Train racing, track meets and Park PBs

An eclectic mix of reports this week from Heathsiders who were turning in stellar times in a variety of places, as Phil Hogg decided that running against other athletes wasn’t enough of a challenge and took on transport instead over in Wales, while closer to home Rebecca Bunting careered round a Common and Andy Barnes led home a quartet who powered round a Park. Aside from this there were a number of track meets taking in PB sprints and middle distances runs and a wet 5000m in Wimbledon.

Now on to the reports:

‘Race the Train’, Tywyn, Wales

Phil Hogg emails in with a slightly delayed report from the unique ‘Race the Train’ event in Wales the weekend before last (insert satirical train delay gag here) where he beat the train by a whopping 6 minutes: ‘Been meaning to do this race for years. 14 miles off-road, hilly sheep paths, water crossings and cow fields.   The race starts on a bridge in town when the local steam train blows its whistle. You then race out and back through the valley trying to beat the train (containing shouting spectators) which also goes out and back.  The shriek of the train whistle as you run along sheep paths through the valley while trying not to fall down the hillside is unforgettable. Absolutely brilliant race. Everyone must do it next year. Easy to camp there, easy to get there (by train). Can enter on the day.  (Piece of trivia: the author of Thomas the Tank Engine based his trains on the trains on this railway.)’. Running AND Thomas the Tank? I’ve signed up for 2016 already.

Royal Parks Summer 10K Series, Hyde Park

No reports from this one but a quick trawl through the results shows there were PBs galore at Hyde Park last weekend which deserve mention. An impressive Heathside turnout posted some very quick times, with Andy Barnes first home in 4th place with a PB of 35:38 and Jose Silva just two places further back with his own PB time of 37:01. Joining them on the day were Matt Colvin and Rebecca Sweet, who also posted their quickest ever 10k times. Top work all round.

Innovation Sports 15k, Clapham Common

Rebecca Bunting was out and about in South London at the weekend, chalking up another 1st place finish at the Innovation Sports 15k. Here are her thoughts on the event: ‘Three flat laps of trail and woodland full of turns and corners which were a lot of fun and meant you can't get bored. Well marshalled and organised. Felt a bit like XC in the summer, but a much lower key atmosphere - bit like a parkrun. What's not to like? I was 1st female, 9th overall, in a time of 61.08’

Watford Open Graded

David Spencer and Tom Fancett both ran at the regular Watford meets on 12th August. David has flagged up Tom’s 800m PB in 2:01:10 as sign of his impressive progress, while David set a PB of his own in the 400m (62.59), which looks like a Heathside over 60s record, while he also currently heads the over65s Masters Rankings. Excellent running from both.

Hercules Wimbledon 5000m Festival Night

Over to Pete Crockford for a report on this one: ‘Rain’. To expand on that slightly further, it looks like Pete was joined by Paul Lemmon for this one, with Paul finishing in 4th place with a season’s best time of 18:28.95 and Pete just behind in 7th place (18:51.23).

Lee Valley Sprint Series Open, Lee Valley

Heathside were represented at the sprint meet by Jordan Glaze and Helene Kehoe. Both raced twice in the 100m with Helene setting a PB in her heat (14.75) and Jordan finishing second in his heat in a time of 10.96 before going even better in his second run, finishing in 10:85, just outside his PB.

Parkruns, Saturday 22nd August

Andrew Brooker was a frighteningly fast first finisher at Hackney Marshes in a parkrun PB of 15:57, while Sue Rust was first lady at Finsbury Park and Rebecca Bunting warmed up for her 15k by doing likewise at Oak Hill. As usual, all the results are here: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2015-08-22

Results:

Watford Open Graded Meeting, Weds 12th August

800m

9th Tom Fancett 2:01.10 (PB)

400m

2nd David Spencer (M65) 62.59 (PB)

Race The Train, Tywyn, Wales, Sat 15th August

114th Philip Hogg (V45) 1:41:21

Lee Valley String Series Open, Lee Valley, Weds 19th August

100m – Ladies

4th Helene Kehoe (V50) 14:75 (PB)

4th Helene Kehoe (V50) 15:09

100m – Men

2nd Jordan Glaze 10:96

2nd Jordan Glaze 10:85

Hercules Wimbledon 5000m Festival Night, Weds 19th August

4th Paul Lemmon (V50)   18:28.95

7th Pete Crockford (V55) 18:51.23

Innovation Sports 15km, Clapham Common, Sun 23rd August

9th (1st Lady) Rebecca Bunting 1:01:08

Royal Parks Summer 10k Series, Hyde Park, Sun 23rd August  

4th Andy Barnes 35:38 (PB)

6th Jose Silva 37:01 (PB)

62nd Matt Colvin 42:56 (PB)

127th Rebecca Sweet 48:01 (PB)