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| Some of the runners after the race |
Thirteen lucky members of Grantham Running Club headed to
Prestwold Hall near Loughborough to take part in the sophomore Leicestershire
Half Marathon, race two of the 2019 Grantham Running Club GP Series.
Starting and finishing outside the front of the grade one
listed stately home, from Prestwold Hall runners were taken on a varied,
sometimes unusual, course which incorporated a mixture of race track, disused
airfield, a solar panel farm, an HGV driving school, and farmers’ tracks -
bound together with your more regular mix of gently rolling closed country
roads and picturesque Leicestershire villages.
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| MKL first home for GRC |
The race took place on an unseasonably warm February
morning; blue skies and plenty of sunshine raised the spirits of runners and
spectators alike. Even the stiffening breeze, particularly troublesome in the
closing stages of the race, failed to prevent many personal bests and quick
times from being set.
Matthew Kingston-Lee was first GRC runner home, finishing
eighth overall and a surprised winner of the men’s V40 age category. His time
of 01:17:50 was highly encouraging given that he ran all but the final mile at
his planned marathon heart rate for the upcoming Manchester Marathon and had
only just recovered from a short lay off with illness.
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| Strong run by Chris |
Next to finish for GRC was Russell Love with a strong
performance that secured him a personal best time of 01:34:09, slashing some two
and a half minutes off his previous mark. He was followed by Paul Rushworth who
chipped twenty seconds or so from his opening half marathon of 2019 at Helsby,
clocking 01:36:42. Christopher Armstrong (01:39:53) also
improved on his
opening half marathon gambit of 2019 at the Farnborough Winter Half Marathon in
January, his time nearly five minutes quicker than that set three weeks earlier.
Not even a fall at the four mile mark could prevent birthday boy Chris Moore
from shaving more than a minute off his half marathon PB, his new best time of
01:40:39 ensured that there was double the cause for celebration for the rest
of the day! |
| Helen, first GRC lady |
First GRC woman home and fourteenth in the V40 category was
Helen Brown who ended her three race streak of 01:45 half marathons with an
ever so slightly slower 01:46:13! Kate Marshall was next to finish in a time of
02:12:26, slicing nearly four minutes off her previous best secured at the Keyworth
Turkey Trot in December. Hot on her heels, also bettering her personal best set
at the Turkey Trot by almost three minutes, was Kate’s regular training and
race partner Tracy Webb, who finished in 02:12:58. Having run their first ever
half marathons in 2018, both ladies were delighted to continue their run of chipping
away at their half marathon PBs at their first attempt of 2019.
Sylv Hull, still struggling with a chest infection, did not
enjoy the best of races, finishing in 02:20:11. She was closely followed by
Kathleen Gray (02:21:51) who was relieved to be back racing and marathon
training after a short break due to illness. Sue Swann continued the run of GRC
ladies, coming in at 02:28:45, and was followed by Yvette Taylor and Edina
Burns, who both smashed their previous best times set at the Worksop Halloween
Half Marathon in October. Coming in at
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| Big PB for Edina |
The race was well organised, with helpful and supportive
volunteers on an interesting course that just about managed to not overly rely
on the slightly tedious long straights of the airfield and race track. The post
race goodie bag was particularly generous, with finishers receiving a technical
t-shirt, bespoke medal, flapjack, peanut butter gels, and a banana.
The race was won by Nick Samuels of Sale Harriers Manchester
/ Loughborough Students in 1:11:54 with Samantha Harrision of Notts AC the
winning woman in 1:21:14. 1399 runners took part in the race.
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