Nos Galan Road Races

On New Year's Eve, Grantham Running Club's Andrew Pask competed in the prestigious Nos Galan Races in Mountain Ash, South Wales. The event which commemorates the life of legendary runner Guto Nyth Brân who died tragically during a race in 1737 draws athletes from across the UK and 12,000 supporters to the streets. Each year excitement builds for the arrival of a mystery runner whose always a famous person from the world of sport. This year was no disappointment with Wales football manager Chris Coleman given the honour. After the children's races, torch lighting ceremony and fireworks Andrew Pask in the elite race was anxious to get the 19:00 race underway. In a national standard field, Andrew finished the three lap 5k race in 135th with a PB time of 19:52. Speaking after the race he said 'I've never been in such a high quality race as Nos Galan and it was a real privilege to share the same start as the elites, the top ten all ran sub 15mins. My aim was sub 20mins so I was happy with my time. It was nice to sit back and enjoy the mass race which started just after I'd finished. It was a memorable New Year's Eve for sure.'

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
135	19:52	Andrew Pask		MV35		66.34%	N/A

Keyworth Turkey Trot Half Marathon

Gav (with soup), Catherine, Pasky, SJ, MKL and Robert

A turkey

Grantham Running Club managed to secure seven places at the very popular Keyworth Turkey Trot, an end of year half marathon on an undulating course around the quite rural roads surrounding Keyworth. Now in its 33^rd year and a sell out on the day it opened for entries, the Turkey Trot attracts 1,100 runners all vying to win one of the select few Christmas turkey prizes on offer. Those who didn't win a turkey could content themselves with one of the event's famous post race mementos, which this year was a medal which doubled up as a multi-tool. The near perfect running conditions were reflected in the times posted with strong performances from the entire GRC contingency.

                

First home was GRC Chairman Matthew Kingston Lee, who clocked a fine 76:45 to take an excellent eighth place, earning him first position in the V40-44 category. After collecting and posing with his prize turkey he said: “I was pleased to end the year with a positive result - a top ten finish, a course PB and the V40 prize. The turkey will be enjoyed by all the family on Christmas Day! The race was uneventful but went to plan. I'm very content to have a 'season's worst' breaking 77 minutes".

SJ enjoying the run in

Next to finish was Andrew Pask with a season's best time of 89:19, just sneaking into the top 100 finishers in his 20th half marathon. Gav Meadows closely followed - although Gav set an official PB, he was an agonising 12 seconds off the prized sub 90 minute time. Catherine Payne, in her first race back after a three month layoff due to a serious injury, was pleased with her steady 96:05, which was good enough for runner up spot in the LV45 Category.

Despite getting held up in the crowds before the start line, Nick Payne worked through the field to grab a PB with a time of 99:04 finishing just behind was Robert McArdle, whose 99:19 was a season’s best. 

The star of the day however was Sarah Willis, with a fantastic run to knock almost four minutes off her PB set in October. Her time of 1:41:23 is an amazing achievement considering she only started running seriously six months ago. (Member of the month in red)

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
8	76:45	Matthew Kingston Lee		MV40		81.01%	107
100	89:19	Andrew Pask		MV35		66.80%	1698
107	89:38	Gerry Hyde		MV50		76.66%	588
115	90:11	Gav Meadows		MV35		66.16%	N/A
210	96:05	Catherine Payne		FV50		77.61%	79
275	99:19	Robert McArdle		MV55		71.70%	639
282	99:04	Nick Payne		MV35		61.78%	N/A
314	1:41:23	Sarah Willis		FV35		66.06%	N/A
720	2:03:48	Ruth Dunstan		FV40		55.29%	N/A

Run Barbados Half Marathon

The race medal

Suzie after the race

Grantham Running Club's Suzanne Britz took part in the annual Barbados Half Marathon on Sunday 5thDecember as part of the Islands Run Weekend where they host a variety of different races over the two days. The chip timed race started at 5am in 26 degrees C with a cool sea breeze which allowed for a easy start. The race started in the dark on the Esplanade just south of Bridgetown and took her north along the coast through the city, past the harbour, National Heroes Square and the Port before briefly following an inland route along Spring Garden Highway then returning back to the coastal road to the point of turnaround at Holders Hill, St. James where she embarked on the return leg running into the rising sun and temperature. There was plenty of much needed water stations with pockets of supporting crowds and steel pan players along the route keeping her spirits up. Suzanne had set herself a target of coming in under 2hours with the hope of beating her previous half marathon personal best and whilst she managed to complete the race in 1hr 58mins, this was 4 mins outside per personal best but given the temperatures, she ran an excellent race. Overall she finished in 86th position from 344 local and international runners and was the 28th female from 188 ladies that took part. She received a t-shirt and finishers medal when she crossed the line and celebrated with some well earned rum later that day!

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
88	1:58:56	Suzanne Britz		FV45		58.40%	N/A

The HOKA ONE ONE Stockport 10

Grantham Running Club's Paul Rushworth travelled to his home town to complete in the Stockport 10 mile road race. Over 1200 runners took part in the event. The race followed an undulating route over roads and urban trails around the town in South Manchester. Paul finished the race in 237th position with a time of 1:13:44, his time was only 2 minutes outside his previous attempt at the course in 2011 but over 8 minutes behind his personal best time set in 2002.  

