Boston Marathon and Half Marathon

Sunday 14^th April saw the third running of the Boston (UK) Marathon with three members taking part in the full 26.2 mile race and seven opting to take part in the supporting half marathon. What the UK Boston Marathon lacks in terms of history, prestige, crowd support, and volume of competitors compared to its stateside cousin (which took place a day later on Patriots’ Day) the race holds an ace card in its status as the flattest marathon in the UK and, with just 21 feet (6.4 meters) of elevation, probably one of the least vertically challenging anywhere in the world. 

A PB for Matt

With temperatures on the chilly side for April conditions for racing made difficult by the wind – a perennial hazard of a fenland race - blowing steadily in off the North Sea, making the going tough in places on a course that, for the most part, is open and exposed to the elements. 

In the marathon Matthew Williamson was the first runner home for GRC in a very fine 3:07:29. Finishing 45^th overall, Matthew smashed over seven minutes off his old PB which he had set at his very first attempt two years ago and had failed to better in his five subsequent attempts. He found the going tough in the wind and had to push hard in the final miles but was delighted to have finally broken his marathon debut time and by a sizeable margin.

Matthew was followed by two marathon experts Adam Wasiolka and Nick Payne. Adam (3:22:49) who has recently transferred his first claim allegiance from 100 Marathon Club to Grantham Running Club, was just under ten minutes down on his 2018 time, but his time was particularly impressive considering it came just a week after he had run back-to-back marathons on the same day at the Phoenix Day and Knight Excalibur event, where he finished first and third respectively and both in under four hours. Nick, who has also been packing in marathons and ultra events at an impressive rate in recent months, ran well to finish in 3:47:02.

sub 80 minutes for Ian in the half

In the supporting half marathon race the ever improving Ian Williams was the first home for the club in seventh with an impressive PB of 1:19:49, bettering his previous best set a month earlier by nearly a minute and just four seconds off becoming the second fastest ever GRC runner over 13.1 miles. Matthew Atter was next to finish, his 1:30:10 annoyingly close to breaking 90 minutes but a fine run nonetheless and his second quickest ever half marathon.

Louise finished in 2:33:50

Nick Rossington followed in 1:38:34 ahead of Clive George (1:47:38) who was the first of three GRC runners to make their half marathon debut. Claire Williams (1:58:08) was the second, who finished ahead of Wayne Baxter

(2:02:57). Louise Kennedy was the third debutante and was thrilled to have completed the race in 2:33:50 thanks in part to the support of her husband Steve who was taking part as well.

The winner of the marathon was Phil Martin of Peterborough AC in 2:34:10 with Hannah Peel of Sheefield Triathlon Club the winning woman.  Sean Fitzpatrick of Kent AC won the half marathon in 1:13:04 with Emma Hodson of Cambridge University Hair & Hounds the winning woman in 1:21:36. There were 560 finishers in the half marathon and 614 finishers in the marathon.

Peterborough Marathon

Belinda and Tracey

Two members of Grantham Running Club travelled to Peterborough on Sunday 14^th April to take   The race was billed by the organisers Sublime Racing as ‘an exciting, beautiful and scenic course around Peterborough, including the Cathedral, Nene Park, and the stunning cycle path along the River Nene. With Race HQ, Supporters’ Lounge and the After-Party being hosted by the luxury Marriott Hotel.’ 

part in the inaugural Peterborough Marathon.

The volume of entries and publicity for the event was deliberately kept to a minimum for the first edition of the race to assess the course and the infrastructure of the event. The intention is for the race to grow significantly in future years, aiming to attract runners who would like the opportunity to take part in a race that’s scenic, relatively flat and PB friendly.

This was a first attempt at marathon distance for both Belinda Baker and Tracey Smith and after training together for several months they were delighted to not only complete the course together but to manage it in 4.53.09 which meant that their sub 5 hours aspirations were fulfilled.  Both found the organisation superb, with the race HQ proving to be very welcoming and comfortable, the route scenic and flat and the weather conditions perfect.  A surprise appearance from some fellow GRC members who had unexpectedly turned out to support was wonderful.  The marshals were very friendly and supportive and the finishers’ goody bag well stocked.  Overall a very enjoyable day and an excellent experience.

The race was won by Ty Farrer of Huntingdonshire AC in 2:41:12 with Emma Caplan of Bournemouth AC fourth overall and the winning lady in 2:57:36. There were 177 finishers.

