The clocks have changed and dozens of Spartans are closing in on those Spring marathons.
Nine Spartans ran the Oakley 20 including KERSTIN PRIOR who accelerated by 2 minutes 25 seconds compared with her run at Debden two weeks earlier and beat three hours with 2 hours 59 minutes 22 seconds (2:59:22).
The Oakley 20 is a classic 20-mile road race and one of the most popular final long runs in the Spring marathon training calendar. With two unequal laps, 12 miles and 8 miles, it is set on a beautiful accurately measured, undulating course including the rural Bedfordshire villages of Oakley, Pavenham, Felmersham and Stevington. The race offers the perfect balance of challenge and rhythm for strong, steady pacing. With outstanding marshal support, clear signage and a professionally organised event, runners could focus entirely on their performance — and enjoy the reward at the finish: the iconic Oakley 20 finisher hoodie, a true badge of honour for a marathon season.
SAM TOPHILL was third woman 60 plus with 3:21:24.
MIKE JEFFS and MICHAEL FISHER completed the Oakley 20 in just under 2 hours 15 minutes (2:14:49), using it as a training run for their upcoming marathons. They made it an easy run for the first five miles and then marathon pace for the last 15. They said it wasn’t flat!
VICKY ARCHER finished with an excellent 3:02:05. She said “It had hills, hills and more hills! But, I ran with friends which made it enjoyable and I managed a new personal best by16 minutes! The iconic finishers’ hoodie made the hills worth it.”
ANDY PRIOR came in with 3:02:18; TONY VICKERS with 3:02:30; WAYNE SIMMONS with 3:06:38 and SAMMIE SUTTON with 3:21:19 for her first ever official 20 mile race which marks the end of training as she moves into the taper phase for the London Marathon.
There were 640 finishers.
| Pos | Cat Pos | Name | Cat | Chip Time |
| 46 | 13 | Michael FISHER | MV35 | 2:14:49 |
| 47 | 10 | Mike JEFFS | MV40 | 2:14:49 |
| 321 | 7 | Kerstin PRIOR | FV55 | 2:59:22 |
| 338 | 20 | Vicky ARCHER | FV45 | 3:02:05 |
| 341 | 18 | Andy PRIOR | MV55 | 3:02:18 |
| 344 | 19 | Tony VICKERS | MV55 | 3:02:30 |
| 373 | 13 | Wayne SIMMONS | MV60 | 3:06:38 |
| 479 | 35 | Samantha SUTTON | FV50 | 3:21:19 |
| 480 | 3 | Samantha TOPHILL | FV60 | 3:21:24 |
Spartans Go Serpentine
Two from Fairlands Valley Spartans enjoyed the last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park.
On a mild breezy day Martin Wood finished in 22:35 and Jim Brown in 27:52. Jim’s best this year. Jim commented “not too bad after running into a pole on the Hillingdon 20 a few days earlier.”
Now the reality check. The race was won in 15:29 with the first woman in 17:03. Martin was eighth out of 17 MV60s and Jim seventh out of 11 MV70s.
There are some amazing runners plus good times and enjoyment for the rest of us at these lunch-time races near the Serpentine. Great if you can “flex off” and easy to get to on the 10:31 train from Stevenage.
Capital Challenge
On Saturday Sharon and Mike Crowley took part in the 10th Capital Challenge. It was a self navigated LDWA event, starting near Waterloo and finishing at Crystal Palace. The walk crossed the Thames twice and went through many of London’s parks and green spaces. They completed the just over 25 miles event in 7 hours 41 minutes and were 77th and 78th out of 213 finishers.
Short Head
Second claim Spartan ROGER HEAD was in Torun, Poland for the European Masters Indoor Championships. On day one he ran in the male 60 plus 400 metres heats and qualified for the next round with a time of 59.82 seconds.
Parkrun Highlights
There were a tremendous 38 Spartans among the 541 people at the “Wear It Wild” Stevenage parkrun on Saturday. Buzzy bees; jogging jellyfish; all sorts of creatures were running around Fairlands Valley Park.
STEVE WELLS scored an age related 81.59% with his 20 minutes 22 seconds ((20:22) for the 5K. RICHARD MOORE ran his 20th parkrun in 24:24; ADAM HILL his tenth in 25:29 and ADA JANUSIENE ran her 30th in a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 28:31. This week ANN TRYSSESOONE was the fastest female from Fairlands with 26:31.
It’s coming together again for NICK KLEANTHOUS who ran the Hove parkrun in 28:48. 57 Spartans ran parkruns this Saturday.
| Position | FVS parkrunner | Time |
| 9 | Simon JACKSON | 18:59 |
| 17 | Steve WELLS | 20:22 |
| 83 | Toby ECCLESHALL | 23:56 |
| 86 | Lee PICKERSGILL | 24:02 |
| 91 | Matt CLARKE | 24:08 |
| 98 | Richard MOORE | 24:24 |
| 110 | Daniel VILJOEN | 24:54 |
| 117 | Paul MAGUIRE | 25:09 |
| 123 | Adam HILL | 25:29 |
| 129 | Stuart ARCHER | 25:38 |
| 132 | Charles ARNOLD | 25:43 |
| 150 | Martin DUDLEY | 26:07 |
| 154 | Ann TRYSSESOONE | 26:13 |
| 172 | Lorraine HILL | 26:40 |
| 200 | Ryan DUNNING | 27:24 |
| 239 | Darren EMMERSON | 28:11 |
| 248 | Ada JANUSIENE | 28:31 |
| 267 | Peter SACH | 29:10 |
| 269 | Stephen SMITHSON | 29:16 |
| 291 | Matt TUTTON | 29:52 |
| 306 | Monica SMITHSON | 30:19 |
| 321 | Steve PLATT | 30:50 |
| 352 | Julie SHADBOLT | 31:42 |
| 355 | Keith MANTON | 31:45 |
| 361 | Linda GEORGE | 32:05 |
| 362 | Debbie BLANTERN | 32:06 |
| 366 | Pamela VILJOEN | 32:18 |
| 407 | Hilary DAVIES | 34:08 |
| 410 | Claire EMMERSON | 34:23 |
| 412 | Penny SCHENKEL | 34:28 |
| 413 | Jim BROWN | 34:29 |
| 414 | Callie CHAPMAN | 34:29 |
| 449 | Stephanie MAYFIELD | 36:10 |
| 457 | Niki PLUMB | 37:07 |
| 476 | Julie MANTON | 38:30 |
| 490 | Tracy HAYGARTH | 39:36 |
| 522 | Emma CHAPMAN | 47:51 |
| 524 | Lindsay PATEMAN | 48:16 |