St Valentine’s Stamford 30K

Some of the starters before the race

Taking place a week after Storm Dennis forced its postponement, thirty seven members of Grantham Running Club successfully completed the St Valentine’s Stamford 30K on Sunday 23^rd February - the second round of the 2020 GRC Grand Prix Series. The popular pre-marathon training race is considered a real test of form and character with virtually no flat terrain on a constantly undulating course. Considering the logistical difficulties associated with a postponement the hosts Stamford Striders did a fantastic job to put on another superbly organized edition of the race.  

New Club record for MKL

Heavy early morning rain and blustery strong winds threatened a repeat of the conditions that led to the race’s postponement; thankfully though the rain passed through to reveal partially blue skies and pleasant racing temperatures for much of the race. Despite fears over flooding on the course the only really large puddle was circumnavigated by the field early on in the race and the somewhat wet and muddy section along Salters Lane was arguably not as grim as in previous years. The strong winds remained for the entirety of the race however. Although there were some tough sections of headwind runners did enjoy an extended section in the second half of the race with a favourable cross / tail wind. The infamous finish on the Welland Academy playing fields did though feature a brutal headwind to the finish line that saw some runners almost stopped in their tracks!

Joe improved on his 2109 time

First home for Grantham Running Club was Matthew Kingston-Lee. After successfully practicing his marathon start procedure over the opening three miles, Matthew ran a controlled race that saw him gauge his effort a little under what he hopes to run at the forthcoming London Marathon. Making his way through the field, first he first passed Chris Limmer, who was very pleased with his ‘run to feel’ 35^th placed 2:00:59 finish, and then 24^th placed Jonny Palmer who finished fifteen seconds inside his 30K PB with 1:57:12 feeling in his legs the effects (like quite a few in the field) of a tough National Cross Country Championships race the previous day. Running the second half of the race a minute quicker than the first, Matthew was pleased to finish 20^th in 1:55:53, breaking the old 30K club record by thirteen minutes. 

Following Chris home with arguably the performance of the day was Joe Diggins, who despite finding the course ‘brutal in places’ stormed around to smash his 2019 30K PB by just shy of fifteen minutes, clocking 2:10:20 – the seventh best performance over 30K by a runner in a GRC vest. Given the average pace for this performance is not far shy of his half marathon PB, it’s reasonable to assume his marathon PB of 3:52:40 could be seriously revised if all things continue to go well this spring.

Catherine finished 16th lady

Leading the way home for the GRC ladies was the ever impressive Catherine Payne who, with 2:21:05, was just fifteen seconds outside her 2017 PB performance and scored the highest ever GRC age grade for this distance with 82.06%. Her efforts earned her 16th lady overall and second place in her age category. A couple of minutes behind Catherine, Holly Durham (18th) ran well to better her 2019 time by over two minutes with 2:23:23to also be runner up in her age group and Sarah Chynoweth put in a solid performance in her 30K debut having completed in the National XC Champs the day before to finish in 2:30:53. 

Among the other GRC performances there were 30K personal bests for: Caroline Davis, whose 2:40:16 bettered her 2019 time by over ninety seconds; Craig Drury, who smashed his 2019 PB by just under eleven minutes with 2:31:30; and Warren Stark, very nearly seven minutes quicker than in 2019 with 2:46:15. 

Taking part for the first time over the infrequently raced 30K distance Russell Love finished in 2:19:18. Also racing 30K for the first time Sam Dodwell clocked 2:34:42; Joanne Moore ran 3:00:20; Mark Edwards 3:02:21; Belinda Baker 3:36:03; Tracy Webb 3:43:03; and Vicky Willan 4:04:37.

There were several GRC runners taking part in their longest ever race to date. They included: Joaquim Jeronimo, who finished in 2:28:46; Kate Bland (3:00:20); Dale Towning (3:02:40); Sylv Hull (3:12:25); Carole Pigott (3:24:54); Kate Marshall (3:32:51); and Rebecca Angel (3:54:24).

Taking part in his first ever race for GRC (and his first to appear on his Power of 10 profile) Mikey Brain ran well to finish such a demanding race in 2:38:47. The race saw a higher than usual quota of GRC runners not making it to the finish, although no serious issues thankfully were reported.

Rob was runner up in his age group

The race was won by William Strangeway of Lincoln Wellington AC in 1:41:31 with Samantha Cullen of Eye Community Runners the winning woman in 2:04:12. There were 561 finishers.

GRC Results:

Name	Time
Matthew Kingston-Lee	01:55:53
Jonathan Palmer	01:57:12
Chris Limmer	02:00:59
Joe Diggins	02:10:20
Tony Johnson	02:10:54
Robert Howbrook	02:17:34
Russell Love	02:19:18
Matthew Williamson	02:19:39
Catherine Payne	02:21:20
Joe Clarke	02:22:05
Holly Durham	02:23:23
Joaquim Jeronimo	02:28:46
Sarah Chynoweth	02:30:53
Craig Drury	02:31:30
Robert McArdle	02:31:42
Sam Clark	02:32:58
Sam Dodwell	02:34:34
Simon Smith	02:37:48
Mikey Brain	02:38:47
Caroline Davis	02:40:16
Ben Mason	02:45:14
Warren Stark	02:46:15
Sarah High	02:50:27
Neil Emerson	02:55:41
Sinead McDonnell	02:58:36
Gordon Geach	02:59:51
Katie Bland	03:00:20
Joanne Moore	03:01:11
Mark Edwards	03:02:21
Dale Towning	03:02:40
Sylv Hull	03:12:25
Carole Pigott	03:24:54
Kate Marshall	03:32:51
Belinda Baker	03:36:03
Tracy Webb	03:43:46
Rebecca Angel	03:54:24
Vicky Willan	04:04:05