North Herts Road Runners put on their flagship race, the Standalone 10k on Sunday, which also happened to be the Herts County Champs 10km. Standalone Farm was buzzing before and after the race with runners, supporters and sponsor stalls from local businesses enjoying the blue skies and friendly atmosphere.  There were around 135 volunteers, something that didn’t go unnoticed by the runners who sang the praises of NHRR saying how encouraging and plentiful the marshals were, which not only helps keep them safe, but also helps to distract them from the ‘pain’. The Letchworth Army Cadets were also out in force to support the event.

Over 1500 runners entered the popular race, with nearly 1300 completing the course on the day. Mike Phillips, making his debut as Race Director said "This race couldn't happen without the amazing Race Committee Team who put in so much work and effort in the run up to the race, and all the fantastic members of the club for marshalling and making the course safe for every runner." Phillips thanked the sponsors and the local community for all their support and is already planning ahead for next year. 

This year also saw the return of a childrens 800m fun run which took part during the main race. This was enjoyed by many. The club charity, Headway Herts had a stall selling cakes to raise awareness of the important work they do for those with head injuries.

The club is also excited to take feedback from the first wheelchair athlete to participate in the race, which will allow them to understand options for the future.

Each year NHRR select a small team of runners to represent the club. The racing teams did the club proud by winning the Open and Herts County Veteran team prizes. Ladies winning team was made up of R Rhia Botha (40:32), Hannah Ridley (41:48), Helen Nutall (43:55) and Tracey Pitcairn (44:27). The men’s winning team was Andrew Leach (34:34), Shahab Ahmad (35:32), Matt Sayers (35:51) and Stewart Overton (37:23).
​
Mike Roberts (33:25) and Rhia Botha were 5th male and female in the open race, Botha securing first place in her age category for the Ladies Herts County Champs, with Nutall and Pitcairn taking second and third. Leach, Ahmad and Sayers also secured first, second and third in their respective age categories.  
Hannah Ridley, Helen Nutall, Tracey Pitcairn, Natalie Phillips and Rhia Botha ran in the ladies team and Andrew Leach, Matt Sayers, Vince Wright, Stewart Overton, Shahab Ahmad and Mike Roberts ran for the men. There were also two ‘golden ticket’ winners who were given the opportunity to run, Georgia Barker and Saab Bharaj.

Cambridge Bidwells 10k
​Further afield Georgina (49:29) and Carina (1:07:55) Quayle, along with David Weston (44:39) ran the Bidwells Cambridge 10k. 

Chester Marathon
Vanessa Rolfe took on the Chester Marathon after suffering a very bad back spasm resulting in no running at all 2 weeks prior to this event. Her stubbornness got her through the course from start to finish in a time of 6:11:02. She achieved what she had set out to do, which was to complete a marathon before she turns 70yrs old this coming December. An amazing achievement. 

FSOM 
North Herts Road Runners hosted their monthly First Saturday of the Month on the beautiful Norton Common, giving many of their member who would be on marshalling duties, the opportunity to race over the weekend. 

Parkrun Results
Some club members chose to celebrate Parkrun's 20th Birthday by heading to their local or favourite course. Finishers include;

Hitchin 5km
Sunday morning saw a flurry of squirrels at the Hitchin 5km race including father and daughter duo, Andrew and Elizabeth Robson. Andrew’s perfect pacing resulted in a sub-30 time of 29:48 for Elizabeth finishing with a very impressive sprint up Bucklesbury. Andrew finished in 29:49. Philip Flack and Ian Sutcliffe were two of the six M70s racing. Philip was second in his category in 27:52 and Ian ran strongly to record 31:02. Sheila Leavy also took second in her age category race walking to 39:14. Rhia Botha was third female overall in 19:57 and won her age group, casually adding this into her Sunday long run! Steve McKeown also won his age group in 19:37.
​
Full NHRR results:
Steve Mckeown 19:37; Ian Harvey 19:53; Rhia Botha 19:57; Tom Kingham 23:18; Nicole Whitton 26:27; Philip Flack 27:52; Lindsay Cook 29:09; Meyrick Jenkins 29:43; Elizabeth Robson 29:48; Andrew Robson 29:49, Ian Sutcliffe 31:02; Sheila Leavy 39:14.

Berlin Legend
Andreea Weisl-Shaw was the sole squirrel at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday and shared this great report!

‘Ran the Berlin Marathon today (its 50th anniversary edition, a privilege to be a part of it), and got a PB of 4:46:10. Not quite the 4:30 I was hoping for, but I’m still really pleased, because I’ve shaved 12 mins off my London time, in 17 months of training (out of which only the last 5 months really count, as I had a long time off).

