Only a week after running sub-three in the Manchester Marathon Fairlands Valley Spartan SIMON JACKSON ran the London Marathon in 2 hours 50 minutes 21 seconds (2:50:21). He was 1,696th out of about 60,000 runners.
London Called and all that running in the cold and dark, long training runs, half marathons and 20 mile races became worth it as many Spartans finished Sunday’s London Marathon.
While the 26.2 miles didn’t seem to affect Simon much many in the race slowed in the second half but there were great achievements, two new personal bests and several Spartan first timers. Simon’s first half was 1:23:18 and second half 1:27:03.
The second Spartan was PETE GENTLE who went through half way in 1:29:23 and finished in 3:03:26, a new personal best (PB) by 2:36.
MICHELLE REEVES was the fastest female from Fairlands with her 3 hours 24 minutes 21 seconds (3:24:21).
New Spartan DAVID BENNETT-HALLIDAY was round in an excellent 3:13:56.
MATT NEWTON was comfortably under four hours with 3:49:28.
KERSTIN PRIOR was the second quickest woman for the Spartans with her 4:16:15.
Despite tripping on a bottle and needing attention SAMMIE SUTTON improved her marathon personal best by 1 hour 46 minutes 2 seconds (1:46:02) to 4:52:53.
ANDREW LAWLESS beat five with 4:49:59.
MATT and FIONA CLARKE ran together from 20 miles and finished in five hours and 14 seconds (5:00:14).
The Fairlands Fifteen were completed by JUDY KING 5:22:22; VISHAL SHAH 5:44:43; EMILY GRIEVES 5:48:56; AMANDA VICKERS 5:53:36 and NICHOLA DURENT 7:41:07.
Dozens of Spartans volunteered to help the London Marathon. They made sure hundreds of finishers got their kit at the “baggage buses.” Many others were around the course spectating and encouraging.
A historic day with a new world record as two elite runners beat two hours for the first time in an official marathon race, a great day for Fairlands Valley Spartans and a lot of fun including a variety of fancy dress and lots of run.
And entries have already opened for two big UK marathons which will be in April 2027….
| Position | Name | Time |
| 01696 | SIMON JACKSON | 2:50:21 |
| 03790 | PETE GENTLE | 3:03:26 (PB) |
| 05632 | DAVID BENNETT -HALLIDAY | 3:13:56 |
| 08064 | MICHELLE REEVES | 3:24:21 |
| 16093 | MATTHEW NEWTON | 3:49:28 |
| 25584 | KERSTIN PRIOR | 4:16:15 |
| 36925 | ANDREW LAWLESS | 4:49:59 |
| 37849 | SAMANTHA SUTTON | 4:52:53 (PB) |
| 40145 | MATT CLARKE | 5:00:14 |
| 40147 | FIONA CLARKE | 5:00:14 |
| 45558 | JUDY KING | 5:22:22 |
| 49062 | VISHAL SHAH | 5:44:43 |
| 50683 | EMILY GRIEVES | 5:48:56 |
| 51745 | AMANDA VICKERS | 5:53:36 |
| 59073 | NICHOLA DURENT | 7:41:07 |
15 Spartan finishers. Some other Spartans ran the race virtually taking advantage of the “my way” option.
Battersea Best
Fairlands Valley Spartan JAY PAPA ran a massive personal best at the Chase The Sun Battersea Park 10K on Thursday evening. His 37 minutes 13 seconds (37:13) was a 1 minute 51 seconds improvement on his previous PB.
He was in the top 10% in the race at 21st out of 367.
Best Improvers
Fairlands Valley Spartans had a great evening for their first handicap 5K race of the year on Thursday evening. SUJATHA ALEXANDER won in 30 minutes 53 seconds (30:53) beating her handicap by 4:22. SALLY PICKLES was second on handicap with 28:22.
JACOB NELMS was first man with 26:38 in his first 5K and beating his handicap by 3:22. The winner is the best improver not the fastest overall. The fastest based on speed was NICK ANDREWS with 18:39. JO COOKSLEY was fastest woman with 24:20 with ANN TRYESSOONE second on 24:59 and CLAIRE PULLEN third on 26:02.
You might have seen the 32 runners on the Fairlands Way, Grace Way, Verity Way, Fairlands Way course. The next handicap 5K will be on Thursday evening 28th May.
Not Just London
Not all the Spartans that ran a marathon on Sunday were in London. There were two Shakespearean Spartans. KEITH HOOKER and SAM TOPHILL were in Stratford-upon-Avon for the Shakespeare Marathon. Keith came in a 4 hours 5 minutes 52 seconds and Sam at 4 hours 40 minutes 27 seconds. There were 1,693 finishers.
