Squirrel Power at the 2025 Standalone 10K — fast times, county medals and marathon miles

The 38th Standalone 10K filled the Hertfordshire countryside on Sunday as 1,325 runners took on one of the region’s most popular autumn races. The event is created and delivered entirely by North Herts Road Runners (NHRR) — from course planning to marshalling, registration, results and refreshments — and once again showed why the Squirrels have a reputation for staging a first-class race.

Race Director Mike Phillips said the club was “blessed by beautiful sunny weather after the wind and rain of the previous couple of days” and loved seeing “so many smiling faces on the course and around Standalone Farm afterwards.He thanked the 100+ marshals, the race committee and event sponsors — Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, Sigma Sports, Vutie Beets, E H Crouch, Pinehill Hospital and Lane & Bennetts — for making the day possible and said the incredible feedback from runners captured “what the race is all about.”

Almost the whole club was on duty, volunteering at every stage. Only a select group of NHRR’s fastest were invited to run, while the rest ensured a safe, brilliantly organised day. This year’s race shirts turned the field into a striking wave of electric orange, brightening even the breezy bypass.
Matt Sayers, who combined racing with helping promote the event, reflected that the bypass “must be brutal for marshals” but said runners felt “kept safe” thanks to their effort. Fellow Squirrel Kris Whitmore added that although it was “bloody windy up the bypass,” the sight of so many teammates out supporting “gave a massive boost and helped make the event safe and fun,” even as athletes produced “blistering times despite the wind” and the club celebrated “a magnificent set of results in the county championships.”

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Racing at the sharp end
On the men’s side, Benjamin Hadman led the Squirrels home in 33:25 for 4th place overall, followed closely by Sam Coxon (33:44, 5th) and Thomas Barclay (34:17, 7th). Up front the podium was taken by Oluwatosin Adedeji (Newham & Essex Beagles AC) in 32:04, Mohammed Elbayan (Luton AC) 32:13 and Michael Waddington (Ware Joggers) 32:25.

For the women, Freya Weddell (St Albans Striders) took the win, with NHRR’s Katie Harbon a strong 2nd in 36:32, and Stacey Ormerod (St Albans Striders) 3rd with 37:27. 
The club’s masters impressed too: Andrew Leach and Shahab Ahmad dominated the MV60 field with 35:48 and 35:49, both age-grading over 92%. Matthew Sayers was 2nd MV50 in 36:49 and Kris Whitmore 4th MV50 in 38:49.
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A special highlight came from Rhia Botha, who ran the 10K at the end of a long training run yet still managed a two-second personal best, finishing 5th woman overall in 39:49. She said it was hard not to give it your all when you have the power of the whole NHRR club behind you, and the superb support along the course helped her PB and powered the NHRR women’s team to silver in the Herts Senior County Championships, while the men’s team claimed both gold and bronze.

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Community spirit and charity
Post-race, Jo from The Studio, Letchworth provided sports massages for donations to NHRR’s charity of the year, GRIT – Growing Resilience in Teens.
Greg Rose, one of the few club members running rather than volunteering, described the Standalone as “a well-organised, fun and friendly event as always,” although he ruefully admitted he “realised too late” he might have broken 55 minutes after finishing in 55:03.

Celebrity surprise
Adding a touch of showbiz sparkle, EastEnders stars Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) and Jake Wood (Max Branning) joined the field and both dipped under the hour — Woodyatt in 58:55and Wood in 59:31 — delighting runners and spectators.
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A race built by volunteers
The Standalone 10K isn’t just about fast times — it’s a celebration of teamwork and community. From the first road sign to the last results upload, NHRR members create a safe, welcoming and brilliantly run event year after year.
Here’s to another year of Standalone magic — and to every volunteer who made the 2025 edition, with its sea of electric-orange T-shirts, truly unforgettable.

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Squirrels on marathon duty in Chester
While most members were busy hosting Standalone, several Squirrels headed north for longer challenges:

Metric Marathon (26.2 km): 

• Georgia & Richard — 3:17:55 (Georgia’s longest race yet, finished hand in hand)

Full Chester Marathon (42.2 km):

• Jasmine Searle — 3:49:04
• Eleanor Street — 4:12:32
• Adam Street — 4:17:22
• Dawn Power — 4:25:24