Spring Marathon Madness Begins

​This weekend saw the beginning of the spring marathon season, with squirrels taking part in a number of events before Manchester and London marathons in the coming weeks. 

In Brighton Matt Ankers took on his first marathon finishing in a highly respectable 4 hours and 50 seconds.  Hosting a new course and a record number of participants, Matt shared, “It was great loved it all great support and a wonderful course. Although I’ve never experienced cramp quite like it!”
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In Paris, Nicola Withington shaved 17 mins of her previous marathon PB whilst also raising over £5k for charity.  Despite a twisted knee, she threw in a sprint finish coming home in 4 hours and 19 seconds.

Elsewhere Sue Foot was out in the Suffolk countryside taking on the Haverhill Marathon. She took a podium place as the 2nd lady overall in a time 5 hours in spite of “an undulating course and a challenging run with gusty winds trying to blow me in the wrong direction”.

Beyond the marathon...
Lee Varley took part in the Ultra Marathon Windsor.  Lee set out to break 4hr30 and came home in 4:23 and took 1st place overall, in a fantastic run, all of this whilst hitting the wall at 46k.  “Probably the first and last time I come first in any race.
Beautiful first 25km going along the River Thames and through Windsor Great Park and then running down the long walk listening to Parisienne Walkways made my day!”

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​The inclement weather hit other squirrels, with Elwyn Howell braving Storm Kathleen to complete the Powderham Power 10 mile trail run.  In what was a mud bath, Elwyn finished in 1:32 and was “well pleased that I managed to keep upright and only my trainers and legs were covered in thick mud. Well organised run considering the amount of rain that has fallen in Devon these last few months”
 
Finally closer to home was another fantastic First Saturday Of The Month 5km on Norton Common! The mild conditions and muddy course made it a real challenge that was enjoyed by 47 runners. The next race is 4th May!

NHRR results are as follows….

1: James Keogh (20:37)
2: Michael Over (20:48)
3: Nathaniel Rosa (21:28)
4: Shaun Allin (21:34)
5: John Auld (23:5)
6: James Dalton (23:8)
7: Ian Datlen (23:10)
10: Natalie Phillips (24:40)
12: Kat Burr (25:30)
15: James Walsh (25:39)
​20: Joanne Hoare (27:9)
21: Laura Fairbanks (27:21)

25: Adam Wilson (28:46)
29: Oliver Babik (30:1)
​30: Tim Banting (30:7)
32: Katie Palmer (30:10)
33: Alice Noakes (31:38)
34: Paul Bowal (31:39)
​35: Jess Carter (31:51)
38: Geoff Davis (32:17)
39: Dawn Power (32:40)
40: Ruth Summers (32:42)
41: Nick Walker (32:43)
​42: Ian Sutcliffe (33:2)

43: Helen Ankers (33:16)
45: Philip Flack (33:43)

Parkrun Action...

Bolton: Emily Yossarian (36:51)

Doddington Hall: Anna Greetham (26:26), Matt Roberts (26:27)

Henlow Bridge Lakes: James Godfrey (29:08), Frances Stanton (29:48)

Jersey: Tom Barclay (23:31)

Letchworth: Joe Dixon (24:28)

Rutland Water: Oliver Parsons (20:15)

Sheringham: Steve Mckeown (21:59)

Stevenage: Chris Stokes (21:01), Jon Hunt (23:44), Barbara Sayers (26:42), Ellie Scott (29:35)

Storeys Field: Georgina Quayle (26:34)