Month: April 2017

 

No less than 26 Spartans including several first timers enjoyed almost ideal running conditions as they all completed the London Marathon.

Achieving a championship qualifying time GRANT RAMSAY finished in 2 hours 42 minutes 22 seconds.  That put him in the top 1% in the field at 404^th and 67^th in his category.  The second of three Spartans, a fantastic achievement, to beat the three hour barrier was ANDREW PATTERSON in 2:47:55.

JASON ANDERSON ran nearly perfect splits taking 12 minutes off his personal best to finish in 2 hours 52 minutes 28 seconds.  He went through halfway in 1:26:08.  Jason collapsed near the finish line last year.  No problems this time.

NATALIE LAWRENCE was the fastest female from Fairlands Valley in 3 hours 19 minutes 38 minutes.  An incredible race considering she had her third baby just eleven weeks ago.  Three other Spartan women beat four hours.  They were NICOLA KENNEDY in 3:42:18; MICHELLE REEVES in 3:43:22 and KERSTIN WEINER in 3:56:28.

Marathon first timers CLAIRE EMMERSON and SOPHIE COWAN met where the starts merged about three miles into the race and helped, and chatted, each other all the way to the finish.  Claire took 4 hours 30 minutes 55 seconds and Sophie 4:35:14.

JENNY GARRETT was another Spartan first-timer coming in with an impressive 4:18:33.  She ran a perfect debut marathon, with all 5K splits evenly paced.  Jenny went through half way in 2.09 and finished race in 4.18.  An amazing debut.  Fairlands Valley Spartans are known for preparing runners from ambition to finishing the London Marathon and celebrated more first time successes with MARK COLLINS in 3:40:06 after an injury-interrupted preparation, JENNY PAUL in 4:47:12, WAYNE McMILLAN in 6:02:55.

BRIAN WHITE was 16^th in the Vet (60 plus) category with 3:15:05 and TRUDIE MOLLOY ran a new personal best (PB) of 4:50:21.

Dozens of Spartan volunteers helped make the event possible by working beyond the finish line getting the correct kit to tired runners after their 26.2 miles.  Well done and thank you the Fairlands Valley baggage buses crew.

The other Spartans making it to the Pall Mall finish line were PETER SMITH 3:17:05; RICHARD KENNEDY 3:21:42; DEAN CARPENTER 3:33:27; ANDY PRIOR 4:07:33; CAROL PAUL 4:25:57; DEREK WOOD 4:34:39; ERICA GRAYSON 4:43:07; MARK and CALLUM BEASLEY both in 5:14:30; TONY ARGYROU in 5:32:21; and LUCY WALSH in 5:46:59.

 

Place overall	Name	Category	Finish	Comments
404	GRANT RAMSAY	40-44	2:42:22	67MV40
688	ANDREW PATTERSON	18-39	2:47:55
1011	JASON ANDERSON	18-39	2:52:28	PB (12 minutes)
3812	BRIAN WHITE	60-64	3:15:05	16MV60
4124	PETER SMITH	50-54	3:17:05
4509	NATALIE LAWRENCE	18-39	3:19:38
4808	RICHARD KENNEDY	18-39	3:21:42
6912	DEAN CARPENTER	40-44	3:33:27
8243	MARK COLLINS	18-39	3:40:06	First marathon
8702	NICOLA KENNEDY	18-39	3:42:18
8909	MICHELLE REEVES	18-39	3:43:22
12207	KERSTIN WEINER	45-49	3:56:28
14992	ANDREW PRIOR	45-49	4:07:33
17651	JENNY GARRETT	45-49	4:18:33	First marathon
19536	CAROL PAUL	55-59	4:25:57
20842	CLAIRE EMMERSON	45-49	4:30:55	First marathon
21729	DEREK WOOD	18-39	4:34:39
21881	SOPHIE COWAN	18-39	4:35:14	First marathon
23883	ERICA GRAYSON	45-49	4:43:07
24906	JENNY PAUL	50-54	4:47:12	First marathon
25621	TRUDIE MOLLOY	45-49	4:50:21	Personal Best
30589	MARK BEASLEY	55-59	5:14:30
30590	CALLUM BEASLEY	18-39	5:14:30
33344	TONY ARGYROU	50-54	5:32:21
35001	LUCY WALSH	18-39	5:46:59
36425	WAYNE McMILLAN	40-44	6:02:55	First marathon

 

Southampton Half

Andy Jay ran the Southampton Half Marathon on a perfect morning for running.

