A whopper of a Race Report

So, I promised that normal service would resume this week, but - you lucky lot - you’ve got a bumper crop of results to match this fine, sunny weather, as we catch up on both last weekend and this one.

​Firstly, a huge thank you and well done to all who ran or volunteered at last week’s Pednor 5 event. You can find full results, plus a great selection of photos - courtesy of Martyn Loach - here.

We’ll start things off with a consolidated parkrun report from last weekend and this one. Christine Taylor came home as first lady at Wycombe Rye yesterday (22.59), as did Yours Truly in Amersham (21.16 - course PB); and last week the combined power of the Reppers was dominant at Amersham - James and Katie were first placed male and female (19.03 and 21.51, respectively, both course PBs) - and Aran Davidson was rewarded with a first-placed finish and course PB at Black Park (16.12). When it comes to all-time parkrun PBs, we’ve had a healthy helping of those too over the last fortnight: Ben Hetherington (20.51 at Amersham); Sue Elliott (19.53 at Rickmansworth); Katie Royals (20.03 at Rickmansworth) and Fiona Kelleher (20.47 - first place at Wycombe Rye last week)! There were course PBs in Amersham last week for Mairead O’Rourke (22.36), Grant Whitaker (23.02) and Ruth Holroyd (32.08); as well as for Heidi Folkard (26.57, Gadebridge) and Henrik Hartmann (24.51, Ricky); and this week for Katie Royals (21.54, Clapham Common) and Miriam Kempson (24.58, Cardiff). Last, but by no means least, I think a big cheer is due to Rasmi Nanda for completing his 300th (and 301st) parkruns!​

Going all the way back to April (do you remember that?!) George and Will Brown did amazingly at the Battersea ‘Friday Nights Under the Lights’ 5k on 29 April. George won heat 1 in a chip time of 15.19, with Will not far behind in 15.50. Tamsin Finch and Miriam Kempson also took on the shorter, speedy stuff, completing the Westminster Mile on Sunday 1 May (official times unavailable), whilst in the London Vitality 10,000 on Monday 2 May, Tim Dawson came home in 43.08 and Rasmi Nanda in 50.23. Continuing the 10k theme, Sylvia Moss finished the Whitstable 10k in 44.15.

Tim took on the Vitality 10,000

Beautiful Sylvia in Whitstable

Hywel soaks up the sun in Oxford

Meanwhile, in Milton Keynes Amber Stubbings was rewarded with a half marathon PB at the MK Running Festival (2.25.58) and Hannah Ryan also had a great run over that distance (2.11.03). Phil Lovelace completed the marathon distance in a time of 3.46.36.

Finally, to round off last week, we come to my favourite subject of ultra running and the awesome achievement of Patrick Barrett to come home 21st overall in XNRG’s ‘Devil’s Challenge’ -  97 miles over three days along the stunning South Downs Way. His total time was 19.31.49.

​We’ll continue the ultra running theme into this weekend and a huge congratulations to Ali Young and Hywel Thomas for defeating the gruelling Thames Path 100 (mile). Well-supported by Harriers friends along the towpath, Ali and Hywel completed the London to Oxford event in 17.38.16 (3rd female for Ali) and 21.06.54 (a whopping PB for Hywel). Well done both of you!

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Jen celebrates the second 10k of the weekend

Whilst not an ultra, one 10k in a 24-hour period is just not enough for our Jen Webb. First of all it was ‘those steps’ at the Cliveden Classic yesterday evening (1.02.54) and then the beautiful Oxford Town & Gown this morning in aid of Muscular Dystrophy UK (53.43). Opting for just the ‘easy’ option of a mere Cliveden run, Andrew Wiseall led the Harriers home in an impressive 43.31, joined by Ian Lawson (45.22), Paul McCarthy (46.49), Neil Turner (55.49), Dave Howells (57.38) and Trevor Brawn (1.03.59).​

Meanwhile, there was a triumphant return to road racing for our very own Louise Fry, completing the Marlow 5 (mile) in a blistering 30.15 today. She was joined by husband Shaun in 32.25, Tamsin Finch (40.39), Philp Lewis (51.21) and Adam Finch in his Harriers debut (38.40).

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Adam, Tamsin and ducks

Finally, well done to Finola Watkins for her first placed finish over the Super Spartan 10k obstacle course race today at Henley, with a strava time of 1.14.19.
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COMING UP LOCALLY: Night of the 10,000m PBs, Prestwood 10k, Buckingham Half Marathon, Goldalming Run, Ridge Off Roader and Last Friday of the Month 5k. Check out these events and more on the Club Calendar.

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