North Herts Road Runners athlete Sophie Thrussell stormed to win the gold medal in her debut age group appearance at the World Aquathlon Championships in Pontevedra, North West Spain. Battling 30°C heat and a strong current during the 1km swim, she exited the water second before overtaking the leader during the 5km run to claim a 30-second victory.

​She celebrated her win with a medal ceremony later that evening. Tash Pitman, NHRR club chair said 'the whole club is delighted for Sophie.  We have all seen Sophie's commitment and hard work over the past months to get into the best fitness possible, so to see her take gold is an inspiration to us all!'

Back in the UK it’s been a hot and humid week,with the weekend in particular providing a real burst of Mediterranean heat. But despite the challenging conditions, NHRR runners were out in force, producing some fabulous running, whether racing, park-running, marathon training or just out enjoying social runs.

Colworth Half Marathon
Beginning in the beautiful Colworth Estate, this half marathon started with a lap of the sports field followed by two laps of just over 6 miles around the Estate on a mixture of surfaces including grass, concrete lanes, gravel tracks and dirt paths. Taking part was Dervla Downing, who finished in 02:04:21, and Lucy O’Connor, who completed the event in 02:11:36 – both amazing performances given the conditions. Lucy commented that it was never going to be a race given the heat, but was instead an enjoyable trail run. The route was described as technical in places due to the tree roots, rutted fields and uneven grassy paths hiding the occasional hole, yet was a very friendly, well organised, and laid-back event. As an unusual reward for crossing the line, runners were given a winter beanie and an ice cream. Brian Judkins also provided sterling support and encouragement en-route, popping up in various places to cheer Lucy and Dervla on.

Midweek League Magic: NHRR Hosts with Pride
The third fixture of the Midweek League brought the competition to our doorstep, and the Squirrels rose to the occasion in style—both as runners and as hosts. With 64 NHRR members taking on the course, and many more volunteering behind the scenes, it was a true club-wide celebration of community racing.
 
On what turned out to be an unrelentingly hot evening, the racing was as tough as it was spirited. Tom Barclay led the men’s team home in a blistering 5th place, while Katie Harbon finished an outstanding 2nd overall, spearheading the women’s squad to a brilliant team result.
 
Team Results:
Women – 2nd (behind St Albans Striders)
Men – 3rd (behind St Albans and Trent Park)
Overall – 2nd place in the fixture
 
League Standings After Race 3:
1st – St Albans Striders
2nd – NHRR
3rd – Trent Park (5 points behind)
 
Men’s Captain John Auld summed it up: “It was brutal in the heat, but the marshals’ support kept us going. Everyone gave their best, and I was so proud of how the club came together. We’ve earned our 2nd place—and we’ll fight to keep it!”
 
With just one Midweek League race left, the challenge is clear: hold firm in 2nd place and close the season with a flourish. Every runner counts, every cheer matters—so let’s bring the same heat, heart, and team spirit to the final fixture.

Podium Places at the Bass Belle 10K
Several squirrels turned heads at the Bass Belle 10K, with fast times and top finishes:

• Mike Phillips celebrated his first ever podium, storming home as 1st MV40
• Chris Button bagged 3rd MV50 in a strong 43:09
• Lucy Robertson claimed 1st U18 Female, crossing the line in 54:40

A fantastic trio of performances from across the age groups—well done all!

Hills, Heat and Happy Returns at the Welwyn 10K
Sunday saw Squirrels tackling the Welwyn 10K, a scenic but challenging trail race through Panshanger Park.

• Philip Flack returned to racing form, finishing in 69:50 and placing 2nd in his age group
• Chris Jones clocked an impressive 47:08 (39th overall)
• Meyrick Jenkins completed the course in 1:08:04

Philip noted the course’s twists, hills, and heat, but praised the organisation and atmosphere—proof again that the squirrel spirit thrives in all terrain!

Herts Hobble: A Trail Marathon Close to Home
Sue Foot had once again ran the Herts Hobble Marathon Challenge—a low-key, self-guided trail event starting from Baldock. The route wound its way through picturesque Weston, Benington, Walkern, and Cromer, offering a mix of peaceful paths, scenic countryside, and a generous helping of hills.
Without the pressure of timing chips or crowds, it was a great chance to enjoy the surroundings and clock up some off-road miles. Sue finished in 6 hours and 32 minutes, taking it steady and soaking up the calm, rural atmosphere. A tough but satisfying outing through our local landscape.
Rochdale Harriers 3-Day Challenge: Road, Trail & Fell
Dawn Power travelled north to join Rochdale Harriers for their 3-Day Event—a brilliantly organised and friendly series of six-mile races across three terrains.

