Anglesey Marathon - 20th September
This was Steve Edwards' 3rd time running the Anglesey Marathon which he finished in 3 hours 52 seconds, knocking nearly 11 minutes off his previous best time on this course and good enough to finish 1st V45, (6th place overall). Again, he was so very close to breaking 3 hours having gone through halfway in 1:30:20, 20 miles in 2:17:28 and but for some long uphill drags from 22 miles to the end, he might have made it.
No excuses, but being stung inside his mouth by a wasp, which flew in at 19 miles, didn't really help Steve and he panicked thinking it was going to swell up and cause him problems. Luckily, although sore, it didn't slow him down too much. In the last couple of miles he was rapidly closing down the 4th and 5th placed runners, one of whom was Jeremy Mower from Gloucester, but he was seen coming and they dug in.
Although still closing, in the end Steve ran out of road and had to settle for 6th place, literally seconds behind. Afterwards, they shook hands and Jeremy said he'd recognise the bold Bourton blue with red strips anywhere! Steve was pleased with 6th place but even more pleased to find out I was 1st V45.
That's 422 sub-3:30s completed; this was also Steve's 60th sub-3:05. New Forest Marathon next week!
Great North Run - 20th September
Calum Forsyth and John Gibson ventured north to Newcastle to take part in the Great North Run, the world's largest half marathon, accompanied by Roger Woodley also a regular visitor of the race. This was John's 17th participation in the event.
Having trained hard for the race, Calum's race was nearly blighted by a knee injury a couple of weeks earlier. However; patience and specialist treatment by Lucy’s practice enabled Calum to make a realistic attack on the undulating course.
Setting off a steady pace the two worked their way through a congested field for the first mile-and-half, and they went through each of the first two 5k markers at an even 23:52 a piece. In the second half their pace, whilst still even, had increased to 23:06 for the 3rd 5k and increased it again slightly for the last 6.1k, finishing together strongly in 1:39:08.
Report Highlights
Steve Edwards finishes Anglesey Marathon 1st Vet 45, giving him his 422nd sub-3:30 marathons and his 60th sub-3:05.
Calum Forsyth and John Gibson complete the Great North Run together in 1:39:08.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.