Lovely day for running - sunny 15C - and a fantastic event. Felt as busy and as noisy as London, but a lot flatter and the sun made for a fabulous experience. Made some friends while waiting to start, and even at the airport, where we identified each other by our medals. Proves that runners everywhere are a big family and are just generally lovely people to know.
​
I’m so happy that my determination and hard work have paid off, and so grateful to Cara for all her incredible support and coaching the last 5 months. I’m confident I can get better by the next London, and I can’t wait to get back to training - after a rest, of course! And some highly calorific food.’

Hannah triumphs at Rat Race Sea to Summit in the Lake District featuring Scafell Pike!
Hannah Keeble joined a group of friends to take on this huge challenge advertised as 31 miles, but then increased to 33 miles on the email confirmation and finally confirmed as 34 miles by a marshal at the start!

They started along the beach at Seascale running 13 miles to the start of the climb up Scafell Pike! Hannah said ‘The weather was horrible, but we made it up! The descent down was mostly by bum - it was so slippy! As we came out of the clouds, we were happy to see the lakes and sunshine in the distance, but in true Rat Race style they turned us away and sent us up again! This time I scrambled up Scafell and there were tears as I have never done anything like that! We came down again, seeing those lakes in the distance only to be sent again up another grassy climb this time, surely that had to be the last one!

​This down was on grass and another 4 miles of marsh land with water and mud halfway up the shins! The final pit stop was 26 miles in where we reached the tarmac, put on the head torches and made our way back to Seascale with the final mile along the beach! Over 34 miles and 14hours I was done! I can’t say I’d ever do it again!!’

Special parkrun report from Bev Rimmer
‘It’s certainly been another active weekend for this scampering Squirrel. Friday and Saturday saw a trip to visit friends in Chepstow, and I couldn’t resist popping over to Severn Bridge ParkRun while I was there.

It’s the only ParkRun that spans two countries, and it technically passes through three counties (if you use a bit of creative licence and include the ancient county of Avon). It’s run almost entirely on the bridge itself, so isn’t one for vertigo sufferers. I struggled for pace this Saturday, and finished in 00:29:30. Still, I couldn’t fault the organisation of the event, or the stunning views, so this ParkRun gets a SEVEEEERN from me!’

Windsor Half Marathon.
Anna said ‘It was an amazing race with The Tribe Team. Really pleased with how we ran. The course had plenty of hills, an impressive finish and great supporters. Together we raised £355 for Tribe Foundation. Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored us.’
They completed the course in 1:50:47 and fellow club-mate Laura Fairbanks was also running, finishing in a speedy 1:45:01!

​London Vitality 10k
Unfazed by the awful weather forecast, our squirrels headed to central London for the Vitality
10k. Luckily the rain and anticipated storms held off.
​
Mike Roberts lead the club team home with a time of 33:24 followed by Shaun Allin 36:59,
Mike Phillips 41:20, David Edwards 43:12, Daniel Wrigley 47:56, Natalie Phillips 48:07, Elliot
Jackson 56:28 and Adrian Barnett 57:32.

Daniel Wrigley was pleased with his PB just two weeks after his Great North run. Our
runners were in good company, with Eilish McColgan and David Weir amongst the
competitors!

Chas Avis Harvest Trail
Lucy O’Conner described this race as the hardest halfs she has ever done, made worse by
the poor weather and hard terrain of the ploughed fields. At mile 11 Lucy fell down a steep
muddy hill and broke her wrist.

Lucy did manage to finish the race, but due to poor signage
ended up running 14 miles in 2:17:38 according to Strava. (no official times yet) many thanks Brian Judkins who drove Lucy home from the hospital.

It’s been another exciting week for NHRR, packed with stellar performances, personal bests, and some stunning scenery. Whether it’s smashing PBs, conquering ultras, or enjoying a scenic parkrun, the squirrels continue to show their grit and determination.

Round Norfolk Relay
Seventeen squirrels took on the challenge of the Round Norfolk Relay, with Katie Harbon, Adam Wilson, Mike Bannister, Caroline Thrussell, Kat Burr, and Helen Ankers kicking off the first multi-terrain stages along the stunning Norfolk coastline. As the course moved inland, Georgia Head, Paul Bowal, and Vince Wright handed over to the night-running legends Ian Datlen, Mike Over, Nick Malpeli, and Alice Carty, who powered through 62 miles in total darkness.

​This effort was made possible thanks to exceptional support from Caroline Thrussell, Paul Bowal, Georgia Head, Kat Burr, and Richard Harbon, who cycled alongside the night runners for over 55 miles. Rounding out the final stages, Hannah Ridley, Lucy O’Connor, Jo Harbon, and Jennie Fraser took the baton across the flat Fens, completing the final stages to bring the team home ahead of schedule.  The squirrels not only showed speed but tremendous teamwork, with excellent support from both runners and cyclists to complete this demanding and complex event with style and determination.

