The Stevenage Marathon and 40th Anniversary Half Marathon are this Sunday 20th October. They will start from the corner of Grace Way and Martins Way at 10a.m.
There are 900 entries. 500 in the half and 400 in the full marathon.
Fairlands Valley Spartans are a local community running club in Stevenage and are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. They are the organisers. The half is organised every year but the full 26.2 miles marathon is a bit special. It only takes place every ten years.
ALL the proceeds will go to charity. This year it will be Pancreatic Cancer UK which was chosen by the club in memory of a much loved member.
The finish will be in Hampson Park. The races are open and will include county championships for Hertfordshire.
For more information please visit
Double Double at Cross Country as season launches on 13th October
The first cross country league race of the new season was in Hoddesdon on Sunday and 26 Spartans finished. This was on a multi-lap 7.6 kilometres course with a couple of pinch points.
GRANT RAMSAY was first in for Fairlands Valley Spartans at 26th in 30 minutes 32 seconds. He was in the first 10% finishers. Next came JAY PAPA at 43rd with 31:46.
TRACY PEZ was the fastest female from Fairlands with 38:02 which put her in 137th place overall (men and women). ZOE JACKSON was the club’s next woman with her 40:27 for 182nd.
The club were delighted to finish two complete teams in the men’s and women’s races.
Team results should be available from the event organisers in a few days.
Despite several others being committed to other events before they knew the date 26 Spartans finished. 16 men and 10 women. Eight counted in men’s teams. Five in women’s. The next cross country league race will be on Sunday 27th October.
| Position | Name | Time | Team | Comments |
| 26 | GRANT RAMSAY | 30:32 | Team MA | M50. Top 10%. |
| 43 | JAY PAPA | 31:46 | Team MA | SM |
| 56 | ADRIAN DONNELLY | 32:48 | Team MA | M40 |
| 66 | NICK GILL | 33:18 | Team MA | SM |
| 102 | STEVE MAYFIELD | 35:46 | Team MA | M50 |
| 105 | MATT GIFFORD | 35:50 | Team MA | M50 |
| 120 | BRIAN WHITE | 36:47 | Team MA | M60 |
| 137 | TRACEY PEZ | 38:02 | Team WA | W45 |
| 165 | SIMON HAIGH | 39:27 | Team MA | M50 |
| 181 | DAVID ACKERY | 40:24 | Team MB | SM |
| 182 | ZOE JACKSON | 40:27 | Team WA | W35 |
| 189 | DARREN EMMERSON | 41:14 | Team MB | M50 |
| 196 | TONY VICKERS | 41:24 | Team MB | M50 |
| 198 | ELODIE MEAKES | 41:30* | Team WA | W45 |
| 211 | MARTIN WOOD | 42:47 | Team MB | M60 |
| 232 | JON SYPULA | 44:55 | Team MB | M40 |
| 240 | ANDY JAY | 45:44 | Team MB | M50 |
| 242 | MARK FREEMAN | 45:49 | Team MB | M60 |
| 245 | CLAIRE EMMERSON | 46:11 | Team WA | W45 |
| 263 | MICHELLE HOLTON | 47:00* | Team WA | W45 |
| 264 | JIM BROWN | 48:39 | Team MB | M70 |
| 265 | PENNY SCHENKEL | 48:39 | Team WB | W55 |
| 266 | LIZ CROWLEY | 48:39 | Team WB | W35 |
| 278 | NIKKI NATION | 51:25 | Team WB | W55 |
| 280 | CALLIE CHAPMAN | 55:55 | Team WB | W35 |
| 282 | SHARON CROWLEY | 57:26 | Team WB | W65 |
PBs at Peterborough Half – the Great Eastern Run
DAN HUKIN didn’t think for one second he had this in the locker but a chip time of 1:19:24 gave him a 2.5 minute PB (personal best) that he had had from 2006. Dan was 139th out of the 3,238 finishers in the Great Eastern Run (the Peterborough Half Marathon).
In the same race Ross Gallagher’s 1:24:25 a new PB by more than four minutes.
Ross ran with Ashley Johnson and they both got exactly the same time, nice course and perfect conditions. They were 238th and 239th in the race with Ashley fourth in her age group.
Late News – Chicago
Just in. Spartans ALISON and PAUL SHELLEY completed the Chicago Marathon.
Paul went through half way in 1:31:42 and maintained that pace to finish in 3 hours 3 minutes 30 seconds (3:03:30). Alison went through a half marathon in 2:08:12 and then demonstrated Fairlands fortitude to finish in 4:28:14.
Lovely to Run the Royal Parks Half Marathon
HAZEL SMITH and VICKY ARCHER ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon together on Sunday. They both finished in 1:57:49.
Vicky said, “I’ve never run in London before so I really enjoyed the city part of it, especially running up the Mall towards Buckingham Palace! The parks were very pretty but the route was quite congested in places. It was so lovely to run with Hazel and enjoy it together. A lovely run.”