Manchester marathon and half marathon dominated the racing scene this weekend, with some terrific results. Some excellent running was also seen at the Royal Parks and Brighton Half marathons, Boston Virtual marathon, the Ridgeway Trail, Hyde Park 10K and the Islington 1 hour race.

Manchester Marathon, Manchester, 10th October 2021

Gavin sent in this report: “Tom Aldred once again delivered in the Manchester Marathon on Sunday, coming ninth in the championship race (and the second V40 overall) in a time of 2:26:15 - on the new course that took us around the city. Most of the race was sunny with temperatures reaching 16 degrees, eased by a light breeze. Tom went through the 10k mark showing he meant business, in a time of 33:54, and maintained something close to that pace by going through the half in 1:12.33. He was barely a minute slower in the second half – excellent pacing.

Tom Hollis was the first of the Heathsiders in the open race in a massive PB (by nearly eight minutes) of 2:39:57. Tom had aimed at squeaking under 2:40 and he pulled it off in fine style, doing negative splits like a professional (he went through the 10k in 38:15 and the half in 1:20:40 and then picked it up the second half, which he completed in 1:19:17 – 1 minute and 23 seconds faster than the first).

I came in next in 3:04:36, the first time I’d failed to get under three hours since 2006. I picked up a cold in the week before the race but still went for my original target time of 2:55, which proved to be a mistake as I felt weak the whole way. I went through the half on target in 1:27:30 but the wheels fell off one by one after that. I cramped at 21 and staggered in at slug’s pace, feeling miserable. [Ed. - He still finished 3rd in V60 age category!].

Neil Emery was next among the Heathsiders in a time of 3:05:18 – a PB of more than four minutes. Aiming for a sub-3, he went through the half in 1:28:35 but couldn’t quite hold it in the second half.

Lucie Mauger was our first woman in 3:09:21 – a huge PB by nearly 40 minutes (her previous best was 3:49:18). Lucie went through the half in just under 1:33 and the 30k in 2:13:13.

Kwasi Agyei-Owusu had a promising marathon debut in a time of 3:11:14. He was alongside Lucie at the halfway mark but lost a bit of pace in the second half. He was followed by Ian Anderson in a well-paced 3:13:07

Valentin Valeanu was plagued by injury in the build-up but decided to take a chance despite the lack of training. He went through the half in under 1:28, showing his potential but the lack of training miles told in the second half, and he came in with a time of 3:15:58, followed 34 seconds later by Joe Clemoes (who ran 2:55 in London a week earlier)

Our second woman was Mauro Bellio who had good reason to be delighted by her debut time of 3:29:19. She ran a well-paced race, going through the half in 1:43:33 and even managed to speed up over the last six miles.”

9th Tom Aldred 02:26:15 (1st Mv40)

54th Tom Hollis 02:39:57

731st Gavin Evans 03:04:36 (3rd MV60)

755th Neil Emery 03:05:18

938th Lucie Mauger 03:09:21

1013 Kwasi Agyei-Owusu 03:11:14

1110 Ian Anderson 03:13:07

1165th Alistair Wilson 03:13:59

1165th Valentin Valeaunu 03:15:58

1289th Joseph Clemoes 03:16:32

145st Andrew Wooding 03:19:37

1610th Jamie Sullivan 03:22:34

2110th Daniel Johns 03:28:31

2185th Maura Bellio 03:29:19

4166th Ben Harris 03:51:38

4232th Simone Vibert 03:52:11

7527th Ella Rogers 04:23:19

Liam and Filippo after the Manchester Half

Manchester Half Marathon, Manchester, 10th October, 2021

Gavin sent in this report: “The first Heathsider in the half was Filippo Minelle in a time of 1:21:09 – a highly impressive time, especially considering it was his first race of more than 10k.

Second was Liam Hazelton in a 25 second PB of 1:25:09, which should give him confidence to go for a sub-3 marathon soon. Third was Dominic Jackson in 1:29:18.”