Spring By The Serpentine
Just five days after the Manchester Marathon JIM BROWN was running the Last Friday of the Month 5K in Hyde Park. In the circumstances he was delighted with 28:47 and third in his category. A brilliant sunny early afternoon in London.
A Bit Different – Inflatables
MARTYN DOWLING and his daughter ran the St Albans Inflatable 5K on Saturday. There were two laps of the Hertfordshire County Showground with numerous inflatables to climb, clamber and slide over. They said it was great fun and a great workout.
Parkrun Highlights
FIONA CLARKE ran her 250th parkrun the day before running the London Marathon. There were 547 finishers including 221 women. Spartan GEORGIE HOOPER was second woman in 23:43.
TODY ECCLESHALL ran his 200th parkrun in 21:34 and ANDREW JORDAN set a new parkrun personal best (PPB) of 25:18.
As part of a get away PENNY SCHENKEL and JIM BROWN ran one of the hilliest possible parkruns on Saturday, Durlston Country Park by Swanage. Running together Penny was 82nd in 39:39 and Jim 83rd in 39:40. To give some comparison the winner was about four minutes slower than at Stevenage. 114 finishers over the hills including 51 women.
Such a busy running weekend yet 69 Spartans, 47 at Stevenage, ran parkruns on Saturday.
| Position | Gender Position | FVS parkrunner | Time |
| 36 | 33 | Toby ECCLESHALL | 21:34 |
| 56 | 53 | Lee PICKERSGILL | 23:17 |
| 59 | 56 | Martin JACOB | 23:23 |
| 60 | 57 | Charles ARNOLD | 23:24 |
| 63 | 59 | Nick GILL | 23:27 |
| 69 | 65 | Stuart ARCHER | 23:37 |
| 71 | 67 | Jay PAPA | 23:41 |
| 72 | 68 | Richard MOORE | 23:43 |
| 73 | 2 | Georgie HOOPER | 23:43 |
| 74 | 69 | Tony RANDFIELD | 23:46 |
| 76 | 71 | Matthew COOKE | 23:49 |
| 83 | 76 | Daniel VILJOEN | 24:11 |
| 91 | 9 | Suzy HAWKINS | 24:24 |
| 119 | 101 | Andrew JORDAN | 25:18 |
| 135 | 112 | Paul MAGUIRE | 25:50 |
| 149 | 20 | Lorraine HILL | 26:14 |
| 164 | 24 | Claire EMMERSON | 26:39 |
| 174 | 139 | Darren EMMERSON | 26:59 |
| 178 | 141 | Paul SHELLEY | 27:04 |
| 208 | 161 | Peter SACH | 27:51 |
| 209 | 162 | Ryan DUNNING | 27:59 |
| 222 | 44 | Tracy PEZ | 28:18 |
| 232 | 47 | Carole SHELDRICK | 28:33 |
| 259 | 58 | Ada JANUSIENE | 29:09 |
| 262 | 60 | Sally PICKLES | 29:13 |
| 275 | 197 | Steve PLATT | 29:46 |
| 287 | 68 | Monica SMITHSON | 30:11 |
| 292 | 71 | Lindsay PATEMAN | 30:17 |
| 340 | 98 | Debbie BLANTERN | 31:31 |
| 357 | 229 | Maurice BALLARD | 32:14 |
| 361 | 232 | Keith MANTON | 32:28 |
| 363 | 111 | Pamela VILJOEN | 32:32 |
| 386 | 121 | Julie SHADBOLT | 33:30 |
| 390 | 246 | Stephen SMITHSON | 33:42 |
| 413 | 142 | Caroline AUCKLAND | 34:55 |
| 415 | 144 | Hazel SMITH | 34:57 |
| 431 | 153 | Fiona CLARKE | 35:52 |
| 432 | 154 | Alison SHELLEY | 35:54 |
| 433 | 155 | Sharon CROWLEY | 35:55 |
| 434 | 258 | Matt CLARKE | 35:55 |
| 436 | 259 | Paul HOLGATE | 36:05 |
| 462 | 168 | Julie MANTON | 38:09 |
| 465 | 270 | Roger HEAD | 38:21 |
| 471 | 172 | Hayley PEACH | 38:37 |
| 473 | 174 | Tracy HAYGARTH | 38:46 |
| 511 | 199 | Sally PHILLIPS | 44:53 |
| 514 | 200 | Niki PLUMB | 44:59 |