He got around the one lap course in 1 hour 52 minutes 59 seconds, finishing 1080^th out of 3748 runners.  The organisers of the event put on a fantastic festival of running, hosting a 10k, half marathon and full marathon all on the same day.

 

Five Mile Walk

On Tuesday evening in Battersea Park, DAVID BOWKER took part in the first of five races in the Veterans Athletic Club five mile walk series.  He finished sixth in a new personal best of 51 minutes 25 seconds.

 

Parkrun Reports

Fastest Spartan of the parkrun weekend was CRAIG HALSEY.  He went to St Albans where he was first finisher in 16:40.  MARK GOODWIN has trained well in recent weeks and achieved a new course PB at Panshanger where he finished 33^rd in 21:45.

At Stevenage, DANNY HUKIN was the first Spartan home, finishing second in a time of 19:08 as part of a longer run.  NICK GILL was 16^th in 21:46 with MARTIN DUDLEY 31^st in 22:50.  There were also top 50 finishers for GARETH COWELL (22:55), DARREN EMMERSON (23:53) and PAUL MAGUIRE (23:56).  The other men in action at the venue were JAMES KILROY (25:22), KEN JUDE (25:38), JIM BROWN (27:41), ROBERT EVANS (28:06), SIMON SYPULA (28:25), JOHN McCALL (29:01), MICHAEL ANDREWS (29:27), SEAN MILLWOOD (30:20), STEVEN DOBNER (36:50) and JAMES SOUTH (39:34).

PENNY SCHENKEL was completing a first ever parkrun and was first Spartan woman to finish in 27:54 for 17^th place. TRACY PEZ (28:59), KAREN PALMER (29:20) and SHARON CROWLEY (29:44) also gained top 50 finishes.  HILARY DAVIES (31:44), SALLY PHILIPS (32:40) and LISA JERROM (35:56) were the other Spartan ladies running in Fairlands Valley Park.

Further afield, DARRYL STEVENS ran 36:54 at Brockenhurst while ANOUSKA GREENAWAY was at Worthing and finished 2^nd in  20:05. Finally, DANIEL SUTTON ran 23:16 at Yeovil Montacue while VERITY FISHER finished in the top 20 at the same venue in 25:44.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include the County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.  Others are:

• Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 28^th April.
• County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.
• Herts County Five Mile Championships for Seniors at Pednor on 1^st May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Bedford on Wednesday 3^rd May.
• Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7^th May.
• First Mid Week Road Race League match in Bishops Stortford on Wednesday 10^th May.
• Ross Peers Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th May.
• Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16^th May.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21^st May.
• Second Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Third Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Fourth Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.

 

Nicola and Richard Kennedy did the Easter Running Festival 10K in Port Erin, Isle of Man.

Nicola ran 47 minutes 37 seconds and Richard completed Friday night’s event in a new personal best (PB) of 43:20.

 

Boston Marathon – Monday, 17th April 2017

ROGER BIGGS took a train ride north to Boston in Lincolnshire, to take part in the second Boston Marathon.

Held on the same day as the famous Boston Marathon in Massachusetts, this was run over a very rural course, thought to be the flattest marathon in the UK.

Roger completed the marathon in 5:12:43, to finish in 371^st place out of 412.

 

Herts 10K Walk

DAVID BOWKER took a bit of a trek to take part in the Hertfordshire County 10K track walk championships on Wednesday.  They were in Tooting Bec, south London.  Several other counties participated part in the same event.  He finished ninth overall and third, BRONZE MEDAL, in the Herts championships with 1 hour 11 minutes 3 seconds.

 

Parkrun Reports

Easter weekend saw Spartans in parkrun action across England and Wales, and also in the southern hemisphere.

Two Spartans were in action in Wales. STEFFAN FORD ran a new parkrun PB of 18:36 at Cardiff parkrun finishing in 31^st place, while KAREN BROOM was at LLANELLI COAST where she ran 28:47.

Closer to home, at Ellenbrook Fields JOHN HARRIS was sixth in 18:53 with CHRIS HOLLAND 31^st in 22:42, a new course PB.  Two Spartans were at Panshanger which is starting to blossom in the spring weather.  ANDY JAY ran 23:49 while TIM ROBINSON ran 26:41.

At Stevenage NICKY WILBY was fourth woman in 24:55. ZOE JACKSON was tenth in 26:55 and CAROLINE CROFT 27^th in 30:23.  KAREN PALMER (30:27), HILARY DAVIES (32:28) and PAULINE FARNHAM (34:52) also ran.