Squirrels Take on the Ultra Challenge
Our squirrels ventured into ultra territory with impressive results! Laura Fairbanks and Anna Gibson took on the Suffolk Coastal Ultra 50k, running from Lowestoft to Aldeburgh. This beautiful but demanding course featured a mix of terrains, from coastal paths to shingle sections. Laura completed her first ultra in 5:59 (official time), with Anna just seconds ahead at 05:58:58. Both runners praised the well-organized race, complete with flapjacks and crisps at the checkpoints, and enjoyed the stunning coastal views along the way.
 
Meanwhile, in the Lake District, Fiona Baker tackled the brutal Lap Ultra, a 47-mile race with a staggering 2500m elevation gain. Fiona battled through mud, bogs, and challenging terrain to finish in an impressive 15:31:34. Her resilience and determination shone through on this tough course, proving that squirrels can conquer any challenge!

Trail Triumphs and Local Races
The squirrels were out in force across various other races this week. At the Sandridge 10k Trail Race, Richard and Georgia Harbon took on the scenic woodland trails in St Albans, with Georgia finishing in 1:07 and Richard pacing a friend to complete the race just over 58 minutes. The beautiful terrain made this a race to remember and one to look out for next year.

In the Zig Zag Half Marathon, Vanessa Rolfe embraced the unique challenge, completing four laps for a half marathon time of 2:51:28. With an array of post-race treats like sweets, coffee, and cake, Vanessa enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and celebrated her achievement.

At the Maulden 5k, Nicole Whitton raced through the picturesque scenery, finishing in around 28 minutes, keeping on track with her goal to break 30 minutes.
​
Closer to home at the Stevenage 10k, several squirrels put in strong performances. Dervla Downing claimed 1st place in the V45 category with an impressive time of 50:53. For the men, Edward Birdsall achieved a swift 41:38, followed by Chris Tillbrook in 43:45 and James Dalton in 44:56. James Razey rounded off the strong turnout with 53:01.

Squirrels Impress at Rain-Soaked Run Around the Garden
This weekend, North Herts Road Runners hosted the annual Run Around the Garden in Letchworth, which attracted a great turnout despite the rainy weather.

Club members put in an outstanding performance across the board. Matthew Sayers led the charge for the club, finishing 3rd overall and 1st in his age category in the 5k race.

​Ian Datlen followed closely, placing 6th and 4th overall and 1st in his age group. For the ladies, Hannah Ridley impressed with a fantastic 2nd place finish overall and 1st in her age group, while Tracy Pitcairn powered through to claim 3rd overall and 2nd in her category. Lucy O’Connor and Joanne Hoare also delivered standout performances, placing 1st and 5th in their respective categories.

Meanwhile, our squirrels were out flying the flag for NHRR at various events across the UK. ​

Here is the full Parkrun Roundup: ​

A set of storming performances saw North Herts Road Runners take a clutch of gold and silver medals home from the Hatfield 5k.
 
The Squirrels men’s team were crowned Hertfordshire County Champions, with Mike Roberts leading the way and smashing the 16-minute barrier with a 15:58 finish. He was joined on the top step of the podium by Sam Coxon (16:02), Tom Barclay (16:16) and Rob Jowett (16:58).
 
The NHRR ladies’ team placed second in the county standings, with Katie Harbon (17:23) second lady in the race and backed up by Rhia Botha (19:24 and Tracy Pitcairn (21:05).
 
Other NHRR 5k results:
Shahab Ahmed, 17:11; Matt Sayers, 17:15; Shaun Allin, 17:54; Nick Malpeli, 18:11; Mike Phillips, 18:35; Ian Datlen, 18:40; Michael Over, 18:41; Darren Matussa, 19:07; David Edwards, 19:30; Adrian Sherwood, 19:40; Ian Harvey, 19:38; Pete Sibbett, 19:48; Hannah Ridley, 19:57; Kris Whitmore, 20:23; David Weston, 21:18; Rachel Arnott, 21:26; James Godfrey, 21:59; Helen Nuttall, 22:05; Steve Brenton, 21:58; Steve Tracey, 22:07; Caroline Thrussell, 22:14, Richard Weber, 22:25; Natalie Phillips, 23:23; Joanne Hoare, 23:28; Lucy O’Connor, 24:15; Ellie Frid, 25:04; Andrew Wallis, 25:33; Chris Cope, 25:36; Linda Aird, 26:04; Karen Dodsworth, 29:48; Ian Sutcliffe, 30:13; Sharon French, 30:15; Vanessa Rolfe, 34:52; Sheila Leavy, 38:06

Duck ‘N’ Dash Aquathlon
James Keogh maintained his impressive 100% attendance record at the thirteenth iteration of the Duck ‘N’ Dash – the popular 400m swim and 5k run event organised every year by Freedom Tri on Norton Common.
 
