As this season’s marathons draw closer this weekend offers a perfect chance to test out the legs on a longer than usual local race, plus plenty of half marathon options, but certainly no half measures from anyone.
Hopefully losing an hour this weekend hasn’t hit anyone reading this as much as I’ve been feeling it today, because there’s 20 mile’s worth of content in this report and you’ll want to stay awake for it all.
Saturday 28th March – Parkrun
Folkestone
Great job Nicole ‘Lady in Pink’ Dodd for helping the other lady in pink, little super Madison to get a PB of around 28 minutes.
Walmer and Deal Seafront
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Time |
| 99 | 73 | Miles GAWTHORP | 00:26:26 |
Dulwich
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Time |
| 42 | 37 | Andrew NOBLE | 00:19:21 |
| 194 | 25 | Lesley TAYLOR | 00:23:06 |
Dover Waterfront
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Time |
| 40 | 4 | Caroline CURTIS | 00:23:56 |
| 97 | 77 | Alan RANDALL | 00:27:47 |
| 106 | 26 | Sonia MARKWELL | 00:28:06 |
| 125 | 39 | Jane WREN | 00:29:16 |
Sittingbourne
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Time |
| 37 | 28 | Martin SALMON | 00:23:59 |
Lullingstone
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Time |
| 37 | 35 | Henry AXON | 00:24:43 |
| 102 | 20 | Amy AXON | 00:30:34 |
Georgengarten (Hanover)
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Time |
| 18 | 3 | Kate EVANS | 00:24:54 |
Tonbridge
| Position | Gender Position | parkrunner | Time |
| 673 | 268 | Sarah SILVER | 00:57:29 |
Sunday 29th March – Generali Berlin Half Marathon
The first half being covered this weekend, which is technically a third as I’m covering three of them, is Berlin.
Ron Bell completed his third ‘Super Half’ in a time of 1:50:50, the super halves being a similar concept to the marathon majors where you can complete 6 half marathons in Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia, and then receive a special medal for completing all 6.
I hope I get to do the report when he gets number 6!
Also taking part was Mr. Hyrox himself Jacob Henwood who surprised himself with a result of 1:27:04 (a PB!), whilst enjoying the conditions and support around the course.
Sunday 29th March – Generali Prague Half Marathon
From one super half to another, the next destination was Prague, below you can Czech out what happened.
Martin Murray completed the half in a time of 1:51:26, which is a great result as it’s his first half marathon in three years due to injury struggles, so no doubt it’ll be the first of many now.
Prague Half is considered as one of the most prestigious half marathons in the world, with world records being broken there and the event boasting the World Athletics Elite Label, so it must have been pretty special to take part in it.
Sunday 29th March – Brett Lydd 20 Miler and Half Marathon
I know everyone is very eager to hear all about how the 20 miler and third half marathon of the report went on Sunday, so allow me to lift the Lydd on it.
Conditions were mostly favourable, there weren’t any fallen trees to contend with, and as a club we ended up with more PBs than a lead factory.
Half Marathon PBs were achieved by: Nikki Goodwin (2nd Lady), Vicky Scott (3rd Lady), David Hitching and Belinda Hitching, with Darren Crew finishing 2nd in the V55 category and Gary Brazier getting a course PB.
Below are the full half marathon results:
| Pos | Name | Bib | Category | Gun time | Chip time |
| 6 | Simon Ramsay | 1351 | Male Vet 45 | 01:21:29 | 01:21:29 |
| 20 | James Barney | 1268 | Senior Male | 01:28:54 | 01:28:46 |
| 23 | Darren Crew | 1239 | Male Vet 55 | 01:29:40 | 01:29:23 |
| 29 | Nikki Goodwin | 1292 | Female Vet 45 | 01:31:17 | 01:31:15 |
| 33 | Vicky Scott | 1189 | Female Vet 40 | 01:32:25 | 01:32:19 |
| 43 | David Hitching | 1097 | Male Vet 55 | 01:35:52 | 01:35:13 |
| 80 | Karl Letchford | 1300 | Male Vet 50 | 01:45:57 | 01:45:40 |
| 91 | Matthew Webb | 1260 | Male Vet 55 | 01:47:45 | 01:47:23 |
| 106 | Jamie Fox | 1287 | Male Vet 40 | 01:50:49 | 01:49:51 |
| 121 | Jake Harvey | 1087 | Senior Male | 01:54:29 | 01:54:15 |
| 136 | Gary Brazier | 1273 | Male Vet 50 | 01:58:15 | 01:57:59 |
| 152 | John O’Hara | 1150 | Male Vet 60 | 02:01:34 | 02:01:19 |
| 159 | Belinda Hitching | 1098 | Female Vet 55 | 02:03:13 | 02:02:35 |
| 165 | Claire Tetlow | 1356 | Female Vet 45 | 02:04:25 | 02:03:22 |
| 195 | Diane Parsons | 1252 | Female Vet 45 | 02:09:53 | 02:08:57 |
| 268 | Paul Hannay | 144 | Male Vet 40 | 03:00:03 | 02:59:48 |
20 Mile PBs were achieved by: Harry Wall, Adam Ward, Helen Webb (by 14 minutes), Jase O’Callaghan (smashing it by 27 minutes), Kellie Williams, Hillary Collins and Rebecca Stevenson, with David Tetlow getting a whopping 36 minute course PB.
Below are the full 20 miler results:
| Pos | Name | Bib | Category | Gun time | Chip time |
| 14 | Henry Axon | 396 | Senior Male | 02:08:17 | 02:08:15 |
| 42 | Harry Wall | 355 | Senior Male | 02:21:06 | 02:21:03 |
| 124 | Adam Ward | 357 | Senior Male | 02:41:02 | 02:40:47 |
| 139 | Helen Webb | 364 | Female Vet 45 | 02:44:40 | 02:44:17 |
| 189 | Jason O’Callaghan | 512 | Male Vet 40 | 02:53:37 | 02:52:36 |
| David Tetlow | 02:58:44 | ||||
| 278 | Nicole Dodd | 97 | Female Vet 40 | 03:12:04 | 03:11:36 |
| 291 | Kellie Williams | 553 | Female Vet 40 | 03:14:15 | 03:13:35 |
| 295 | Hilary Collins | 72 | Female Vet 65 | 03:14:37 | 03:13:55 |
| 333 | Julie Apps | 9 | Female Vet 40 | 03:26:51 | 03:26:10 |
| 334 | Rebecca Stevenson | 324 | Female Vet 50 | 03:26:51 | 03:26:12 |
| 390 | Sophie O’Callaghan | 513 | Female Vet 40 | 03:39:55 | 03:38:53 |
| 415 | Aldous Hosking | 484 | Senior Male | 03:51:27 | 03:51:01 |
| 418 | Amie Howard | 164 | Female Vet 35 | 03:52:13 | 03:51:31 |
| 448 | Dominic Shepherd | 302 | Senior Male | 04:14:18 | 04:13:16 |
Adam Ward described the course as being “As fun as you’d expect…” which I’m sure no doubt means that it was 20 miles of pure joy.
Things didn’t quite go to plan for Nicole Dodd who wasn’t feeling great during the run and hit a bump in the road towards her marathon, but she was incredibly grateful to the fellow FRAC runners that helped her out, and I’m sure she’ll bounce back stronger for a big marathon PB.
We should all look to give her a big cheer next time we see her on a run.
Thankyou for reading once again, and good luck all with upcoming marathons, I’m looking forward to covering some in my next report.
Next up we have tomorrow’s relay time trial, and then on Friday one of the biggest days in the FRAC calendar, the Folkestone 10 mile which will be a great day (hopefully in the sun) for everyone involved.