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NEWS RELEASE: GREENWAY CHALLENGE

News from the Greenway Challenge, The Lisbon Tri and a muddy First Saturday 5k..

GREENWAY CHALLENGE, Nats Tri Third; Muddy First Saturday

Seven Spartans took up the Greenway Challenge off road half marathon and finished as follows:

LISA BURGESS 1 hour 40mins 2 seconds (female); KATY JINKS 1:41:14 secs (female); JODY FLETT 1:47:30 (male); RYAN DUNNING 1:52:30 (male); ROB KING 1:52:31 PB (male); MARC GREEN 2:10:30 (male) and RON COHEN 2:39:56 (male)

They say it was a good course of mainly trail and paths with a few steep climbs but the weather held out and it ended up being really good running conditions! Marc enjoyed it even though he got a little lost and did some extra miles!!

Nat Third In International Tri

Last weekend NATALIE BARNARD raced her first 70.3 of the season at the Lisbon International 70.3 where she raced the same event last year. That was her first ever long distance event.

As ever, her swimming proved the strongest of the three disciplines, exiting in fifth place overall and in a faster time from last year of 25min22sec (for 1900m).

After never riding or racing on a time trial (TT) bike, which would debut on this race, she clearly found it a massive shift up from last years’ road bike, by holding off the eventual winner Alison Rowatt for two hours before being overtaken in a new 10min personal best (PB) of 2 hours 35 minutes (for 90km).

Barnard unfortunately punctured 1200m before the second transition which cost her a few minutes and the overall final position on the podium.

The run proved, as ever, to be Barnard’s weaker of the three disciplines. She fought hard to keep second position from the Irish athlete, but a mixture of blisters, bruised toes bone and heat meant that she took the final slot of the podium to make it a British 1,2,3.

Natalie’s next event focus is the UK Ironman 70.3 in June where she faces her biggest competition yet!

Sub 40s At The Regent’s Park 10K

Two Spartan stars competed in the May Regent’s Park 10K on Saturday morning. Conditions were a little grey, windy but otherwise pleasant for the three lap circuit of the park. RICHARD BATE finished a fantastic FIFTH out of the 484 runners, in a time of 36 minutes dead.

LIAM HERBERT ran a new personal best time of 38:24, finishing 17th overall. He took 14 seconds off his previous 10K PB which was set at the same race last month, and claims his fourth personal best this year.

First Saturday of the Month

On a very wet and muddy course, JOHN HARRIS was fourth in the North Herts First Saturday of the Month 5K with a time of 19 minutes 59 seconds. TRACY PEZ was second lady.

Bank Holiday Running

After missing the Manchester Marathon last week due to a cold CAROL PAUL was back in action on Bank Holiday Monday for the wet and cold Belfast Marathon. The course was hilly in the first half and flattened out in the second half. Carol completed the course in 4 hours 39 minutes 59 seconds. ROGER BIGGS ran the same event in 3 hours 57 minutes 32 seconds.

Also on Bank Holiday Monday, STEPHANIE MAYFIELD took part in the Kimpton Fun Run. In cool conditions she ran 51mins 25seconds over the 9 kilometres undulating, multi-terrain course which due to the recent rain was a little boggy in places!

Coming Events

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

– Herts County Track and Field Championships on Saturday 12th May.
– Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Stevenage on Tuesday 15th May.
– Mid Week Road Race League fixture in Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 31st May.
– EVAC Track and Field event in Kettering on Wednesday 13th June.
– Mid Week Road Race League 10K in Harlow on Wednesday 20th June.
– Spartans v NHRR “Olympic” Fun Event on Sunday 24th June.
– Mid Week Road Race League Seven Miles in St. Albans on Thursday 28th June.
– Mob Match at Trent Park on Wednesday 11th July.
– EVAC Track and Field event in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11th July.
– Fairlands Valley Challenge (Off Road) on Sunday 15th July.
– Relays in the Park (3K legs) on Thursday evening 19th July.
– County 5K Championships in Stevenage on Sunday 9th September.
– County 5 Miles Championship in Stevenage on Sunday 23rd September.
– Stevenage Half Marathon on Sunday 4th November.

Join The Spartans

Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has over 400 members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to drama studio next to the gymnastics centre at Marriotts School — a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 0AN) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights — there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9.30a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome — those who have not done very much running yet might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only ÂŁ27 per year. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (01438 354505 or 0793 968 7509), Stephanie Mayfield 01438 815859 or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

E N D S

More from Jim Brown (Press Officer) 01438 354505 / 0793 968 7509 or Stephanie Mayfield (Secretary) 01438 815859

www.fvspartans.org.uk

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