Summer may be close to its end but a new season is starting…it’s marathon season!
We have got a hefty amount of races to report on this week with our runners taking on distances from short 5ks, country trail runs to even half and full length marathons.
Let’s check out what efforts the team have swept up 🍂
Richmond Marathon 2025
Lauren and Amie running their first ever marathon!
Kicking off the report this week is a BIG ONE!
Sunday 14th September saw one of London’s “flattest marathons” take place at Richmond during a beautiful sunny morning within Kew, Gardens running through Hampton Court Palace.
It was a momentous occasion as it was two of our members first ever marathon. Amie Howard and Lauren Hart both undertook this distance and did extraordinary!
Amie came home with a time of 5:06:14 and Lauren not far behind within the hour at 5:35:49. Brilliant showing to you both!
Also running this marathon were two greats, Andy Gardiner and Carolyn Lewis who both did amazing. Andy at 3:41:30 and Carolyn with 5:04:35.
The FRAC team looking chuffed with themselves after running Richmond Marathon 2025
Great work everyone and what a way to start the proceedings!
Way to go Amie and Lauren!
New Forest Marathon 2025
Greg standing tall after his New Forest Marathon effort!
Not to miss out on the fun, Greg Dixon ran the New Forest Marathon on Sunday with a stunning time of 3:47:33.
He said the course was “amazing” and “scenic” with lots of horses, donkeys, trees and puddles.
“Mainly gravel and trail surface which was at times testing but the puddles hid most of it anyway.
“Great event and the impending storm just about held off long enough.”
Here’s Greg celebrating with his traditional post-marathon Guinness. Three cheers!
Copenhagen Half Marathon 2025
Feeling the hygge, Jody and Darren are all smiles at the Copenhagen Half Marathon
In the beautiful city of Copenhagen in Denmark, Jody Stoakes and Darren Crew took on the first of the Super Halfs events.
Both doing brilliantly with Darren running his in a time of 1:25:14 (which is a new PB and 8 years since his last one!) and Jody doing great on the day with 1:47:47.
Tillykke!
Post-half mara DarrenPost-half mara Jody
Rye Ancient Trails 30k & 15k
The FRAC crew before taking on the Rye Ancient Trails 15k & 30k
Back at home a troupe of runners travelled down to Rye on Sunday 14th to take on some ancient trails
The course is quieter than most and described as “a true steeplechase race across the breathtaking scenery surrounding the medieval town of Rye in East Sussex”.
No wonder the crew wanted to take part!
There were two distances during the event, the 15k and 30k. Here are the full results:
15k
James Barney, 1:14:07
Joesph Carroll, 1:16:19
Phil Haines, 1:22:42
Linnaea Stockall, 1:24:15
Paul Hannay, 1:28:11
Phil Maull, 1:33:32
Joe and Phil celebrating with a warm butty!
30k
Simon Ramsay, 2:28:28 (18th place)
Phil Heathfield, 3:16:17
Jenny ‘Twiggy’ Heathfield, 4:02:46 (who sadly got stung by a hornet!)
Jenny enjoying the fields of glory!
Basildon Half Marathon 2025
Henry and Josh arm in arm at BasildonThe Axons, Henry and Amy after completing their half marathon
Another half marathon and another round of applause to Amy Axon, Josh Pine and Henry Axon who all took Basildon this last Sunday.
Great times all round with Henry at 1:19:52, Josh at 1:21:42 and Amy at 1:53:50, which is a brand-new PB for her!
Brilliant performances by this trio of runners.
Worcester City Half Marathon 2025
Here’s the master at work! Deborah Jeffery out running the Worcester City Half Marathon
Another one!?
That’s right and this time being run by Deborah Jeffery at Worcester.
It was a great one for her too as she came in with a personal best effort at 1:24:38 (which is 3 minutes off her last)!
1st in her age category and qualified to run for England at the British Masters! Not bad for Deborah’s first half marathon in 6 years!
An amazing achievement by you.
A well-deserved ring of the PB bell!
Wingham 5.6k
Karen with her 2nd Lady clay blingPiggy in middle!
Finishing off this week is the only race in the world with clay medals made by Canterbury Pottery!
It’s the Wingham Run which see entrants coming home with piggy pottery medals which are must-have souvenirs of this popular race.
Two of our club runners are now recipients of this oink of a prize, Karen and Colin Burfoot.
Both enjoyed this run around the countryside on Sunday 14th with Karen placing as 2nd lady with a time of 27:05 and Colin at 24:42 which was 6th overall, first in his age category.
They said the course is nearer 5.7k and best described as undulating! Well done both.
parkruns for the week:
Thomas Aspinall flying at this week’s Folkestone parkrun
Brian at the Volksgarten parkrun in DuisburgBrian at the Vingis parkrun in Vilnius
While on an interrail holiday in Europe, Brian Davis stopped off to do two parkruns in Germany (30 August) and other in Lithuania (13 September ). Both begin with V – Volksgarten in Duisburg and Vingis in Vilnius.