Despite warnings that the pool ‘might be a bit choppy’ owing to the record number of participants, James had a smooth swim right until the end of the last length, when he was overtaken by two faster swimmers and had a short delay waiting for the exit steps.
 
He reported that ‘transition is always fun for me as I don’t practise the putting on the shoes and socks element like a true triathlete’, and the one year he attempted the 5k run without socks he ‘ended up with bleeding feet.’
 
James ‘felt quite fresh on the run’ and finished in 30:38 for 22nd place. His verdict: ‘All in all, once again a great, fun event, and it’s keeping up its record of always being on a nice sunny day.’
 
Meanwhile Sophie Thrussell turned in a sparkling performance to win the ladies’ race with a superb time of 29:06.
 
Other NHRR finishers included Tracy Pitcairn (32:24), Simon Clapham (35:11), James Godfrey (35:30), Helen Harbon-Ankers (39:36) and Andrew Robson (44:33).
 
Amanda Greig and Andrew Coates competed in the relay event, finishing in 32:13.

Something Wild Festival
Georgia Head and Caroline Thrussell enjoyed the Something Wild Running Festival Weekend in Hope Cove, South Devon. Saturday saw them tackle a seven-mile sea swim / run event, which Georgia said ‘put us both totally out of our comfort zone, but we finished, coming in as first and third lady respectively.’
 
Sunday’s event was ‘a beautiful but extremely challenging half marathon along the gorgeous Southwest coast pat’, which they completed together in 2 hrs 40 mins.
 
Jennie Fraser was also at the Something Wild Festival and took on the full marathon option. Despite a fall she still completed the half-marathon course!

Northstowe Half-marathon
Despite having ‘raced no further than 10 miles for much of the last two years’, Bev Rimmer found her ‘curiosity piqued’ by the Northstowe Half, ‘as Northstowe had just been a rumour, a murmur of a new town on the edge of the city when I lived in Cambridge, and now it’s a reality – it even has its own running festival.’
 
Bev set off with ‘no particular race plan or fuelling strategy in mind, even leading my wave for all of a corner before I was predictably overtaken by some faster runners.’
 
She felt strong and consistent throughout, and completed the course in 2hrs 10 mins, saying it was ‘the most consistent I’ve been, the happiest I’ve felt while racing a long way, and the strongest I’ve felt afterwards’. She concluded  ‘If that’s me on an average day, you won’t stop me on a good day!

Steeple Morden 10k Friendship Run
Anna Greetham, Matt Roberts and Kyle Stout ran the Steeple Morden 10k Friendship Run which was raising funds for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.  Anna described the event as perfect, well organised and said it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

Tavy5K
Stephen Doran who is coming back from injury did the Tavy5K in Tavistock on Saturday in a time of 30:25. Stephen was able to claim the honour of being the first North Herts Road Runner to ever have competed in this race, according to the organisers.

The Resolution 5k
On Wednesday evening, 11 squirrels braved the 25c heat, alongside runners from Stevenage Striders, Fairlands Valley Spartans & Stevenage Phoenix, to take part in the Resolution 5k at Ridlins athletics track, Stevenage. Running a 5km track event presents a unique experience due to the predictability of the course, allowing runners to focus more on pace, form, and consistency rather than the route.

The event was split into 3 races based on runner’s expected finish times, starting at 18:45, 19:30 & 20:00 respectively, with the fastest runners competing in the final race. If the heat & humidity did affect anybody’s performance, it wasn’t obvious from the amazing results, and afterwards, the consensus seemed to be that people really enjoyed the challenge. 
​
Linda Aird commented that “those of us in the first race were running on a track almost completely bathed in sunshine, so we knew that running 12.5 laps at 5k pace would be a challenge” and that she was “very pleased to have finished in 26:33 - over a minute faster than last year's time” with “consistent lap times showing only a couple of seconds variation between laps”.
​
Results as follows:

First Saturday of the Month
The hot and humid weather proved no obstacle to our dedicated club runners, 27 of whom completed our monthly sojourn around Norton Common. There were some cracking performances on display:

Wokington Running Festival
 Tom Barclay competed in and won the 5K race as part of the Workington Running Festival Tom completed the course in 17:03 to take the win. Tom commented that it was a super friendly event organised by local club, Cumberland AC.

Parkrun Roundup
With our First Saturday of the Month taking place on the same day, there were perhaps fewer parkrun results than usual to report on, but for those who did get to run, there were some excellent times to report: