This is the week that was........ The St. Albans Half & An Ultra!
As we continue to be blessed with this lovely weather, Nolan Johnson maintained his recovery programme with an easy run along Southend Pier. As the world's longest pier at 1.33 miles, I wonder if it has its own Strava segment? Hopefully we’ll be seeing you soon on club runs Nolan!
With the MK Marathon weekend and Greensands relay race just two weeks away, training runs continued at a pace, with many of you out very early over the weekend to try and avoid the sapping heat.
13 seemed to be the magic number... Chris Stenner completed a 13 mile run as he finished his training plan from Coach Annis for MK Half, and VC Andy and Coach Matt also ran 13 miles as they continued to taper for the MK Marathon. Scott and Adam were again seen out on the roads and trails around Dunstable Downs, bagging another 13 miles with both now ready for MK and Adam will continue with his long term training for London in October.
GSRR team members have been busy on their recce runs. On Saturday Sam Heady and Michelle Evans-Riches had a lot of fun in the sun as they ran Leg 5, and Richard checked out leg 2 again for a second time. On Sunday, Kirsty Stocks and Jo Hogg ran Leg 1 (then turned around and ran back again for a 10 mile total), whilst Ash Henley and Phil Brogan met up at Deadman’s Cross and ran Leg 6. This I believe just leaves Mike Clarke and I to recce Leg 3, which happens to be longest leg (9 miles), Woburn to Millbrook. The two teams will then be all prepared and ready to represent LFR on the day!
Anne Graff ran 11 miles around Leighton Buzzard getting to try out the newly repaired bridge around the back of Astral, whilst Graham Cooper ran 11 miles taking in all the climbs of the town! Kevin Hare completed his monthly half marathon and out in the villages Tom Ellerton partnered up with Richard Heady for 14 miles, but Richard then rounded it up to 20 miles!
Two of our long serving members who have moved out of the area raced at the weekend. Katy Garnham Lee finished her 52nd Marathon The Enigma Guitar Heroes in MK and Paul Little took part in the Nene Valley 20, all in his continued preparation for The Lakeland 100 in July.
Sunday came and so did the St. Albans Half Marathon
Will Langdon celebrating a new half marathon PB at 1hr37, huge congratulations Will! Though for his efforts he was rewarded with a bleeding nip! Ouch!! Will wasn't the only LFR there; Eddy Guinness completed the event in 2hr09 with William Harry just a minute behind at 2hr10. All 3 are running MK Half in 2 weeks time and are probably hoping for cooler weather on race day! Suki Joy was also there and finished in 2hr46; Well done Suki, you are well on your way to London now!
Greensands Country 50km Trail Ultra Marathon also took place on Sunday. Alena Fielding completed her first Ultra in a brilliant 7 hours and 27 minutes. Jo Secker was also there finishing the course in a very respectable 8 hours and 14 minutes. An incredible achievement from both of you, especially in this heat!