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
267	1:13:44	Paul Rushworth		MV40		63.57%	N/A

 

QEOP Winter 10K Series

On Saturday Grantham Running Club's Andy Atter took part in the winter 10k series in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a phenomenal setting following in the footsteps of the London 2012 greats.
The race consisted of three laps around the confines of the park running alongside the Olympic Stadium, Copperbox Arena, Aquatic Centre and the iconic ArceloeMittal Orbit.
Andy ran a strong race finishing in a time of 42:02, just outside his PB, in 52nd position out of the 450 runners. He said 'the conditions were perfect and it was a spectacular venue - the short steep inclines made some parts pretty tough but I would recommend it to anyone' Andy has now finished his races for the year but has plenty in store for 2017 including the Greater Manchester Marathon in April.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
52	42:02	Andy Atter		MV35		65.26%	N/A

EMA10k

Showing off the race hoodies

On the morning of Sunday 27th November, seven members of GRC lined up with almost 2,000 others to run a10km course around East Midlands Airport. With the airport being fully closed for maintenance, an occurrence that only happens once every twenty years or so, this was certainly a unique opportunity. Due to the time of year the weather was expectedly chilly, but luckily also sunny and dry. This, coupled with a surprisingly light breeze for the location, made for fairly optimum running conditions.

Martin's medal

The course started and finished in front of the departures hall and took in some of the restricted areas of the airport grounds that members of the public do not usually see. The course included a trip around the Fire Station and some of the private and commercial hangars, including a hangar containing  a Spitfire on display for the race.

First over the line for the club was Martin Carter with a time of 48:52 and a new PB, followed by Sinead Mcdonnell just outside her own PB with a time of 50:19. Third home was Sue Swann in 58:54. Angela Carr was next over the line, also with a PB time of 1:00:26 and Justyna Gill came in at 1:06:16. Yvette Taylor came in at 1:08:43 with a new pb and CJ Walker also achieved a new pb of 1:12:21.

All involved found the race to be well organised with a great atmosphere

(Member of the month in red)

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
399	48:52	Martin Carter		Senior		55.84%	N/A
478	50:19	Sinead McDonnell		FV40		63.60%	N/A
1071	58:54	Sue Swann		FV40		57.63%	N/A
1177	1:00:26	Angela Carr		FV50		58.30%	N/A
1471	1:06:16	Justyna Gill		FV40		47.93%	N/A
1557	1:08:43	Yvette Taylor		FV40		46.57%	N/A
1647	1:12:21	Carole Walker		FV40		43.32%	N/A

Lincolnshire Cross Country League - Match 3

Sarah High

Rob, Liam, Peter and Paul

Grantham Running Club was represented by eleven of its members at Match 3 of the Lincolnshire Cross Country League on Sunday. The course at Castledyke Equestrian Centre near Boston, although flat, was very wet, muddy and slippery underfoot and there was also the joys of a water crossing (several times) to add to the mix. Rob Howbrook was the lead GRC man for the first two laps of the 4 lap, men's race before suffering a calf injury and having to retire. The team was then led home by Peter Bonner who continues his recent good form, closely followed by Paul Davis and Liam Vincent who both put in strong performances. In the ladies race, Sarah High achieved her best result to date in this season's league finishing 12th overall, with good performances from Caroline Davis and Justyna Gill completing the first GRC ladies team. Vicky Willan, Vicky Dexter and CJ Walker, who are still relatively new to cross country, put in great efforts and brought home the second ladies team for the club. Unfortunately, team mate Angela Carr was forced to retire during the race due to injury.

Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso

Gav Meadows

Grantham Running Club's Gav Meadows took part in the Valencia Marathon in south-east Spain on Sunday 20th November. Notable sights on the 26.2 mile route include the Jardin del Turia, Mercado de Colon and Palua de la Musica, finishing at the stunning Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe. There's also live music to keep runners entertained. The course is very flat and is suited to running fast times.

Gav set himself a pretty lofty goal for this race, targeting a new personal best and also the 'good for age' time required for the London Marathon in his age/gender category (under 3:05). In the end he came up short of this difficult target but finished in a very respectable 3:14:35 placing 2409th overall in a field of over 18,000 runners. He also placed 626th in his age/gender category and was 7 minutes over his personal best time.

He said 'I really enjoyed this race. It was my second outside the UK and certainly won't be my last! Highlights were getting my name called out by an announcer over the loudspeaker at mile 21 & a very crowded and noisy finish. The crowd were practically on the course for the last 2 miles! It was just a corridor of noise - they were so close to the action!'

'I can't really complain about my performance. I knew that what I was trying to achieve would be very difficult indeed and was fully aware that it might not happen. All I could do was give it my best shot. I knew the pace required & for 17 miles things went according to plan. Unfortunately fatigue took over from that point. Things got pretty desperate at miles 21 and 22 where I was a minute per mile off the pace. However, I managed to dig deep for the last 4 miles & salvage a sub 3:15 time.'

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
2409	03:14:35	Gav Meadows		All		64.20%	812

Clowne Half Marathon

Matt Williamson

The race hoody

GRC’s Matthew Williamson finished his first year of road racing with a bonus race courtesy of the injured Nick Rossington who he replaced in this year’s Clowne Half Marathon. It is incredible that less than 10 months ago Matt struggled to run even a few miles and now he is able to finish in 63^rd position in a strong field. There was one other new experience for Matt and that was that this was the first race he did not set a PB in! That was no reflection of his progress as this was the toughest and hilliest half to date and on a flatter course he would certainly has claimed a quicker time. A winter of hard training will ensure that 2017 not only bring more PBs at 10k and half but his first outing at the Manchester Marathon.
 

Postion	Time	Name		Category		Grading	AG Ranking
63	1:34:07	Matthew Williamson		Male Senior		62.92%	N/A