For the men, NICK GILL was 12^th in 21:49, LIAM ERRINGTON 15^th in 22:14 and MARTIN DUDLEY 27^th in 23:00.  PAUL MAGUIRE (23:57), ROBERT EVANS (24:05, a new course PB), VISHAL SHAH (25:02), THOMAS SAUKA (25:18), JIM BROWN running for the first time on the local course (27:04) and JOHN McCALL (30:01) were the other Spartans at Stevenage.

To the north, HAYLEY BIRONNEAU ran 26:47 at Kings Lynn, and EMMA POULTER ran 35:10 at Cleethorpes. VERITY FISHER was sixth at Rutland Water in 22:44, a new PB (personal best), with DANIEL SUTTON also competing there in 23:34, a new course PB.

On the south coast, ANOUSKA GREENAWAY was third at Brighton & Hove in 20:48, a new course PB, while DARRYL STEVENS was at Brockenhurst where he also ran a new course PB of 35:56.

Finally STUART HAYCROFT was second man at Grey Goose in South Africa in 20:05 with JANA HAYCROFT sixth woman in 28:02. Both achieved new course PBs.

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include the County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May – entries close this Friday.  Others are:

• London Marathon on Sunday 23^rd April.
• Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 28^th April.
• County 1500 and other track championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.
• Herts County Five Mile Championships for Seniors at Pednor on 1^st May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Bedford on Wednesday 3^rd May.
• Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7^th May.
• First Mid Week Road Race League match on Wednesday 10^th May.
• Ross Peers Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th May.
• Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16^th May.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21^st May.
• Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.

 

While others wilted in the heat PAUL HEWETT smashed his personal best (PB) by 43 minutes in Sunday’s Brighton Marathon with 3 hours 6 minutes 14 seconds.  Paul was the fastest of fourteen from Fairlands Valley Spartans.

STEVE GREEN trimmed his PB by 2:45, a tremendous achievement in those conditions, with 3:24:54.  RICHARD KENNEDY was not far behind in 3:26:51 and NICOLA KENNEDY was the fastest woman from the club with 3:46:46.

JIM BROWN lost at least 3.1 kilogrammes during the race but hung on well for a top 20% position, 3536^th out of 20,604, and well up in his age category with 3:55:03.  However he says he does not recommend this as a weight loss programme!  That was a season’s best (SB) and his first marathon since a major operation.  He commented that the last three miles were a real grovel and he was pleased to get past the site of “Quadrophenia” and struggle to the finish line.

HELENE MILLER ran a well paced race to finish in 4 hours 20 minutes exactly.  Clearly it wasn’t hot enough for THOMAS SAUKA who ran the 26.2 miles in a onesie.  It took him 4 hours 21 minutes 39 seconds.  All Tom could say was it was hot, he went a little fast on the first half of the course and then felt it on the second half, crazy but he thought a sub 4 hour would be amazing, the support along the way was superb it really lifted my spirits and was great to hear so many people calling my name.  If you would like to sponsor Tom for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital that would be great.  Thanks to the people that already have.

Four Spartans were running their first marathons – KEN JUDE 4:49:26; JULIE SHADBOLT 5:01:26; CAROLE SHELDRICK in 5:04:41; and CAROLINE CROFT in 5:04:45.  Ken said he was comfortable and enjoying at halfway but aware that he was going too fast so tried to pull it back with a run/walk strategy from 14 miles.

At 20 or so miles he had a bit of dizziness/light-headedness and again when he tried to start running again at 23 miles.  So ended up walking 21-25 miles and then was able to run the last 1.2 without any trouble.  A bit disappointed not to get under 4:30 but Ken was happy to have notched up a first marathon.  Carole and Caroline celebrated with a Mr Whippy.

ROBERT WRIGHT came in with 5:11:30 and KAREN ELLIS finished in 5:19:12.  After a long time in the heat IAN ALEXANDER completed the event in 6:00:39 and 7:45:25.

 

Paris

TIM ROBINSON ran 4:55:13 at the Paris Marathon where heatwave conditions saw temperatures rise above 25 degrees C.

 

Spartans on Track

Eleven Spartans took part in a track session at Ridlins on Saturday.  Over 1500 metres their times were BRIAN WHITE 5:20.76; SUZY HAWKINS 5:45.69; MARK GOODWIN 5:54.52; STEVE SMITHSON 5:57.32; KARL SHREEVE 6:13.83; KARTIK SHARMA 6:22.96; STEVE GOUGH 7:12.94; SHARON CROWLEY 7:19.70; MONICA SMITHSON 7:19.79; PAUL HOLGATE 7:32.10 and LIZ CARVELL 8:01.07.

