Asda Foundation Hull Half Marathon

The ultimate Etch A Sketch course

Three athletes from Grantham Running Club travelled to Hull to take part in the Hull Half Marathon In a course designed to showcase City taking in the Deep, the waterfront, Humber Dock Marina, Hull City Hall and the University of Hull before heading back for the grand finish in the heart of the city centre. The running festival attracted thousands of spectators and this combined will good weather for supporting created a great atmosphere.

Rob Howbrook

which also served as a qualifier for the England Athletics Masters Team meaning that it attracted one of the highest quality fields of the year in the North of England.

Although it was great for those watching it certainly wasn’t for the runners with the heat and high humidity contributing to a large number of athletes dropping out and the switchback nature of the course preventing the runners getting into any kind of a rhythm. On top of this those wishing to be considered for a England vest also had to beat a target time.

Rob Howbrook was first home for GRC in a time of 94:01 just inside the required mark but 5½ minutes short of his season’s best as he struggled to come to terms with the course especially when the half marathon race had to feed into the back of a 10k on streets that were not wide enough to accommodate overtaking. Catherine Payne also just managed to squeeze inside the qualifying time in a time of 99:53 but was also hindered over the last 2k to the extent where she recorded her slowest time for over five years.

The final GRC member taking part was Robert McArdle who was pleased to finish in 1:43:20 despite getting stuck behind the five hundred people following the 60 minute pacer in the other race. 

The race was won by Mohammed Abu-Rezeq of Altrincham in 68:41 with first lady Kirsty Longley Liverpool Pembroke Sefton coming home in 79:30