Virtually nothing stops Fairlands Valley Spartans and they have now run more than 10,000 miles in their race across America.
On day 50 339 miles were completed by 47 Spartans. They ran the Washington (Virginia) and Philadephia Marathons and are now heading for the New York Marathon.
Despite Lockdown Two and Tier Four they have run the historic Route 66 and many marathons in the USA including the Las Vegas, Death Valley, Big Sur, San Francisco, Napa Valley, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, La Fayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Gulf Shores, Talahassee Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Wrightsville, Kitty Hawk and Richmond Marathons plus covering the ground in between and have thrown in some ultra (i.e. longer than 26.2 miles) events including the Western States, Badwater 135, and Grand to Grand Ultra runs.
Flying High At Christmas
For the second time Fairlands Valley Spartans had a qualifying team in the Fly 5K inter club event and they are moving up. Their 286 points brought them sevenths position. This was part of the 31st Fly on Boxing Day and Team Spartan consisted of JAMES McSWEENEY 42nd and second in category with a Fly PB of 23 minutes 30 seconds; JIM BROWN whose 25:35 moved him up from third in recent races to WIN his category and make it into the top half of the field at 76th; NICOLA ANDERSSON was 110th in 28:14; PENNY SCHENKEL 143rd in 31:52 and PAUL HOLGATE 150th in 33:10. There were 170 finishers.
The 30th Fly 5K was a Christmas Day Special. Nicola Andersson was 41st in 28 minutes 51 seconds and Jim Brown Santa Cantered around in a full Father Christmas outfit for 31 minutes 44 seconds and 117th out of the 137 finishers.
The next Fly 5K virtual race will be on New Year’s Day with more on stripey Saturday morning 2nd January. The events are free but you need to register via the Fly 5K Facebook page.
The Spartans have been active in many virtual races, you run the distance wherever you like but time yourself and submit it to the organisers.