Sandy 10

Gavin Meadows with green top and blue shorts

Grantham Running Club’s Gav Meadows made the long but relatively straight forward drive south on the A1 to compete in the Sandy 10 mile road race on Sunday 7th April. The race was hand picked by Gav for it’s timing, distance & reasonably fast course - the objective being to capitalise on recent marathon training & attempt a personal best. He said ‘The course looked like it had PB potential although there is one significant hill at mile two. I was hoping that the rest of the route being flat or downhill would make up for this!’

Gav started strongly and confidently completing the first mile in 6:24 although in hindsight this was slightly faster than ideal for this distance. mile two, as expected, proved to be the toughest and most costly of the race - battling up the steady climb as the runners headed out of Sandy towards Everton. Gav found his race pace again quickly at the top of the hill and stayed very close to his 6:35 per mile target for the next 3 miles.

It was during the ‘triangular loop’ beyond Everton and the long straight back towards Sandy that his pace dropped slightly. Miles six to nine averaged around 6:50 per mile. On reflection this was probably a consequence of the first mile being slightly too fast. However, assisted by the downhill, Gav managed to run the last mile at an almost identical pace to the first for a strong finish.

Gav crossed the finish line in 38th position overall out of 477 runners clocking 1:07:30 which was good enough for 16th of 67 runners in the Senior Men category. Frustratingly this was just 21 seconds slower than his personal best of 1:07:09 set at the Derby 10 in 2016. Gav said ‘The result is very frustrating but overall I have to be pleased with today’s performance. Being close to a PB is better than being nowhere near it! The hill proved to be the difference along with perhaps starting the race slightly faster than I planned. I have high hopes of running a 10 mile PB in the near future as I know there are flatter races available.’

ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon

Martin (centre) completes his first marathon in 4:42:05

Since the resurrection of the Greater Manchester Marathon in 2012, the event has vied with London as the most popular destination for Grantham Running Club members looking to take on perhaps the most famous challenge in running. 2019 was no exception with fourteen members of GRC taking part in a race that has grown year on year to become the second largest marathon in Britain and reportedly the fifth largest in Europe.

MKL masters the marathon

The 26.2 mile course, which is based at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, takes runners on a sometimes convoluted but very flat route (currently the second flattest marathon in the UK after Boston) through Stretford, Sale, Timperley, Altrincham and Urmston. The race which has, until now, avoided heading into central Manchester will, from 2020, feature a three mile loop in Manchester City Centre, which is sure to attract even greater crowd support.

Conditions for racing could hardly have been better on Sunday 7^th April  and the opening weekend of the northern hemisphere’s spring marathon season. The race began at 9am under heavy cloud cover and with the temperature around 8C. The sun slowly struggled to make its presence known over the course of the morning and into the afternoon but temperatures remained pleasant, maxing out in the low teens and tempered by a very gentle, but cool, easterly breeze.

Matthew Kingston-Lee was the first GRC runner to cross the finish line. Making his usual circumspect start, Matthew passed through 10K in 166^th place but had climbed to 110^{th th} by 30km and confident that his leg would hold out, he pushed on when the marathon ‘begins’ at 20 miles to maintain his pace to the very end of the race. He crossed the finish line in a new personal best and club record of 2:40:47, bettering his 2017 time of 2:41:42 set at London. Averaging 6:08 min/mile, Matthew finished 77^th overall out of 13,652 finishers and was 9th out of 1482 MV40 finishers.

Holly hobbles quickly

by the time he passed halfway in 1:20:33. It was at this stage where some sciatica in the left leg threatened to derail his ambitions but having climbed to 86

“Aside from the issues with the left leg that hampered me a little I was delighted that I executed the race exactly as planned. My only disappointment was that I was less than two seconds a mile off breaking 2:40 which was my dream outcome would have been a distinct possibility had I not the sharp pains in my leg!” commented Matthew after the race.

Behind Matthew finished Daniel Ancliffe. In his debut marathon, his first race in GRC colours since joining in December 2018, and quite possibly his first ever road race, Daniel put in a mature performance far in excess of his experience and years. The 23-year-old runner went through halfway in 1:31:58 and minimised the near inevitable fade in the final stages of the race to clock a superb 3:09:00.

The far more experienced Holly Durham called upon all her years of racing nous to pull off another fine marathon performance. Her time of 3:23:00 was less than five minutes outside her best and one she was pleased with considering the far from ideal preparation due to ongoing issues with an Achilles injury. Holly finished 133^rd woman out of 4310 female finishers and was 22^nd in the VW35 age category.

