‘Hills Make Us Stronger!’  ..is the phrase often uttered on repeat during training runs by Coach Karen to keep us all going, but the training paid off this weekend with Squirrels making good use of the extra stamina in the Hitchin Hard Half.
 
NHRR’s own Mark Vaughan was first past the post in just 1:16:36. Martyn, David, Helen, Niccol, Suzy, Jason, Naomi, Adam, Sarah, Jane, Alan and Micelle were chasing him down and Naomi clocked up her personal best time for a half marathon at under the 2 hours, not bad on a course that is renowned for its ‘bumpy bits’ ie it’s seriously hilly.
 
Dan, Jo Linda, Sue, Helen F and Helen G completed the 10K version which is still not an easy option as it still takes in some major hills!
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Jo S did the Hertfordshire Hobble of 26.5 miles in 4:47, a bit faster than a hobble I think! Sue and Miranda took part and finished in 6 hours.
 
5 made it to the Welwyn 10K with Nick first home in 19th place in just over 39mins and taking the Mens Vets over 50’s followed by Steve, Christian, Nicky and Jennifer who finished in 419th place but still in a time only just over the hour.
 
Taking the NHRR running passion further afield was Caroline who was running the Midnight Sun Half Marathon in Iceland.  She showed determination to finish in 2hours 4 mins despite carrying an injury.
 
The free Park Run movement was well supported with Chris P running in Lincoln. Oliver in Barclay, Lucy and Brian J in Wimpole as well as Ellie, Naomi, Paul. Amanda, Jon, Verity and Patrick who all ran in Stevenage with Ellie being the second woman home in just 22:11

On a hot and steamy evening last Wednesday, 66 North Herts Road Runners finished the 3rd Mid-week league race hosted by their friends at Hitchin Running Club. They have put the club on course for promotion back to Division 1. The squirrels took a clean sweep of first places in all 4 categories - women, men, vet women and vet men. Katie Harbon was first lady in a time of 39:33 with Astrid McKeown in second (41:12) and Helen Nuttall fourth (43:23). For the men, NHRR had 4 of the top 6 finishers, Jim McConnel leading the charge in a time of 35:13, closely followed by Ed Price (35:22), Mark Vaughan (35:41) and Darren Sunter (35:53) .

On Saturday NHRR also had 3 teams running in the Greensands ridge relay. 
A team of Adrian Sherwood, John Auld, Mark Vaughan, Ed Price, Adam Bowller and Darren Sunter won the trophy for the quickest time in an impressive 3:37:35 for the 34 mile course. A team of Johnny Spinks, Matt Ankers, Stuart Overton, Peter Sibbett and Jon Hunt finished 11th in 4:48:18.A team of Miranda Morgan, Helen Ferguson, Katie Harbon, Jo Harbon, Sue Vaughan and Jane Clarke finished 23rd in 5:22:21 

On a week of great results for the Squirrels, Katie Harbon also took part in the Box End triathlon, which she won. 

Further afield, three Squirrels raced in Coad-y-Brenin in Wales. The half marathoners ran 609m of height gain, with Paul Power completing the course in 2:53:23 and Dawn Power in 3:11:13. Andy Grudzinski completed the full marathon, including 1222m height gain in 6:11:21 

The club launched their latest “Couch to 5k” group last week. 36 new runners signed-up to train over ten weeks to complete NHRR’s First Saturday of the Month 5k race in September. All club member wish the runners the best of luck! 
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9 squirrels took part in 4 park runs on Saturday, at Bedfont Lakes, near Heathrow (Stephen Lummis (22:45) and Chris Poole (24:43)), Black Park, near Slough (Ollie Garbas (19:22)), Bedford (Steve Tracey (19:43) and Stevenage (Simon Poole (19:04), Oliver Brady (19:22), John Cooper (20:53), Amanda Keightley-Pugh (30:07- PB) and Patrick Norris (35:04)) 

Inspired by the scurry of Squirrels running the London Marathon, John Rayner picked the Yeovill marathon as an attempt to gain Good For Age entry to 2018. With only 7 weeks to prepare, a half charged watch and first introduction to hitting the wall, John finished 10th in 3:02:11 to successfully achieve the Good For Age goal.

The St Albans Half marathon had a few squirrels in the sunshine. The pollen count was high, but this didn't stop Yuko Gordon winning the V55 category for the 4th year. Other squirrels finishing were Ellie Scott (1:53:52) and Joe Sherry (2:10:54).

A few squirrels ran the Stotfold challenge. The challenge is a 5km race completely off road. Claire O'Sullivan finished in just over 25min. Ian Sutcliffe (26.15) also running was Monica Cullin and Jen Nesbitt.

Jo Summers ran the 27.5 mile Farthingstone Foot Fest in the Northamptonshire undulating countryside. Jo finished with 3 others which were the first male and equal first ladies in a time of 5:10.

Several parks run venues were ran this week. Stevenage had the most squirrel appearances, John Cooper was first Squirrel home finishing in 21:06. Others running were Sheila Leavey (28:45), Amanda Keightley-Pugh (31:05) and Patrick Norris (33:44).

Else where some individuals popped up. James Laing ran 25:52 at Brockwell. Darren Matussa ran 18:34 at Roding Valley. Chris Poole ran 22:57 at Southend and Steve Lummis ran 22:41 at Conons Park. 

Intrepid adventurers Michelle and Andy Grudzinski travelled to Norway for the Spitzbergen Marathon - the most northerly land marathon in the world and also the only marathon with polar bear guards. Through stunning scenery and with a two mile hill which had to be run twice the pair finished in 5:16:12.
 
Squirrel John Auld went to Barnsley to compete in the 50th Silkstone Shuffle.  On a hilly 4.5 mile off road course Auld won the event setting a new PB of 27:38.
 
Jeni Spurr-Jones ran the Richmond Park 10 mile race in 1:42:31 whilst David Annetts took part in his first walking race, the Moulton Open 5 Miles Road Walk in Suffolk which he completed in an impressive 45:56.
 
The popular First Saturday of the Month 5K race celebrated its 6th birthday on Saturday 2nd June.  With 102 runners competing the race was won by squirrel Rob Harris in 18:06.
 
Parkrun: Stevenage; Peter Sibbett 20:06; Chris Poole 23:45; Jeni Spurr-Jones 26:27; Karen Dodsworth 27:20; Patrick Norris 33:55.  Sheringham; Ellie Scott 24:48.
Wimpole Hall; Ollie Garbas 20:29