knavery, I say.
The course itself was reasonably flat, with little in the way of interesting flora or fauna (although there was a St Bernard at the finish line). It managed not to rain during the race, and there was definite PB potential as many of our 47 runners proved - if your name's not down below, get in touch.
There was also decent support out round the course, so well done and thanks to those who made it over and didn't even have the tempting carrot of three-and-a-bit times round Vicky Park.
Boozy marathons and halves Elsewhere, it was the weekend of boozy marathons with Heathsiders in action in France (Medoc) and Dorking (Bacchus), both of which offer copious amounts of wine on the way round. Dave H had this to say on the Medoc: "Phil Ralph, Mayra, Tania and I took part in the Medoc Marathon dressed as ghostbusters - the marathon with 20 wine spots on route." I didn't really follow the rest of Dave's slurred, meandering email, but it transpires our team had to dip on the line to beat the race's back markers, a bunch of monks carrying placards. The monks, having taken a vow of silence, declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Phil Hogg ran the Medoc's slightly shabbier English cousin, the Bacchus, and Andrew P did the half. Andrew's policy of avoiding the drinks stops until afterwards paid dividends as he finished in 1:41 (34th place). Phil roistered round the marathon course in 3:46, and was last seen eating a kebab out of a bin.
Other half marathons and miscellanyHenry got round Run To The Beat Half Marathon in 1:33:24. Here's a list of this year's artistes, of whom I recognised none. (In fact, I only recognised about half the genres. See if you can do any better!) Georgie K also eked out a small PB in the Hackney Marshes half - I've no idea what she was listening to en route, but hopefully it distracted her from the pain and futility of the six-lap course of the playing fields. "A bit weird, really," was Georgie's glowing appraisal of the event. Roger B took third place in the Lowestoft Scores race - 4.75 miles up and down 13 stepped hills - and Paul Lemmon came 2nd in the B 1500M race at the St Mary’s Richmond Open Meeting in 4.59.8.
Tri corner Paul and Charlotte McCrossin took part in the Triforlife triathlon at Woburn Abbey, which became a duathlon because of blue-green algae in the lake, alas.
Over to Paul: "This was not necessarily an advantage to Charlotte as she is a decent swimmer and, after some marathon-induced injuries, running has not been bringing the big smile to her face the bike and swim does. Anyway, after being second on the bike, she passed the first-placed woman on the run to win by four minutes."
Big congratulations to Charlotte! As for Paul: "I, on the other hand, was happy to not have to get my hair wet and sprinted off the front to fade in the last 10Km as my legs got sick of moving - I came third individual overall. I did happen to clinch the first vet place though."
Results
187 Emma Mattsson-Duggan 44:33*
Medoc Marathon (Note: participants may not necessarily have been too fussed about time/place, what with all the booze on offer. Of the 8089 finishers, our gang clearly proved among the most thirsty)
Bacchus Marathon, Dorking
28 Philip Hogg 3:46:25
Bacchus Half
34 Andrew Prystawsky 1:41:22
Run to the Beat Half, Greenwich
361 Henry Hamilton 1:33:24
Hackney Marshes Half Marathon
TBC Georgie Kennedy 1:45:10
Lowestoft Scores
3 Roger Braybrooks 26:54
St Mary’s Richmond Open Meeting
1500m 'B' race2 Paul Lemmon 4:59.8
Watford Graded Open (04/09/2013)
800m race 12
11 Richard Macaulay 2:06.49
Tri for life duathlon (long distance: 3k run, 40k bike, 10k run)
Ladies
1 Charlotte McCrossin 2:38:22
Gents
4 Paul McCrossin 2:18:40
Them parkruns