Race Report 2 - 3 March: From Tokyo to the 'Torrents of Latimer'

Well, what a weekend. From the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow to parkrun, it’s been a really fabulous weekend for running and athletics.​

Firstly, a huge well done to Blayden - son of our former, well-loved Harrier Shelley Trigg - who completed the Tokyo Marathon today in 5.01.35, and collecting the coveted ‘star’ on her behalf for completing all of the six world major marathons. A beautiful tribute for a beautiful person. Well done, Blayden, from all of us at Chiltern Harriers.

Let’s kick things off with parkrun: there were course PBs for both Shaun Fry and Tom Pickett at Black Park yesterday, respectively of 20.00 and 22.40. Charlotte Docwra was 1st female at Holyrood yesterday in 21.14. Meanwhile, in something pretty different Jamie Reeve was doing the 4x4x48 challenge - 4 miles, every 4 hours over 48 hours - and completed a leg of that at Marlborough parkrun yesterday. Sounds like a great (if gruelling) challenge. Jamie and friends finished their final run at 1pm on Sunday, having managed to clock up a total of 50 miles.

In a probably much wetter experience, a number of Harriers took on XNRG’s Humanity Direct Amersham Ultra yesterday. The Herbert’s Hole flood was described as the mere appetiser to the ‘torrents of Latimer’. In the 25k half ultra option, Natalie Hallas was 1st female and 2nd overall in 2.23.06. She was joined swiftly by Ben Hannen in 3rd (2.24.45) and Frank Gaymond and Paul McCarthy in joint 4th (2.24.48).  Chris Pitkin completed the Harriers pack in a time of 3.27.20. Meanwhile, in the full 50k option Hywel Thomas was 2nd in age category in a time of 5.05.22. John Brererton survived an altercation with a tree to finish in 5.22.00, Tim Dutfield - 7.19.30. Also, friend of Harriers Archie Bellamy came home in 6.26.17.

Moving on to today, but staying on the trails to kick things off, Pablo Fuentes clocked a strava time of 1.22.15 for the mountainous Subida a La Lima (El Pedroso) in Andalucia, taking in almost 10 miles and some 1500 ft.

And now we move to the roads, as today marked something of a kickstart for the Spring road running season. We’ll start with the Berko Half, where Adam Shute led the Club home in a time of 1.14.56, 7th overall. He was joined by Richard Clarke (1.26.54); Michael ‘Tiny’ Turney (1.29.01 and first M60); Tom Wright (1.46.22); Jonathan Coutts (1.53.38); Rik Edwards (1.55.40); Nigel Hoff (1.54.59); Lauren Mayot (1.56.29); Adam Finch (2.08.20); and David Walker (2.31.11). In the 5 mile ‘Fun Run’ Leon Doran finished in a fabulous time of 26.50, and 2nd position. Marlie Nkoane was 3rd female in 33.41; Claire Mistry 1st F40 in 37.27 and Steve Field completed the continent in 49.37.

In Cambridge Aran Davidson finished the popular half marathon in 1.14.06; Steve Emery (1.36.35); Ade McCormack (1.38.56); Glen Martin (1.41.18); Matt Lawrence (1.42.50); Harriet Lemon (just seconds off her PB in 1.54.54); Matt Channer (1.55.13); and Jennifer Webb (2.06.29). If you want to help Harriet raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of her dad, you can donate via her JustGiving page here.

And, finally, a last-minute entry: Ali Young was first lady at the Racing Grand Prix on the Oulton Circuit in the marathon distance, in a time of 3.22.05.

DON’T FORGET: tomorrow evening is the Club’s AGM. You can find the agenda and papers here. Complimentary drinks for all attendees after the meeting in the Lounge Bar of the White Hill Centre. Meeting starts at 7:30pm in the Centre’s ‘Tiered Room’.

COMING UP LOCALLY: the UK Inter Counties Cross Country champs, the English Schools’ Cross Country champs, Goring 10k, the MK Festival of Running, the Ashridge Boundary Run, Fleet Half Marathon, Hardwick X-Stream, Hillingdon and Oakley 20s, Southern Road Relays, as well as the second of the Gade Valley Harriers’ Marathon Training Runs. Check out more on these events and others on the Club Calendar.

PS. Race Report is off on holiday, so they’ll be no report next week. If you want anything included in the next Report please email it to [email protected]