Day of the Half Marathon PB’s!

Tom and Ellie Webb

Dedicated training paid off for several North Herts Road Runners as they recorded personal best at various races over the weekend.

Darren Sunter was selected to represent Hertfordshire at the inter-counties 10k championship in Brighton on Sunday. On an out-and-back course along the windy sea front, Darren ran 33.40 to finish 45th in a field of quality runners. Darren said, ‘some great runners out on course and I had the unfortunate opportunity of seeing a few come the other way but I was happy enough with the performance.’

Thirteen squirrels travelled to St Neots for the popular half marathon. Chilly but clear skies and a nicely undulating course through the countryside made for a pleasant running. Caroline Thrussell certainly enjoyed the conditions winning the Vet 55 category in a PB of 1:38:49. The event also saw PB performances by Darren Matussa in 1:20:46, Jane Clarke in 1:36:59, Chloe Lucas in 1:43:01, and Lucy Hurley who finished in 1:53:55.

On Saturday, PB’s were achieved by Tom and Ellie Webb who travelled to Eton Dorney for the Windsor & Eton Autumn Half Marathon. The route comprised 4.5 flat laps of Dorney lake. There was a strong headwind for half of the race - including the final 2 miles providing a tough finish. Tom finished 5th in 1:13:53, five minutes quicker than his previous best at Brighton in February this year. Tom said his improvement is down to the benefits of the awesome training and coaching at NHRR. Ellie was 39th Lady in a time of 1:45:59.

Taking on more challenging terrain at the Dirt Half Challenge in Leighton Buzzard - a nice, relatively tame trail half marathon Andy Grudzinski ran an unexpected PB of 2:13:20. Steve Foster also ran this as the first of two half marathons he took on over the weekend finishing this one in 1:36:26 then running the Hertfordshire Half Marathon at Knebworth in 1:37.10. ‘I was on target for a better time until 10miles when the fuel tank ran out. At 12miles I stayed with a family and their jelly babies for two minutes while I refuelled, but I was very delighted to do two half marathons in two days’, said Steve. Niccolo Bassani also ran the hilly Hertfordshire Half finishing in 1:33:07.

Chris Poole and Stuart Cocks travelled to Wales for the Conwy Half Marathon. Despite the Welsh hills and head winds Stuart ran a new PB of 1:43:05 and Chris finished a few seconds later in 1:43:15.
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Endurance athletes Jo Summers, Sue Foot and Miranda Morgan did the local Sundon Saunter, an off road 27.7 mile challenge starting and finishing in Barton -Le-Clay. After a foggy start it turned into a perfect day for running with wonderful views across Bedfordshire. Jo finished in 5:14 with Miranda and Sue finishing together in 6.25. Fresh off the back of the Athens Marathon last week Michelle Grudzinski was in action again at the Larnaka Marathon to finish in 4:55.