 

Parkrun Reports

As a “warm up” for the Brighton Marathon the following day TOM SAUKA ran Worthing Parkrun in 20 minutes 32 seconds.  ANDY JAY ran the Parkrun in Exeter, whilst on Easter holiday.  On a lovely one lap course along the Riverside,  Andy finished in 24.20.

 

London Calling

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the start of the London Marathon on Sunday 23^rd April.  The club have spaces left on the coach for anyone who would like a lift to the start area at Greenwich Park & Blackheath.  The cost is £10 per person, leaving the Old Town at 06:30hrs.  Have a look at www.fvspartans.org.uk

 

Calderdale Hike

SHARON and MIKE CROWLEY completed the Calderdale Hike recently.  The 27 mile walk started from Sowerby Bridge.  The circular route included 4,000 feet of climbing in the Pennines.  They encountered poor visibility and pouring rain that made navigation difficult.  Sharon and Mike finished together in 8 hours 19 minutes, 25 minutes faster than last year.  They were 14^th and 15^th in the walking section, with Sharon getting a prize for being first lady veteran!

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include:

• Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 14^th April.
• London Marathon on Sunday 23^rd April.
• Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 28^th April.
• County 1500 Championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.
• Herts County Five Mile Championships for Seniors at Pednor on 1^st May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Bedford on Wednesday 3^rd May.
• Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7^th May.
• First Mid Week Road Race League match on Wednesday 10^th May.
• Ross Peers Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th May.
• Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16^th May.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21^st May.
• Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.

 

Spartan CRAIG HALSEY won Sunday’s Lee Valley 10K in a season’s best 34 minutes 34 seconds, 2 minutes 16 seconds ahead of the next runner.  In the Lee Valley Half Marathon JIM BROWN won the veteran (60 plus) category in 1 hour 46 minutes 5 seconds, he was 8 minutes 38 seconds ahead of his nearest rival and improved his 2016 time by 3:04.

TIM SABAN was the fastest Spartan in the half with 1:33:20.  JAN FRY was second woman (60 plus) in 2:25:32.  Despite blisters from five miles KAREN BROOM finished in 2:25:49.

Meanwhile KELLY CHAPMAN and CAREN THAIN ran the 10K in 1:21:38 and 1:21:39.  Altogether there were 793 finishers.  This was an opportunity to compete at an Olympic venue and the conditions were ideal.

 

Oakley 20

BRIAN WHITE was first man 60 plus in the Oakley 20 with a fantastic time of 2:20:19 which gave him 56^th place overall out of the 813 finishers.  MIKE GREEN was 100^th in 2:28:05 and PETE SMITH 111^th in 2:29:45.

On a perfect day for running the first female for Fairlands was ISABEL GREEN  328^th in 2:52:33.  JENNY PAUL ran her second twenty mile race in 3:29:42.  She agreed with the course description of challenging and undulating but said the event was very well organised with a great atmosphere.  This year’s participation prize was a bright yellow hoodie.

 

Number	Name	Time
56	BRIAN WHITE	2:20:18	1st Vet 60
100	MIKE GREEN	2:28:05
113	PETER SMITH	2:29:45
328	ISABEL GREEN	2:52:33
679	JENNY PAUL	3:29:42

 

There were 813 finishers.

 

Manchester Marathon

NICK GILL said it wouldn’t be a marathon if you didn’t get cramp, right?  He suffered two bouts during the Manchester Marathon, in one leg at 23 miles and the other at 24.5 but he made it – finishing in 3 hours 47 minutes 35 seconds.  Nick was absolutely chuffed with the time, a PB (personal best) by21 minutes 24 seconds.  They said it was flat, fast with PB potential – and Manchester duly delivered!

 

Rome Marathon

What a race, said STEFFAN FORD about the Rome Marathon!  A bucket list contender for sure. He loved it, with a thunderstorm and lighting!  With the starting music of the gladiator theme – now we are free.  He raced a PB (personal best) on a course that finished with a two mile incline – somebody kept that quiet!  Although his stomach was not in the best of moods with him losing count of the number of stops he secured a GFA (Good For Age) place for the London Marathon with a sub 3 time of 2 hours 58 minutes 44 seconds.

 

Yakima River Canyon Marathon – Saturday, 1st April 2017

The Yakima River Canyon event was billed as a downhill marathon, but with mile long climbs at 15 and 22 miles, on a course that follows the entire length of the Yakima River Canyon, from Ellensburg to Selah in Washington State, USA.  With the sun shining on a truly beautiful course, ROGER BIGGS completed the 26.2 miles in 4:53:14

 

Black Dog

On Sunday CAROL PAUL ran the Bungay Black Dog marathon.  On a very sunny day and on a hilly/undulating two lap course she completed the marathon in 4:22:28. Carol was 3 minutes quicker than last year at the same event.