92nd Filippo Minelle 01:21:09

164th Liam Hazelton 01:25:09 (PB)

258th Dominic Jackson 01:29:18

320th Neil Thomas 01:31:52

481st Mark George 01:36:55

652nd Richard Hewett 01:40:23

Royal Parks Half, London, 10th October 2021

Filipe Cardoso sent in this report:”I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday, where you pass by 11 landmarks in Central London, while promoting sustainable events. It was a long-winded start, where I had to drop off my bag at 7am in Hyde Park, enter the start funnel at 8:20 in Green Park and start the race an hour later in The Mall. I started the race further back, due to the queue to the few toilets available in the start funnel. Still, it made my race more interesting as I overtook a storm trooper, a dinosaur and a couple of inflatable chickens. I couldn't get a PB this time but it was a great experience, especially by the Serpentine where the crowds gathered created an amazing atmosphere.

The results on the Royal Parks App rank you according to chip time while the website ranks you by gun time. Neither of them seems to let you filter for running clubs so I don't know if other Heathsiders ran the event.”

Results (of those I heard about, it is impossible to search by club in the results)

50th James Caven 01:21:41

292nd Julia Kelk 01:32:46

344th Alex Sweet 01:32:45

764th Filipe Cardoso 01:26:25

2747 Bridgit Napleton 01:49:52

5443 Becky Sweet 01:54:17

Ridgeway Trail Run 15k, Tring, 10th October 2021

Nine Heathsiders headed over to the Chilterns to take part in the scenic “undulating” Ridgeway Trail run. It’s a tough 15K trail race with spectacular views to take your mind off the hills. Angharad led the Heathsiders in, followed by Caroline who was 1st FV55, with Rebecca Marshall hot on her heels. Enthusiasm for this race from all was high, even after the event, and despite the coffee and tea running out. It’s a really well marshalled and well organised event in a beautiful part of the world.

Results

117 1:21:18 Angharad Harris FV45

129 1:22:11 Caroline White 1st FV55

148 1:23:11 Rebecca Marshall FV35

160 1:24:08 Marco Maserati MV60

195 1:28:05 Emilia Vynnycky FV45

231 1:30:18 Michael Hickey MV50

267 1:33:03 Tara Tapper FV45

268 1:32:56 Andy Conway MV50

393 1:43:32 Lyn Evans FV65

Boston “Virtual” Marathon – Incorporating the Adidas 1 hour Race at Emirates Stadium (London) 10.10.21

Jim Connell reported on this impressive result, after having already run 2 marathons in the past two weeks:I ran my 3rd marathon in as many weekends. It involved running around Finsbury Park (a lot) and then jogging down to the Emirates to run the Adidas race as my last (difficult) section of the marathon. Surprisingly it was OK as I went in a bit like “I can stop at any time”. I was bored and lonely running many loops of Finsbury Park track outer path and was hoping someone would come along that I knew, but it didn’t happen. I got down to the stadium with 17 miles in the legs and jogged the mile loops with the odd shout from Seyfu – who I believe won the whole race. I miscalculated my finish at the Emirates coming in at 24.5 miles so had to ditch my chip, grab my medal and water and peg it out of the stadium for the final death march up Holloway Road finishing within sight of Tufnell Park Costa Coffee.”

Result: 3:48:32

Brighton Half Marathon, Brighton, 10.10.2021

Michael Gray ran the Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday, and finished 791 (out of 2,786 finishers) in a time of 1:48:46. He was very pleased to have achieved a 15 minute PB!

Results:

791st Michael Gray 01:48:46

Islington 1 hour, London, 10.10.21

Seyfu came in an easy first place in this one hour race, and Jim tagged the hour in to the end of his virtual Boston marathon race so, impressively, ran the time after 20 miles or so in his legs.

Results

1st Seyfu Jamaal 11 miles

8th Justin Badger 9.6 miles

28th Jonny Forsyth 9 miles

135th Jono Shalom 8 miles

326 Chris Prickett 7.4 miles

692 Shaun Kennedy 6.8

662nd James Connell 6.2 miles

RunThrough Chase the Moon Hyde Park 10k, Hyde Park, 6.10.21

Result

26th Jonathan Shalom (V40) 42:53

Parkruns can be found here - and first places were achieved by Olivia Desborough and Leo Burningham

Compiled by Caroline with thanks for contributions and photos from Simon, Jim C., Liam, Gavin, Andrew G, Filipe, Michael and Emilia

Manchester Marathon and Half Marathon and much much more

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Cover image rights - Lenny Martin

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