Berlin delight for Wraight and Kipchoge!
Despite a string of injuries hampering her preparation, Vicki Wraight was pleased to finish the BMW Berlin marathon on Sunday, one of the Marathon majors. She completed the 26.2 miles in 4:41:26 to finish 7073rdout of more than 23000 finishers. As Vicki says “It’s not every day you can say you competed in the race where a new world record was set!” Kenyan, Eliud Kipchoge took an amazing 30 seconds of his own world record to finish in an incredible 2:01:09.
Trails and trains in Wales
Carolyn Nation (Kaz) thoroughly enjoyed her run in the Trailffest half marathon in Porthmadog in Wales finishing 147th in 3:27.08 on a stunning but extremely tough course. All runners start up the mountain at 710 feet, arriving by a scenic steam train which certainly attracted Kaz, who has been waiting three years to take part after several Covid postponements. It may finish by the sea but runners face many very steep, challenging climbs along the way, described by Kaz, as “Grizzly-esque”.
Jurassic jaunt
Closer to home, Sarah Herfet also took to the hills in the Jurassic 10k, her first proper race for months.
It was a gruelling course spanning the undulating yet magnificent Jurassic coastline with the beautiful sunlight bouncing off a glistening sea. Sarah was delighted with her 1:17:37 time and ninth female to finish, especially given this included an extra half-mile loop after a wrong turn!
A hat-trick of PBs on the roads of the south-west
On Sunday Tim Sibley travelled to Barnstaple to take part in the Barnstaple Half Marathon organised by North Devon Road Runners. The fast, flat course takes runners out and back along the Tarka Trail with a loop around Fremmington.
Tim was pleased to finish in a PB in 1:34:12, 33rd from 225. He was seventh V50.
Laura Kerr and Fiona Pyle warmed up for next week’s London marathon at the Bradley’s 10k in Exmouth on Sunday morning. Laura was an excellent twelfth female coming in in a huge PB of 49:13. Fiona also secured a PB finishing in 1:00.46.
Weekend parkrun events
On another glorious Saturday for parkrun, Joel Seward was first finisher in Seaton in a PB of 16:36 with Richard Hardy coming in third, in 16:46, his first sub-17 finish.
A special mention for the inaugural junior parkrun in Axminster. The Stopline Way junior parkrun began on Sunday with 18 parkrunners, aged 4 to 14 taking part. Sarah Shepley, the new Event Director, has worked tirelessly to raise the funds to enable this to start, including a generous donation from The Grizzly. Many AVRs were amongst the volunteers this week and if any members would like to help in future weeks please email: stoplinewayjuniors@parkrun.com
