AVRs celebrate half marathon PBs
Three AVRs travelled to Farnborough for the Winter Half Marathon organised by 2:09 Events on Sunday. The event was an England Masters qualifier so attracted a very competitive field with victory for Adam Clark in 1:03.46 and Ellie Monks 1:15.55.
In very cold conditions Rich Hardy had a great race to finish with a shiny new HM PB of 1:14.31 and seventh M40-49. Rob Collier also had a good run to finish in 1:24.05 and 22nd M50-59.
Angela Kerr, returning from a hip injury, finished in 2:10.09 and 26th F60-69.
Closer to home three AVRs took part in the Exeter half-marathon on a flat course around the riverside, Countess Weir and Matford Marshes. Organised by the Exeter City Community Trust, races took place on both Saturday and Sunday with a five-mile option also available on Sunday.
Mark Sprags ran on Saturday securing an excellent PB of 1:44.26 in 150th place while Vicki Wraight was very pleased with her time of 2:06.17 in 292nd after a spell of injury and illness curtailed her training.
In Sunday’s half Adele Girdwood finished in 1:57.39, just shy of her PB but an excellent first F60 in 213th.
Matt Frost used the five-mile race as a spot of speed training within a 20-mile training run and secured second spot with 29:57.
Freezing Four Trigs
It was a bright sunny day but bitterly cold for the Four Trigs on Sunday which takes in four viewing points across the East Devon countryside around Sidmouth. There was a good turnout of AVRs for the race which is around 27k with some 3999 feet of elevation. It is self-navigated with trig points at Weston cliff, Buckton Hill, Beacon Hill and High Peak. Nine AVRs took part in the challenging event enjoying the sunshine despite the tough terrain.
Results to follow.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
It was a chilly one on Saturday with a wicked northerly wind so a huge thank you to those who volunteered. Congratulations to Tony Smith who has joined the selective 250 volunteer club.
First female finisher was Debbie Whiston, who really felt the cold after two weeks in Cyprus, in 20:20 which also put her first on age-grade with 79.6%. Joel Seward was third male in 17:50 even having again run 11 miles from home to the start line then another eight after parkrun! Ron Seward was second on age-grade with 79.5% for his 23:26. There was a PB for Matt Chenery in 26:28.
Further afield Craig Tiley took part in Lydiard parkrun near Swindon; Bethany Laycock ran Porthcawl parkrun; Emma Ellynn enjoyed Heartlands parkrun in Cornwall; Paul Johns ticked off a ‘B’ with Brynaman parkrun in Wales; Sidney Heaslip completed Central parkrun, Plymouth while Anthony and Adrianne Mullins enjoyed Aberfields parkrun also in Wales.
There was a quartet of AVRs at Killerton parkrun with Kerry Board, Jess Board, Rupert Pady and Karen Eyre all getting some good Grizzly practice in! Finally Tracy Chapman took part in St Mary’s parkrun in Bridport.
And finally
Last Tuesday in Ostrava, Czech, Innes Fitzgerald smashed the European U20 indoor record for 3000m finishing fourth in a loaded field in 8:40.05. Her indoor season is really hotting up with the UK Championships and European Athletics Indoor Championships to come.
