Thorney 10K

Nicola sets PB

Nev's PB earns UKA Ranking

GRC's Nicola Cottam and Nev Chamberlain headed out to the Cambridgeshire fens  for Thorney Running Clubs 10k.

The first day of British Summer Time brought with it blue skies and light winds, this plus the flat closed roads course made for fast times. Times of 47.13 and 51.45 for Nev and Nicola respectively gave both of them massive PB's saw them  finish in the top half of the field.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
87	47:13	Nev Chamberlin		MV55	PB	67.74%
123	51:45	Nicola Cottam		FV45	PB	64.84%

Dronfield 10K

Another PB for Peter

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
71	0:44:19	Peter Bonner		MV40		64.11%

 

Locke Park 20TEN

The host club had some top runners out

Catherine approaches the finish

Two of GRC’s athletes made the trip north to take part in the Locke Park races in Redcar, in this challenge both distances of ten and twenty miles take place on a tight twisty multi-lap course. The weather was the typical “four seasons in one day” variety with a stiff onshore breeze making a challenging headwind on the only two straights. Just before the ten o’clock start the timing mats failed to boot up leaving the runners literally out in the cold as the organisers frantically tried various ways to find a fix. After half an hour they gave up and asked the runners to warm-up for the second time as they positioned the spotter aerials on the line and steeled themselves for a long night of reviewing over two and a half thousand video images to verify the lap count and final times. The race finally started at 10:36 in bright sunshine but with the wind building up worryingly, it was forecast to reach gale-force at noon. Due to the nature of the course GPS watches do not measure the distance or pace with any degree of accuracy so runners have to rely on the lap count to try and gauge their speed. With the excitement of the start and the lack of external timing for the first couple of laps the pace was less controlled than usual with Catherine Payne going backwards through the field despite a 6:40 for mile two. Ignoring those round about him Robert McArdle made a steady start with the first six laps within seconds of his target pace of 7:30 before realising that he was going to be too ill to complete the race, aware that he had an option to record a ten mile time if he did not go past 11 miles and as he started to get slower over laps eight and nine he made up his mind to complete the ten but try and continue. Lap eleven shaped up to be heading close to 9½ minutes so he had to retire before doing even more damage. Meanwhile Catherine settled into laps in the mid 7:20s before the high mileage in the preceding weeks caught up with her as she had to work hard to stop the lap time creeping towards the eight minute mark. She was rewarded for this with a time of 2:30:10 which was a PB and good enough for her to be placed third lady. As the prizes for this race are awarded on age grading her 80.27% was not only good enough for fourth overall but beat her own club record for the distance set last year. Robert’s time for the 10 miler was given as 1:16:56 which was graded at 69.59% which was respectable given the circumstances and managed to win him one of the prizes. The goody bag was a pair of race socks, a medal and a Mars bar which is not bad for a chipped timed 20 miler costing £16.00.

		20 mile
Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
20	02:30:10	Catherine Payne		FV50		80.27%
		10 mile
Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
13	01:16:56	Robert McArdle		MV55		69.59%

ALDI Ashby 20

Dean, Gav, Caroline, Paul, Penny and Holly

Ten members of Grantham Running Club made the trip to Ashby de la Zouch for this years Ashby 20 mile race. The popular event regularly sells out within hours and windy yet relatively mild conditions greeted the 1300 runners taking part over the undulating course.

Chris was first home for GRC

Many of the club members were using it as a tester ahead of forthcoming marathons with spring marathon season looming in April and came armed with the gels, sweets and fluids needed to get them through a tough race. The Ashby 20's unique appeal though is also about the hoody and cheese cob awarded to all finishers when they arrive back in the town after two laps around the local villages and this meant many runners at the start were discussing the what colour the hoody would be rather than dwelling on the challenge ahead.

First in for Grantham Running Club was Chris Limmer whom came close to a personal best despite the conditions. It was his fifth run around the course and over took former local rivals from his past life living and working in Leicestershire towards the end as legs tired and pushed on to finish in 15th place in 2:04:08 and get his hands on another hoody for the collection.

Dean

Not far behind were a number of runners whom had fantastic runs. Gav Meadows ran steady and was really pleased with 2:22:16 and 128th place. By just after half past 12 a few more club members had joined and collected their hoodies. Dean Riggall was next in 2:27:48 Paul Davis came in with a time of 2:29:06 and Holly Durham was first lady in for GRC in 2:30:18. Holly was worrying she would suffer over the longer distances but thankfully put any potential thigh issues to bed with a really good performance and is now in a really strong position to do well in the London Marathon in April.