• Day 1 took them onto the roads with a rolling course to get the legs moving.
• Day 2 featured a multi-terrain route that kept everybody on their toes.
• Day 3, however, was the real test--Dawns first ever fell run, and an instant highlight. With gradients steep enough to justify a bear crawl and views that made every climb worthwhile, it was a thrilling (and humbling) introduction to fell running.

The whole event had a fantastic, welcoming atmosphere, and to top it off, Dawn even came away with a T-shirt—a well-earned souvenir from a brilliant few days of running.
From international bridges to local trails and northern hills, these events offered completely different experiences—but all reminded me of the joy of running in new places, the resilience we build with every mile, and the warmth of the running community.

North Herts Road Runners are now favourites to take second place in the Midweek League, after a strong set of performances in the latest fixture on Wednesday evening.
 
NHRR travelled to the Epping Forest venue in force, with 54 of their members turning out to compete against other local clubs in Division 1 of the Midweek League.
 
Despite the course featuring a challenging 140m of elevation, NHRR’s first eight women all finished in less than 50 minutes and the twelve scoring men were all under 41 minutes, with Katie Harbon and Mike Roberts respectively leading the Squirrels home.
 
The season is now at its halfway point, with NHRR looking forward to hosting the third fixture in Stevenage on 18th June. 

Sweet sixteen for First Saturday
NHRR celebrated the sixteenth birthday of their iconic ‘home’ event – the First Saturday of the Month 5k, with 38 members enjoying the Norton Common course in unseasonably damp conditions.
 
NHRR finishers at the FSTOM:
1: Mike Banister (19:48), 2: David Edwards (20:09), 4: Michael Over (20:41), 5: Mike Phillips (20:54), 8: John Auld (22:10), 11: James Dalton (23:14), 13: Kat Burr (23:30), 14: Matt Ankers (23:38), 15: James Godfrey (23:45), 17: Mark Larwood (23:55), 18: Paula Holm (24:01), 19: Laura Fairbanks, (24:27), 21: Jillian Tooley-Boys (24:39), 24: Natalie Phillips (25:41), 27: Andrew Robson (26:44), 29: Viv Lucas (27:13), 30: Joanne Hoare (27:14), 32: Lucy O'Connor (27:25), 34: Tracey Pitcairn (27:30), 35: Rhia Botha (27:31), 37: Ian Datlen (27:34), 38: Alice Noakes (27:37), 39: Andrew Coates (27:38), 40: Adam Wilson (27:41), 41: Mel Flynn (27:47), 42: Frances Stanton (29:08), 43: Lorraine Nugent, (29:26), 45: Dawn Power (29:35), 46: Richard Barker (29:36), 50: Eugene Concannon (30:51), 51: Philip Flack (31:12), 54: Jane Morgan (33:21), 55: Julie Taylor (33:21), 56: Ian Sutcliffe (33:49), 61: Brian Judkins (37:44), 62: Jo Sopala (38:10), 63: Gill Hughes (39:03), 68: Farzana Bhatti (44:01)

St Albans Lollypop
David Brewer was delighted to record a new half-marathon personal best ‘by some distance’ at the St Albans Lollypop Run. David completed the 13.1 miles in 1:33:54. 

Brighton 10-mile
Vanessa Rolfe took on a 10-mile challenge in Brighton, crossing the line in 2:06:51.

This Sunday saw the return of the legendary Hitchin Hard Half and the equally formidable Hitchin Tough 10 Miler - races that are as notorious for their punishing hills as they are for their stunning countryside views. Undeterred by the challenge, eight fearless Squirrels tackled the Hard Half, while three more took on the Tough 10 Miler, proving that grit and determination run deep.

In the Hard Half, Rhia Botha powered across the finish line in 1:35:58, securing a podium spot as the 3rd lady and claiming 2nd place in her F30 age category. Close behind, Ian Datlen finished in 1:36:59, taking 4th in the M50 category. Rachel Arnott followed as the 4th lady home, earning 1st place in the F40 age group with a time of 1:37:19.

James Warner Smith crossed the line in 1:37:21, followed by Daniel Socci (1:44:15), Tom Bennett Makin (1:44:49), and Katrina Slisane, who clocked 1:47:16 to secure 4th place in the F40 category and 9th lady overall. Adrian Barnett rounded out the squad with a solid 2:12:15 finish.

Hitchin Tough 10 Miler, James Dalton led the Squirrels home, taking 2nd in the M50 category with an impressive 1:21:14. David Weston followed with a strong 1:25:43 finish, securing 3rd in the M40 category. Meanwhile, Joanne Hoare returned to racing after breaking her ankle seven months ago, delivering an impressive performance to finish 3rd in the F40 category in 1:36:01.

Milton Keynes Marathon Masters Qualifier
Congratulations to Claire Fiske who qualified for her Masters England vest at the Milton Keynes Marathon on 5th May by coming 3rd in her Masters age category.  In 3:43:59.