PB for Caroline

Caroline Davis fully utilised her excellent preparation for the Manchester Marathon where she set personal bests over 30K and 20 miles to take just under six minutes off her marathon personal best, clocking an excellent 3:44:21 - a time that is under the 3:45 Good for Age barrier set for senior women at the London Marathon and should be plenty quick enough to see Caroline at the London Marathon start line next year, should she choose, after finishing 52^nd in the FV45 category.

Like many who have gone before him, Ian McBain proclaimed after the race that it would ‘definitely’ be his fourth and final stab at the marathon. Ian suffered quite badly in the second half of the race but was pleased to break four hours with 3:53:45. Making his marathon debut was Jack Dodwell who stated afterwards that ‘lessons were learned’ en route to a 3:57:40 clocking. Although there was nothing left in Jack’s legs in the latter stages, he felt otherwise quite comfortable during the race and the young novice runner will surely return to significantly improve upon his opening marathon performance.

Former cyclist turned runner Simon Smith was another to make his marathon debut at Manchester. After clocking 4:11:45 Simon was glad it was all over but already looking forward to the next one! Ben Mason, who finished in 4:13:07, was some way outside his best

Grand Master Ben

but it was good to see one of the club’s longest serving members racing again after a fallow 2018. Just behind Ben in 4:13:12 Warren Stark admitted to going into his first marathon in five years ‘completely unprepared,’ but declared himself ‘over the moon’ with his ‘most satisfying marathon to date’ and two days later committed himself to doing it all over again in Manchester in 2020!

Starky's hard work rewarded

Nicola Cottam returned to the venue of her debut marathon in 2018 and should be delighted with the manner of her fine 4:29:24, the seven-minute PB the result of some excellent pacing and a significant negative split. Running the opening half with Nicola, Martin Carter couldn’t quite maintain the pace of Nicola in the second half of the race but, cheered on by wife Kirsty and family, he finished his debut marathon in 4:42:05. He was four minutes ahead of Julie Gilbert, who had run the opening stages of the race with Nicola and Martin and was really happy to improve upon her 2018 debut time at Manchester by nearly six minutes, clocking 4:46:24.

Ros Sadler and Nicola Fahy were the final two finishers for GRC. Running the opening 10K together Ros finished ahead of Nicola in 5:07:56, some way off her best but very pleased to have completed the race despite some injury niggles, feeling unwell, and being sleep deprived. Nicola successfully completed the race on her marathon debut in 5:10:55. They and the other GRC runners were spurred on by the crowd support along the course which included club members Dean Riggall – who is convalescing following a serious foot injury, Paul Davis, Rachel Pattison, and Manchester based GRC member Lizzie Potter.

The race was won by Aaron Richmond of Bideford AAC in 2:21:34 with Jenny Spink of Bristol and West AC the winning woman in 2:35:19. There were 13,652 finishers.

Asda Foundation City of Lincoln 10K

An impressive 43 members of Grantham Running Club took part in the Asda Foundation City of Lincoln 10K on Sunday 7^th April. The event, which was a half marathon prior to 1997 and is in its twenty-third year as a 10K race, is one of the most popular road races in the region with over 4,500 runners of all abilities crossing the finishing line.

In contrast to the 2018 edition of the race which was initially cancelled due to snow and ice then rescheduled for a blisteringly hot Sunday in July, conditions were ideal for racing in 2019: a little chilly, but dry and with very little wind come the 11am start. The race commenced on Riseholme Road and ran around many of the residential streets of Lincoln with the finish line moving this year to Northgate, with the spectacular backdrop of Lincoln Cathedral and Castle nearby.

The event was generally considered to be well organised but unfortunately many were affected by the decision to drastically reduce the width of one of the roads less than half a mile from the start. The result was that most runners came to a complete stand still twice while they tried to get through the bottleneck, hampering many runners’ prospects of achieving their quickest possible time.

Unaffected by the delays and finishing an excellent 32^nd overall, Ian Williams was the first Grantham Running Club finisher. Bettering his previous 10K PB set at the very windy Oundle 10K in January by two minutes, Ian clocked an outstanding 34:47 to become the second fastest GRC runner of all time over 10K and only 37 seconds shy of the club record held by Matthew Kingston-Lee.