Paul Davis

Soon after, the rest of the merry band of GRC runners made it into the finish. Despite not having her finest race Penny Hodges still did really well to get in under 3hours in 2:53:18. Nick Payne was only just ahead in 2:51:45. Next and fresh from her 50th parkrun the day before Caroline Davis was also running well completing the course in 3:00:14 with Andrew Spencer close behind in 3:01:09 before Neil Emerson came in shortly after in 3:16:16.
A great race and the support around the largely traffic free course made up for the challenges of running uphill into a headwind like the runners did half way through the race.

Now many in the club begin the final preparations for hopefully a really successful spring marathon season with some beginning the taper down to marathons on 2nd April with others having slightly longer till 23rd April's London Marathon.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
15	2:04:08	Christopher LIMMER		M		75.09%
128	2:22:16	Gav MEADOWS		MV35		65.84%
183	2:27:48	Dean RIGGALL		MV40		66.67%
201	2:29:06	Paul DAVIS		MV45		68.96%
215	2:30:18	Holly DURHAM		FV35		68.83%
521	2:51:45	Nick PAYNE		MV35		55.55%
538	2:53:18	Penny HODGES		FV35		60.64%
672	3:00:14	Caroline DAVIS		FV45		63.61%
682	3:01:09	Andrew SPENCER		MV50		59.86%
899	3:16:16	Neil EMERSON		MV55		56.80%

Retford Half Marathon, Notts

Neil continues his marathon preparations

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
428	01:50:45	Neil EMERSON		MV55		63.98%

adidas Silverstone Half Marathon

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
1796	1:50:22	Andrew SPENCER		MV50		62.81%
5386	2:14:59	Kieran ATTER		M		43.87%

Raceways Spring Shakespeare Marathon

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading
21	03:52:16	Nick Payne		MV35		54.66%

Newton's Fraction Half Marathon

Gav goes sub 90

Winning Ladies Team

​Sunday 5th March saw runners flood into Grantham along with a deluge of rain to top up Doris's puddles from the previous weeks. The 12th Newton's Fraction Half Marathon organised by GAC, was sold out to maximum capacity of 500. The mighty GRC team dominated the soggy track at the Meres Stadium, where the race started and finished, with a sea of 30 green vests, many beneath waterproof ponchos and bin liners.

Fifth PB at the half in 6 months

​The 13.1 mile route took in a good mix of terrain and elevation including the canal towpath from The Drift to Woolsthorpe by Belvoir and Woolsthorpe and Casthorpe Hills. Matthew Kingston-Lee led the way for GRC and finished in fourth place overall in 1:18:01 earning the MV40 prize and celebrated with daughter, Molly, who completed the 3km Little Apple Fun Run. Chris Limmer ran another strong race particularly after his efforts at last week's 26 mile Belvoir Challenge, finishing in 1:20:05 and 7th place overall. Gav Meadows was doubtful that he'd reach his sub 1:30 goal considering the conditions. Despite an ankle injury in a particularly deep puddle which spanned the road to resemble a ford, Gav soldiered on for the final two miles and even managed a sprint finish into the stadium to arrive home in an impressive pb of 1:28:26.

GRC members take shelter before the race

​Other victories for the club included first in age category for Rob Howbrook, Sarah High (both also completing the longer version of Belvoir last week) and Holly Durham. Holly, Penny Hodges and SJ Willis winning first place for female team. Despite the tough conditions there were a number of other PB's including Peter Bonner, Caroline Davis and Martin Carter. A special mention to the beginners' group c25k for braving the elements and distance. Many of whom were unable to run one mile without stopping this time last year before joining the club. Everyone finished with a smile and were rewarded with a t-shirt, medal and goody bag including locally brewed beer! 

Full results:

4	Matthew	Kingston-Lee	1:18:01
7	Christopher	Limmer	1:20:05
32	Gav	Meadows   PB	1:28:26
51	Matthew	Williamson    PB	1:32:40
55	Robert	Howbrook	1:33:12
65	Holly	Durham	1:34:27
75	Paul	Davis	1:36:11
87	Peter	Bonner   PB	1:37:52
91	Thomas	Williamson	1:38:32
104	Penny	Hodges	1:40:24
106	Mark	Hillson	1:40:49
121	Ben	Mason	1:43:14
126	SJ	Willis	1:43:38
155	Adrian	Walker	1:48:09
178	Sarah	High	1:50:36
200	Liam	Vincent	1:52:33
207	Caroline	Davis  PB	1:53:19
242	Rachel	Birch	1:56:47
243	Martin	Carter  PB	1:56:47
268	Tommy	Napier	2:00:31
339	Hazel	Dunthorne	2:11:09
345	Bianca	Parnaby	2:12:42
349	Paul	Durham	2:13:39
353	Nicholas	Jones	2:13:44
369	Jonathan	Lill	2:17:32
372	Rosalind	Sadler	2:19:51
374	Louise	Fenton	2:19:52
390	Yvonne	Buckley	2:24:28
391	Brendon	Buckley	2:24:28
401	Andy	Barradell	2:32:59