LWAC 5k Series

Round four of the GRC 2017 Grand Prix Series took place at the LWAC 5k at Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln. The course is a 3½ lap one round the playing fields with a few tight corners on a flat well sheltered tarmac path. At £5 as a one off or £15 for the whole series it is good value for money. As you would expect all the runners observed a minutes silence before the gun as a mark of respect for the victims of the Manchester bomb.

First over 70% race

On a warm calm evening Gav Meadows took full advantage of Paul Davis’s absence to post his first ever score of over 70% to move into the lead in the men’s table with a time of 18:41, after the race Gav commented that he felt that he had set off a bit fast but can’t be unhappy with the way he kept going on the final lap accelerating towards the end. This was even more impressive considering that he had spent an hour doing an open water swim prior to the race.

First home for the club was Matthew Kingston Lee in 9^th place with a time of 16:57, frustrating two seconds outside a PB he would have surely smashed if his calf had not tightened during the race. His score of over 81% and a ranking of 63 will help compensate for the missed PB.

A club record for Rob

Rob Howbrook was third runner back for GRC in 18:57, a 30 second PB albeit against one set on a tougher course, his score of 83.18% was a new club record for a road race and fast enough to gain a ranking with UKA in his age group of 44^th which is more impressive when you consider he is close to the top of that  category.

Next home was Gerry Hyde returning to the scene of some of his most impressive performances in the past using the race as a means of putting some speed back into his legs in the middle of doing long distance training which will culminate in a charity cycle ride to Paris. He also was quick enough to be given a ranking.

Matt Williamson was just behind him as he continued to enjoy a season where every run is a PB but just fell 16 seconds short of getting a ranking, Andrew Pask was 20 seconds down on his best ever time with 20:12 but still added over 65 points to his score.

Peter Bonner’s only previous 5k was Great Edinburgh Winter Run in January in very different conditions so he was expecting a PB but an excellent 20:25 is a fair reflection of how well he is running this year.

Having been concentrating on longer distances this was Catherine Payne’s first race over a distance of less than 13 miles since last August, able to stick within a second a mile to a conservative race plan, Catherine’s time of 20:42 placed her fourth lady in the race and first veteran, her score of 82% moves her up to fourth in the ladies Grand Prix table and earned her a ranking position of 19 from runbritain.

Suzy - fastest ever race

Robert McArdle’s time of 21:46 was his best in the last few years giving him almost 72 points to add to his score and comfortably inside his ranking target.

Like Gav and Gerry Suzanne Britz is a multi-sport specialist combining her running training with cycling and open water swimming, this race was to be a tester for events still to come. She was so excited to be back running again after three weeks out with injury that she nailed the first mile before hanging on to record her fastest ever run completing the course in 25:07.

Round 5 takes place at the Woodhall Spa 10k in a couple of weeks.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
9	16:57	Matthew Kingston-Lee		MV40		81.14%	63
27	18:41	Gavin Meadow		MV35		70.97%	285
31	18:57	Robert Howbrook		MV55	PB	83.18%	44
34	19:17	Gerry Hyde		MV50		78.37%	122
39	19:32	Matthew Williamson		MS		66.04%	N/A
46	20:12	Andrew Pask		MV35		65.64%	N/A
49	20:25	Peter Bonner		MV40	PB	66.85%	N/A
54	20:42	Catherine Payne		FV50		82.00%	19
61	21:46	Robert McArdle		MV55		71.80%	168
89	25:07	Suzanne Britz		FV45		63.83%	N/A