RAF Museum Spitfire 10k

258 Runners massed at the start line on the old RAF Hendon Airfield on a Saturday morning, joined by Daniel Pearce of Grantham Running Club.

After looping around the runway, the route headed out onto the streets of Colindale, North London for 2 laps, including a flyover crossing of the M1, before taking runners through the Museum Entrance and under the wing of the Giant Short Sunderland Flying Boat.

The run has been on the calendar since the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2015, and in everyone's race pack runners are given the name of Pilots or crew who played a part in the Summer of 1940.  It is nice to do a bit of research to find out more, and it also adds a poignant reason for running on the day.

Daniel ran in memory of Flying Officer Claude Waller Goldsmith of 603 Squadron based at RAF Hornchurch. He was just 23 when he was shot down in late October 1940.

Daniel was reasonable pleased with his time of 42:41, improving by 1:31 on the course where he ran his first ever 10k race last year.

The winner was Adam Towle of Harrow AC coming home in 35:28. Kat Alpe of the Met Police was the first female runner back in 39:48.

Nice Work organised the event, with much appreciated marshalling by Museum volunteers and RAF Cadets.

A nice medal, discount in the gift shop and on Burgers in the Cafe made the day even more special!

 

Castle Rock 10K

 The Castle Rock 10k race saw Grantham Running Club members Robin Atter and Marj Spendlow taking part having only just made it after encountering various accidents and roadblocks along the way.

Sponsored by Castle Rock Brewery, this is a 10k race consisting of two tough laps of a multi-terrain 5k route over tarmac and gravel paths on University Park in Nottingham.

The course took runners up Cripps Hill twice, a tough incline which was hit hard on the second go.  They then circled the lake and through the woods before going into single file along a path towards the sports centre, then back round along through the marble arch way in the university park.

As well as a fair few inclines along the way everyone had to watch their step for the tree roots when in the wooded area.  Thankfully the temperature was just right with a gentle breeze.

Robin having only just completed the Newark half marathon was going for a steady run and aiming for 45 minutes. In the event he completed it in an impressive 44:40 and came 57th overall.  He commented at the finish it that was a hard course you could feel the heat once out running but he loved doing it.

 Marj was happy to be back out running after a break and completed the course in 55:58, coming 193rd overall.  She also remarked that it was hard course and she hated having to do Cripps Hill twice.  Although she didn’t score a PB this time she was still happy to get under the hour for a hilly multi terrain course. 

The atmosphere at the event was brilliant with fantastic support from the many spectators who cheered the 322 runners along the route. 

 

 

Eight members of GRC took the trip down the A1 to Ferry Meadows for the final race of the Peterborough 5k GP Series. With temperatures being at least 10 degrees cooler than the previous races, runners took to the start line hoping to make use of this in search of a PB. Starting at the visitor centre, runners took a clockwise loop around the lakes before finishing just nearby the Lakeside café.

First back for GRC was Sam Dodwell in 18:44, a 26 second PB and the first time he has gone under 19 minutes. Closely following was Peter Bonner in 19:26 which matched his season best time and was his fastest time of the series. Next in was Richard Payne in 19:45 in a amazing return to form, improving by 2 minutes throughout the series. Robert Howbrook was next in (20:29) which was also his fastest time of the series and Robert was the only GRC runner to compete in all 5 races.

Naomi Rivers was the first lady back for GRC, recording a time of 23:58 even with a shoelace malfunction where she lost around 30secs but still came away with a season’s best, completing a brilliant series where she got faster with every race. Closely following behind was Sylv Hull in 24:26 which was a 3 second PB from Nottingham Winter 5k back in 2021. She was also pleased to improve with each race. Zoe Wragg was next in recording a time of 26:08 capping off a great race series for herself where she has come away with a shiny new PB set in race 3. Rounding off the GRC representation was Julia Hallam who recorded a time of 31:12 which is a season best for her from the Newstead Abbey 5k.

All runners who competed in a least 3 or more races, took away a commemorative mug for the efforts.

A special mention to Eye Community Runners, Stamford Striders, Nene Valley Harriers, Werrington Jogger & Bushfield Joggers for hosting the events throughout the series.

Newark half marathon

 

On Sunday 14^th August 5 athletes made the short trip up the A1 to run the Newark half marathon.

The largely flat route started and finished at sconce park known for its famous links to the civil war. For the more than 600 starters it was very much going to be a battle just to keep cool with the sun beating down and there being very little shade for large parts of it. Thankfully the organisers added additional water stations and these proved invaluable at keeping cool with generous amounts of the water being liberally doused over heads. Given how warm conditions had affected at least one of the GRC entrants in 2019 this was to be a massive help.

Matt Williamson, Robin Atter and Chris Limmer all started close together on Hawton road and largely stuck within a minute or so of each other in the first couple of miles. As the three got onto some of the more exposed sections Matt pulled ahead and the others settled in for the long drag out towards Elston.

Just before the half way point the runners went passed the Eden Hall spa and there was no relaxing for the runners as temperatures continued to climb higher into the high 20s. The 5 GRC runners paces slowed on the return to sconce park but they all managed to summon some real strength of character to get themselves to the finish.

Matt was able to gradually extend his advantage of Chris and finished with a fine 1:32:18 . Particularly impressive given it was his first half marathon in 9 months. Chris was little over a minute back in 1:33:36 and wasn’t too unhappy given his current level of running fitness.

Next in was Robin who finished in 1:44:18 and he was followed by Nicola Ruston-Litchfield (1:54:48) and her husband Richard (2:08:07). Nicola and Richard started together near the 2hr pacer and then ran their own races as conditions began to take their toll somewhat on Richard. For Nicola it was a relief to finish feeling strong given when she ran Newark in 2019 she needed some medical assistance after crossing the line

The runners were full of praise for the organisers for managing the challenging conditions and the front runners put on quite a show for the locals with the race attracted a quality field of elite runners thanks to the generous prize pot and cash for beating the course record. The mens race was won in 1:08:12 by David Bishop and the of top two women both beat the old course record it was GB Olympian from the 2016 olympics Sonia Samuels who ran 1:14:23 beating Emma Styles by just over a minute.