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THE SPARTANS ARE ALMOST IN UGANDA

FVS To Compete in Virtual 5K

 

Fairlands Valley Spartans are well on the way to Kadoma on their virtual quest to visit all of Stevenage’s four twin towns.

They covered 481 miles on Sunday with 62 members posting a distance.  This week there were 236 bonus weekly miles from members not on Facebook.

On Monday morning they were close to the South Sudan / Uganda border having covered 9,472 miles in 34 days.  They still have Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia to run through.

 

The Fairlands Valley Challenge Is Open

Fairlands Valley Spartans off road challenge would have been on Sunday 19th July.  That’s not going to be possible but you can still run on a route you choose any day between now and Sunday 6th September 2020.

Just like the usual event you have multiple choices.  They are 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon or 50k Ultra.  You can RUN or WALK.

A difference from many of the virtual events is that at least 25% of your route must be off road.

The event ethos is that this is an individual challenge in a friendly non competitive environment and another difference is that on your route you must take eleven selfies, include a different item in the background of each.  The initials of each item when put together must spell out the word FVChallenge.  You must abide by the current guidance on social distancing.  All Entries are £12 (£10 for affiliated runners).

All finishers will receive a medal based on the Challenge banner.  Go to www.fvchallenge.org.uk for more details and a link to the entry system.

 

Spartans To Compete in the England Athletics 5K Championships

The England Athletics Virtual 5K Road Running Championships on 11 to 13th July are open to all ages from 16 years upwards and you can run in Stevenage but you must register in advance.

So far there are about 1800 entries and ten of them are Spartans.  They are Graham Blackburn, Martin Blackburn, Grace Brown, Jim Brown, Charlotte Kearney, Paul Holgate, Marian Morley, Tracy Pez, Charlotte Smith and Brian White.  Entries close on Friday 10th July.  You can run on Saturday, Sunday or Monday morning.

 

Racing Virtually

Brian takes on Europe.  Spartan BRIAN WHITE raced in the European Masters 10K virtual challenge and was fourth in the 65 years plus category with 42 minutes 43 seconds.

Two Spartans ran Saturday’s Fly 5K event.  They were Nick Kleanthous 82nd out of 149 in 25:43 and Paul Holgate 129th in 30:52.

 

Parkrun Roundup 4th July 2020

Parkruns have restarted in some other countries but not yet in the UK.

Fairlands Valley Spartans and many others are looking forward to the 200th Stevenage Parkrun which will be the first local parkrun when the events can restart.  The 199th parkrun was on Saturday 14th March.  It’ll be some party when they restart.

In the meantime on “Stripey Saturday” seven Spartans recorded 5K times in the third (not) Stevenage ParkRun 5K.

They were James McSweeney 25:02; Nick Kleanthous a year’s best 25:02; Marian Morley a personal best 26:25; Paul Jennings 28:27; Nicola Andersson 29:11; Paul Holgate a year’s best 30:52 and Beth Foley a personal best 31:44.

A side effect of virtual racing is that you can be taking part in more than one event with the same run.

Many other Spartans did their training runs in club kit that day.

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