Don Wilson kick started the weekend of races on Saturday with ‘The Great Barrow challenge’. This takes place in the heart of the beautiful Suffolk countryside just a few miles from Bury st Edmunds. Running with two of his sons, Don completed the Barrow ‘Windmill Way’ half marathon in a time of 1.51, his first half marathon event for a little while. Andy Wilmot, our club marathon enthusiast was also at Great Barrow running 2 laps of the course to make it his 814th marathon!! Yes 814th!!! He completed in a time of 5.35.
Sunday saw the return of the Essex 20 race. Part of the Essex road running championships and organised by Essex athletics association. Medals are awarded to the first 3 male and female affiliated runners in each individual age category as well as teams. The race is commonly used for training ahead of the many spring marathons. This year the race was held at Carver Barracks, near Saffron Waldon, on a disused open airfield, providing a fast, flat tarmac course and consisted of 5 x4 mile loops. Although the weather was dry, the airfield was very open, creating bleak, blustery conditions.
Halstead had 14 road runners out on the course! Many were using the race as a long run ahead of Manchester marathon in four weeks time. First home was Stephen Metson, with a PB of 2:16:55, knocking 15 minutes off his time from his previous race in 2020. Second home was Mike Smith, running it as a progressive training run for the Halstead marathon in May. Mike finished with a PB of 2:18:02, 14 minutes faster than his previous PB. Next over the finish line for HRR was Steve May with a new PB of 2.19.41, knocking over 3 minutes off his old time and on target for his Manchester marathon goals. Our first lady home and in only her second race for HRR was Karen Pickering, who had a target time of 2:28 and completed her run in 2:23:36 securing a 7 minute PB. Also using the race as part of his marathon training was Ben Brown finishing it in 2.35.59. Paul Hinsley and Ross Kemble crossed the line within seconds of each other, Paul in 2.46.47 and Ross in 2.46.59. Darren Powell ran a solid race , again using it as a training run for Manchester and with a target time of 2.55 to 3 hours he finished in a very pleasing 2.49.32. Hannah Whale and Perry James showed true HRR team spirit and kept each other going round the course, for both of them their first attempt at 20 miles. Hannah finished in 2.56.48 and Perry in 3.01.20. Mike Grealy was next over the line for HRR in 3.07.56. Alan Fancy who has been suffering recently with a few niggles was pleased to finish injury free in 3.18.56 and Joseph Slee was hot on his heels in 3.18.57. Bringing Halstead home was Jenny Smith, finishing in 3.33.07. The longest run she has ever done and quicker than her 3hrs 40min target time. A great achievement.
The Essex 20 wasn’t the only race on Sunday. John Warne and Mandy Humm took on the Chelmsford half marathon. Starting in Chelmsford city centre and finishing on the iconic campus of Anglia Ruskin University, the course route takes runners through some of the major landmarks in Chelmsford. John ran a good race and finished in 1:56:11, his fastest half for a few years. After securing herself a PB at Great Bentley half a few weeks ago Mandy took a further 3 minutes off this time and got a new half marathon PB of 1:46:52. Fantastic running!
The final race of the weekend was the Cambridge half marathon. The fast flat route takes runners through the beautiful city of Cambridge, passing countless historic landmarks along the way including two iconic colleges of the University of Cambridge. Katie Martin was representing Halstead and was, quite rightly, extremely pleased with her own performance. After aiming for a target time of 2.45 she finished in 2.39. She reported a ‘fantastic race, lovely route, superb atmosphere, excellent organisation and loads of bubbly support’.
Well done all!
