Race Report 7 - 8 October: the Ridgeway, Dorney Half, Spartathlon and more

Some of us have been to Greece, Race Report fans. Your Humble Reporter just went on holiday, but the ultimate tough woman, ultra running supremo Ali Young went and completed her third Spartathlon! The event takes in the route from Athens to Sparta, some 250km in pretty intense conditions. Ali became the first GB woman to complete the event for a third time, and was the first Brit home in a time of 29.28.41.

Sticking to the theme of the ancient, a number of Harriers were in action in Tring Running Club’s Ridgeway run today - a hilly course of a little under 10 miles. Official results are not yet available, but I am ably informed by Strava that Jenny Bizley came home in 1.15.59, Ben Hannen - 1.15.11 and David Saul - 1.39.41. ​

Meanwhile, Jonny Stodden made a come-back to racing, taking part in the Run Dorney Half Marathon and completing it in a very creditable 1.34.25. Sadly, it wasn’t Paul Mccarthy’s day today, who battled through the vast majority (27.87 miles) of the North Chilterns 50k - a brilliant distance on a hot day. On the other side of the pond, Jennifer Webb completed the iconic Chicago Marathon in a time of 4.13.19. Somewhat nearer to home, Steve Field clocked 1.09.31 in the Harpenden 10k in support of the Rennie Grove Hospice.

In parkrun news, there were first placed finishes for Ollie Jackson at Black Park (17.39); Euan Pinder at Rickmansworth (16.51); and Ellie Shield at Church Mead (21.37). Katie Repper earned herself a course PB for the Bath Skyline parkrun (22.34), and there were also course PBs for Miriam Kempson (26.38 at Aldenham) and Philip Damas (27.26 at Durlston Country Park). Lenny Brooks-Klingenschmid and Rachel Padwick were rewarded with all-time PBs (20.46 at Ricky and 25.44 at Tooting Common, respectively). Last, but by no means least, happy 100th parkrun to Jack Turner. Jack hit the milestone at Wycombe Rye in a time of 25.54.

COMING UP: I fear that the Club Calendar is not as up-to-date as it should be. However, I cannot fail to mention that next week is the first of this year’s Chiltern Cross Country league matches. It will be great to see as many of you as possible taking on ‘that water jump’.