Saxilby 5k

They say that good luck is the place where hard work meets opportunity and that was certainly the case for half of Grantham Running Club’s athletes at this year’s Saxilby 5k. The hard work had been done in training and all they needed was a flat, windless course and cooler conditions than they have faced all summer. The bonus of an early Sunday morning start was it was even cooler round the streets of the village than it was destined to be later in the day.

Peter clocks PB

First home for GRC was 5k specialist Peter Bonner in 18:26, a huge PB and meant his average pace for the race was less than 6 minutes a mile! Peter has now completed 415 runs according to his official record and after some eight years this was his highest ranked effort ever! It was no coincidence that this is exactly the pace he has been seen by bemused dog walkers as he charged up and down Queen Elizabeth Park over the last month training to go sub 18:30 and get his first 75% grading. Next home was Robert McArdle is a season’s best of 22:05.

Julia chases Amanda to the line

Fiona Vaughan was the first GRC lady to finish in 29:45, dipping below the 30:00 mark for the first time thanks to the race’s chip timing which records actual times for runners over the distance rather than just for the front row. Although Fiona like Peter has been running for many years it is only in 2019 that she has increased her running to three times a week and has had race experience at big events in both Lincoln and Long Bennington to allow her to push herself that bit further. Chasing Fiona to the line and finishing just 4 seconds behind her was Louise Kennedy, another runner who has recently upgraded her training. Louise also recorded a big PB to join the sub 30 club.

After having missed out on last week’s race Julie Hallam made a comfortable return to finish just outside her best in 33:38 running alongside Amanda Mumby who was timed at 33:36. All taking part enjoyed the race and have already pencilled in a return for next year.