Race report looks ahead to Summer and Autumn marathon training

Good Evening from Race Report HQ, where the exciting news of the weekend is that I have ‘mastered’ tree surgery and created some half-decent elderflower cordial in the process. Fortunately, the news from the roads, tracks and trails is far more exciting.

On Saturday 19 June Hywel Thomas completed the 53.5 miles from Goodwood Racecourse to Winchester in the ‘Race to the King’. Hywel came 2nd in his age category, in an absolutely awesomely-paced time of 9.19.03. Meanwhile, Leann Ni Chiobhain was also in ultra action, completing the Lea Valley 50k (Welwyn Garden City to Hackney Wick) in a very impressive time of 4.29.27.

On Sunday 20 June three Chiltern athletes travelled to Abingdon for the first Southern Athletics League match o the season. Ian Lawson (V50) ran 2:25.80 in the 800m and 4:56.12 in the 1500m, a new PB by 0.13 seconds! Alicia Bushell (U20) clocked 5:10.01 for 1500m. Richard Slade ran in the 5k race, coming second by an agonising 0.36 seconds, but nonetheless recording a new PB of 15:42.27. Well done all!

This weekend there was yet more ultra activity, with Ross Jarman coming a brilliant 2nd in the Maverick Frontier Chilterns Ultra on Saturday 26 June, completing the 34 mile / almost 4000ft course in a great time of 4.53.36.
Today, Sunday 27 June, there was action on the roads. Jennifer Webb returned to racing at the Oxford Town & Gown 10k, finishing in 53.24; whilst Chris Gloster completed the Milton Keynes marathon, coming home in a very impressive sub-three of 2.59.55. David Saul returned to racing in Harriers green at the wonderfully-named Midsummer Murder 10 (mile) this morning, coming home in 1.40.03.
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And finally, with thanks to Tamsin Finch for collating the info, a really really useful list of events coming up this Summer and Autumn. This will be particularly helpful for those of you looking forward to an Autumn marathon.

Jen and Dad enjoy the Oxford Town & Gown

Ross Jarman amongst the flowers

David Saul at the Midsummer Murder 10... *gulp*

Training runs that may be of use to club members planning an autumn marathon:
Burnham Beeches 40th Anniversary HM (15/8/21)
Maidenhead HM (5/9/21)
Gade Valley Harriers marathon training runs in Hemel Hempstead, 12 or 15 miles (17/7/21); and 17 or 20 (8/821)
The Hillingdon (Formerly Finchley) 20 is also 5/9/21
F3 Events have a variety of distances at Dorney (12/9/21) including 16, 20 and 24 miles
​Bedford Running Festival (4-5/9/21) distances of 5k/10k/HM/20m – The club can be provided with a discount code for up to 20 members.

Other non marathon races/team events:
Bearbrook 10k (20th Anniversary) (1/8/21) – Team prizes available at an event organised by a fellow local Club!
Bovingdon 10k (5/9/21)
Active Training World: St Albans HM/5k (13/6/21), St Albans Summer Solstice 10k (21/6/21) Herts Fast 5k/10k (18/7/21)
Burford Bolt 5k/10k (10/10/21)

Other events:

The National Running Show at Farnborough International (11-12/9/21) This is the same event that has run at the NEC in January for the last couple of years. Tickets are £10 although most exhibitors and sponsors are offering codes for free tickets www.nationalrunningshow.com
And by the same organisers in conjunction with Salomon:  The Salomon Festival in the Chilterns (Aldbury) (7/8/21) Guided runs and hikes, practical workshops, yoga sessions, talks and live music. Tickets £15/£30 www.salomonfestival.co.uk

Want to do the Brighton Marathon this Autumn?

If you did not previously enter, and would like to run the Brighton Marathon on 12/9/21, let Tony Molesworth or Tamsin Finch know by 18 July, as exclusive entries have been made available for running clubs.