Following Ian was Grant Davies, who rued an over exuberant open mile run at sub-34 minute pace but rallied well to finish 85^th in 37:30, just 17 seconds shy of his 10K PB, but frustratingly seven seconds slower than at the recent Gainsborough & Morton 10K held in poorer conditions. Joaquim Jeromino was the third runner to break 40 minutes which he managed in an official 10K race for the first time, knocking an impressive two minutes off his PB to finish in 38:11. ‘Flash’ finished 46 seconds clear of Joe Clarke who ran well to come home just 22 seconds outside his PB in 38:57.

Robert Howbrook was the fifth GRC runner to break 40 minutes, his superb 39:45 just 18 seconds outside his 2016 PB and quick enough to win the MV60 age category. Rob’s age grade of 83.98% is the highest age grade set by a male GRC runner, 0.06% higher than the previous best set by a Matthew Kingston-Lee at the 2018 Great Eastern Run.

Making it a very good day for the Williams’ family, Ian’s wife Claire Williams was the first GRC woman to finish in a fine 51:33. She was followed by the ever improving Naomi Jepson-Rivers, whose 54:34, shaved another sixteen seconds off her recently set 10K PB.

Despite the aforementioned issues with the bottleneck near the start of the race, a further fourteen personal bests were set by GRC runners on a great day for racing. They were: Stewart Pick, 45:20; Sam Dodwell, 45:47; Stuart Baty, 47:16; Martin Rodell, 48:23; and  Neil Jameson, 59:31, by the male contingent, and for the GRC women: Tracy Smith, 55:35; Tracy Webb, 57:41; Belinda Baker, 58:34; Sylv Hull, 58:53; Claire Fritz, 1:02:29; Suzanne Hardy, 1:02:41; Amanda Mumby, 1:04:42; Amy Jameson, 1:07:12;and Vicki Geeson, 1:09:23, all came home with new personal best 10K times.

The race also saw Tracey Gell and Gillian Cardus, 2018 GRC Couch to 5K graduates, take part in their first 10K road race, They were delighted with their times of 1:07:08 and 1:08:30 respectively. Vicki Hardy also took part in her first race as a GRC member posting a fine first 10K race time of 57:08.

All participants received an excellent goody bag, including a medal, technical T-Shirt, protein bar, chocolate bar, High 5 Gel, High 5 electrolyte drink, protein milk shake and some vouchers.

The race was won by Lucian Allison, from Lincoln Wellington AC in a new PB and course record time of 29:29, with club mate and Lougborough University Student Abbie Donnelly the women’s winner in 34:30.

Full Grantham Running Club Results:

GRC Position	Position	Name	Chip Time	Notes
1	32	Ian Williams	34.47	PB
2	85	Grant Davies	37.30
3	95	Joaquim Jeronimo	38.11	PB
4	126	Joe Clarke	38.57
5	161	Robert Howbrook	39.45	1st MV60
6	493	Kevin Kettle	44.44
7	545	Russell Maksymiw	44.51
8	581	Stewart Pick	45.20	PB
9	607	Sam Dodwell	45.57	PB
10	776	Stuart Baty	47.16	PB
11	931	Martin Rodell	48.23	PB
12	1177	Tommy Napier	50.29
13	1205	Paul Jepson	50.52
14	1274	Claire Williams	51.33
15	1662	John Nevard	53.32
16	1625	Naomi Jepson-Rivers	54.34	PB
17	1820	Vicki Ball	55.06
18	1855	Tracey Smith	55.35	PB
19	1853	Nichola Webster	55.35
20	2047	Vicki Hardy	57.08
21	2211	Tracy Webb	57.41	PB
22	2267	Belinda Baker	58.34	PB
23	2394	Sylv Hull	58.53	PB
24	2450	Kathleen Gray	59.05
25	2451	Sue Swann	59.06
26	2524	Neil Jameson	59.31	PB
27	2908	Jon Whittaker	01:01:49
28	3218	Emma Weatherhill	01:02:20
29	2909	Claire Fritz	01:02:29	PB
30	3120	Suzanne Hardy	01:02:41	PB
31	2893	Kate Marshall	01:02:49
32	3066	Yvette Taylor	01:03:54
33	3150	Edina Burns	01:04:42
34	3321	Julia Hallam	01:04:42
35	3322	Amanda Mumby	01:04:42	PB
36	3490	Tracey Gell	01:07:08
37	3497	Amy Jameson	01:07:12	PB
38	3628	Gillian Cardus	01:08:30
39	3694	Fiona Vaughan	01:09:16
40	3699	Vicki Geeson	01:09:23	PB
41	3880	Judi Allsop	01:10:25
42	3842	Simon Hartley	01:12:42
43	3977	Louise Kennedy	01:13:41