 

Serpentine

Warming up for Sunday’s Half Marathon JIM BROWN ran the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K.  He improved his best 5K time of the year by twenty seconds as he completed the Hyde Park run in 23 minutes 57 seconds.

 

Prom Racing PB

RICHARD KENNEDY did the latest round of the Douglas Prom Race Series on Saturday. It was a new PB for him of 19:43, his first time under 20 minutes.  Perfect conditions for running and a nice warm up before Brighton Marathon next week

 

parkrun reports

VERITY FISHER was first woman to finish at Stevenage parkrun at the weekend, clocking 23 mins 05 secs to get within 10 seconds of her best time at the course. NIKKI WILBY made it a Spartan 1:2, finishing in 24:22 for a new course PB (personal best).  SALLY PHILLIPS in 32:29 was 37^th.

For the men, JOHN HARRIS ran 19:30 to finish fourth with LIAM ERRINGTON (22:02) finishing 18^th. DANIEL SUTTON (22:48, new course PB), MARK BEASLEY (22:59), CHRIS HOLLAND (23:07) and DARREN EMMERSON (23:50) all achieved top 50 finishes. The other Spartans running were PETER CARPENTER (32:38), SELVAN NAICKER (34:44, new course PB) and JAMES SOUTH (37:55).

Elesewhere THOMAS SAUKA finished 13^th at Oak Hill in 20:21, a new course PB. TIM SABAN was at Cassiobury Park where he was 12^th in 20:16, as second outside his best there. TIM ROBINSON went to Panshanger where he clocked 24:29.

Further afield ALEXANDRA WHITEHOUSE ran at Bath Skyline, stopping the clock at 30:16, and DARRYL STEVENS ran at the inaugural running of the new parkrun at Whitely, clocking 42.25.

Finally JANA HAYCROFT and STUART HAYCROFT both clocked a time of 32:32 at Uvongu parkrun in South Africa.

 

London Calling

Fairlands Valley Spartans are organising a coach to the start of the London Marathon on Sunday 23^rd April.  The club have spaces left on the coach for anyone who would like a lift to the start area at Greenwich Park & Blackheath.  The cost is £10 per person, leaving the Old Town at 06:30hrs.  Have a look at www.fvspartans.org.uk

 

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks.  The opportunities include:

• Timed 1500 at Ridlins Track on Saturday 8^th April.  Please enter in advance.
• Brighton Marathon on Sunday 9^th April.
• Maidenhead Easter Ten on Friday 14^th April.
• London Marathon on Sunday 23^rd April.
• Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park on Friday 28^th April.
• County 1500 Championships in Stevenage on Monday 1^st May.
• Herts County Five Mile Championships for Seniors at Pednor on 1^st May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Bedford on Wednesday 3^rd May.
• Dereham 10 (ten miles) on Sunday 7^th May.
• First Mid Week Road Race League match on Wednesday 10^th May.
• Ross Peers Half Marathon on Sunday 14^th May.
• Summer Solstice 10K at St Albans on Tuesday 16^th May.
• Stirling Marathon on Sunday 21^st May.
• Mid Week Road Race League in Stevenage on Wednesday 24^th May.
• EMAC Track and Field at Cambridge on Wednesday 7^th June.
• Mid Week Road Race League in Hitchin on Wednesday 14^th June.
• Herts Veteran 10K Championships at Welwyn on Sunday 25^th June.
• Mid Week Road Race League from Ridlins on Wednesday 28^th June.
• EMAC Track and Field at Milton Keynes on Wednesday 5^th July.
• Mob Match at Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Challenge from Stevenage on 15^th and 16^th July
• EMAC Track and Field at Stevenage on Wednesday 26^th July.
• Fairlands Valley Relays in Stevenage on Thursday 27^th July.
• Herts Senior 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 30^th August.
• Herts Veteran 5K Championships at Hatfield on Wednesday 13^th September.
• Herts Senior 10K Championships at Standalone on Sunday 1^st October.
• Peterborough Half Marathon on Sunday 8^th October.
• Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 22^nd October.
• St Neots Half Marathon on Sunday 19^th November.  Enter fast.
• Hertfordshire Five Mile Championship for Veterans at Hatfield on Sunday 26^th Nov.
• Bass Belle 10 near Royston on Sunday 26^th November.