Six under 40m in Victoria Park 10k

Six out of seven Heathsiders broke the 40-minute mark in the Victoria Park on Sunday, four of them finishing with personal bests. They were led home by Matthew Cockerill who ran a PB of 36:09.

The weekend also saw Henry Hamilton (above, with frog) running the Grand Canaria marathon in 23 degree heat while twelve of our members ran the Fred Hughes 10-mile in freezing conditions, with Ed Samuel leading them home in 1:00.55, in 15th position.

 Victoria Park 10k, Sunday January 22

 Six tightly-bunched Heathsiders broke the 40-minute mark this flat, fast 10k with four getting under 38 minutes. First home was Matthew Cockerill in 37:09, following by Jonathan Litchfield (37:31), Sebastian Harrison (37:44), Doug Rendle (37:59), David Fallon (38:45), Luka Milon (39:45) and Tom Bedwell (44:32). There were PBs for Matthew, David, Luka and Tom.

 Here’s Luka’s report (on this one a cyclocross race shortly afterwards): ‘It was a crisp sunny morning and with the temperature around 0C at a fast flat course it resulted in many PBs. This was my first 10K in four years and I was delighted with my massive PB improvement (3:29) and a first sub 40 run just over a week after turning 40. Due to bad planning I had another race two hours later at Jubilee Park in Leyton where without any prior training I did my first cyclocross race. This was the 12th round of the London X League. I am delighted to say that I didn't crash and that I didn't finish last either (just) despite being lapped by half the field. It was great fun and I would recommend it.’

Fred Hughes 10m, Sunday January 22

The freezing conditions and a spate of injuries depleted numbers for the Fred Hughes, and some runners ran in other runners’ names. Here’s Emelia’s report:

‘Thirteen Heathsiders braved sub-zero temperatures to run in the Fred Hughes 10, a popular, friendly and scenic race through over rolling hills in St Albans.  The road was frosty in places, making for some slippery conditions.  Ed Samuel led the men home, in a great run (1:00:55) followed soon by Gavin Evans (or his understudy), coming 3rd in the V50 category [that was Ash Abrha, who would have left me far behind - Gavin).  Liam Hazelton and Richard Peachment followed soon after, both achieving PBs despite the conditions. In the women’s race, Cas Wright ran impressively, finishing 1st in her category (1:06:18), followed 10 minutes later by the remaining Heathside women, with one having to drop out halfway to sensibly favour an injury.  The post-race tea, cakes and left-over mince pies were a much-appreciated highlight of the race and helped with defrosting Heathsiders before their journey home.’

Gran Canaria Marathon, Sunday January 22

Here is Henry Hamilton’s report: ‘On Sunday I ran the Gran Canaria marathon. I treated this as a long training run in some much needed warm sunshine and so it proved as I ran along the Atlantic coast line of this beautiful Balearic island. Thankfully the 8.30am start and the cloudy skies meant the temperatures were kind to start the race but as the kilometre markers passed by so did the clouds! As the course weaved its way through the old town and back along the coast the sun came out and the thermostat hit 23 degrees! My aim was to run around 3:30 pace and thanks to some much needed and unexpected support at 40k from fellow Heathsiders Mark George & Rebecca Taylor and a final cheer from Rebecca Bunting I crossed the line in 3:29:51 to finish 228th (1068 finishers).’

Parkruns

Fifty-five of our members ran in 13 Parkruns on Saturday. There were four first places: Ula Cartwright-Finch was the first woman home in Ally Pally in 20:25, Gareth Marshalll won in Pymmes in 18:25, Elizabeth Drake was the first woman in Highbury Fields in 21:33 and Liam Proudlock was first in Grovelands in 18:45. But the fastest Heathside, by far, was Richard Macaulay whose 16:56 in Highbury Fields put him in third place. Here are the results: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2017-01-21

Results

Victoria Park 10k January 22 (397 finishers)

15th   Matthew Cockerill - 36:09 (PB)

27th   Jonathan Litchfield – 37:51

30th   Sebastian Harrison – 37:44

32nd   Doug Rendle – 37:59

38th   David Fallon – 38:45 (PB)

46th   Luka Melon – 39:45 (PB)

122nd Tom Bedwell – 44:32 (PB)

Fred Hughes 10m January 22

Pos	Name	Net Time	Cat Pos	Gen Pos
15	EDWARD SAMUEL	01:00:55	11	15
44	Ash Abrha	01:03:17	3	43
81	CAS WRIGHT	01:06:18	1	6
162	LIAM HAZELTON	01:11:57	69	149
172	RICHARD PEACHMENT	01:12:21	19	156
211	CRAIG SPARKES	01:14:30	81	184
216	JAMES FELSTEAD	01:14:50	75	188
247	EMILIA VYNNYCKY	01:16:48	12	41
281	BAS VLAMING	01:18:53	91	227
412	EDYTA SZOT	01:24:42	37	113
554	EMMA GREGORY	01:33:31	74	197
616	LAURA BOOTHMAN	01:38:13	90	241

Gran Canaria Marathon, January 22 (1,068 finishers)

228th Henry Hamilton – 3:29:51