For anyone considering training for a marathon the first principle is to ensure that you respect the distance and prepare for it not only physically but mentally. Many of the Joggers are fit individuals who run a couple of times a week but when you undertake marathon training it’s a different ball game and really does take over your life for the months leading up to the event.  For example over the last 4 months we’ve had Joggers in various states of disarray due to their hard training schedules, Kirstie Newton ended up in hospital after a fall, Greg Davis was whisked to A&E 2 weeks ago with a suspected metatarsal injury (luckily false alarm – strain), several have thrown up after and even during long runs, Cathryn and Martin have had to cross train on bikes due to injuries and we’ve had cases of near hypothermia which has recently been replaced by dehydration due to heat in the last few weeks.  The team have really put in an amazing effort to reach their goals;  it’s not easy and there have been tears but mainly there’s been lots of laughter, tales told and new friendships made.  It’s tough not only doing the long runs but taking what comes with the training – tiredness, injury, pain and dedication, those that actually make it to the start line could well be robots after all.

The London Marathon is the UK’s biggest marathon and attracts over 36,000 runners each year, this year the Joggers fielded a team of 13, which may be unlucky for some but they all started and finished so it was lucky 13 for the Newmarket club.

First home in a new PB was Robin Clifford in an incredible 2:47, his previous London time being 2:51, this guarantees him entry to next year’s marathon and is the fastest time for the club this season putting him in the club elite bracket.  Ben Blowes running his 9th marathon and 5th consecutive London was looking to ensure he kept sub 3 hours and after starting too quickly and having a ‘wobble’ at 3miles he slowed down and 2 black toenails later crossed the line in  2:59, this was his most enjoyable marathon and although he had to change tactics and aim for sub 3 rather than a new PB he’s delighted with what was his ‘most enjoyable marathon ever’.  Matthew Harvey was next home for the club in 3:01, another incredibly quick time for this talented marathoner having finished last year’s race in 2:41.  Greg Davis ran a brilliant race and after being on target for his goal of sub 3:15 until 21 miles when the heat and humidity took over dug deep to finish in 3:22 and is already planning his next marathon after getting bitten by the marathon bug, again.  Ursula White was the first lady for the club and ran an incredible 3:42 which was made more impressive by the fact she’s been ill for the last 3 weeks but the winter training had obviously paid off as she took almost 15 minutes off her previous PB.  Martin Gear who is lucky to be on the start line at all and has to be one of Newmarket’s luckiest lads after being kicked in the head by a horse last year followed by appendicitis then recently a knee injury which resulted in him swimming and cycling his way to the line, completed his first marathon in 3:50 which was closely followed by the ever motivated and spirited Alan Shand in 3:51.  Richard Jones was another to keep sub 4hours completing in 3:58.  Cathryn Starling has spent the last 2 weeks leading up to the marathon in agony after injuring herself on her last long training run, however after intensive physiotherapy, acupuncture and almost being taken out of the race by Princess Beatrice’s caterpillar she crossed the line in 4:16 a brilliant time for her first marathon.  Paul Baxter was next along the Mall in 4:23 with Mary Marsh following  half an hour later, she was enjoying the race until the 20 mile marker when nausea kicked in but still managed to battle through and cross the line in 4:55.  Running her first marathon was Louise Hutt who has also had knee problems throughout training but didn’t let pain stop her from ensuring she got sub 5 hours by crossing the line in 4:59.  Katharine Smith who only joined the Joggers last year after starting running in October 2009 when 200 metres seemed impossible crossed the line 6:51 a great achievement.



Matthew Harvey is going for a sub 2:41 (incredible I am only at halfway point when he’s finished – awesome!!) which is his PB from London 2009.

Katharine Smith who only joined the Joggers last year after starting running in October when 200m seemed impossible, her longest run in training has been 20 miles and she lines up on Sunday 6 months after thinking she couldn’t run to the end of her road.

There’s Cathryn Starling and Ursula White who have trained so hard since gaining club places in October and latterly fallen foul to injury and disease respectively, however if anyone can cross the line this pair can as they’re a pair of determined diva’s.  This is Cathryn’s first marathon and Ursula’s second London (previous PB 3:56).

Alan Shand will be running in memory of his ‘mam’ and hopes to achieve a sub 3:30 finish, this will be his second marathon in 6 months after completing the Loch Ness Marathon last October.

Ben Blowes will be running his 5th consecutive London and 9th marathon in total, he hopes to get a sub 2:50 but will be happy with sub 3 hour finish.  This may be his last marathon for a while as he’s set to become a Daddy in the summer which means nappies and sleepless nights are on the schedule come June.

Martin Gear is lucky to be on the start line at all and has to be one of Newmarkets luckiest lads as he wasn’t content with getting kicked in the head by a horse last year but had to get a bout of appendicitis after picking up training again and recently plagued with injury which has seen him swim/cycle his way to the line, he hopes to finish sub 3:45.

There’s also Robin Clifford running in the the sub 3hours bracket after his 2008 finish of 2:51 and he’ll have his wife Tanya and  daughter Molly willing him on down the Mall.

Louise Hutt has been training with Miranda for her first marathon and couldn’t have picked a better training partner; she’s looking to get around and enjoy the experience but having run with her myself I think she might just do a tad better than get round.

Mary Marsh didn’t have the best experience in her first marathon and hopes to better her time of 4:25 and avoid needing a sick bag all the way home, she’s had trouble with her knees in training but has trained extremely hard putting in some long runs of 21 miles so she’s well prepared.

Greg Davis is looking for a sub 3:15, he’s another who’s trained very hard but makes it look so easy when you see him striding out around Newmarket, his PB is 2:59 and who knows if all goes well on Sunday he just might better that.

Paul Holley was 5^th overall and 1^st MV40 in a time of 31:39 to claim first Jogger over the 5½ miles, Vince Coogan made a welcome comeback to the team finishing in 34:45 (16^th) and Steve Edwards continues his return to form with a time of 35:59 and 27^th overall. Another welcome return was that of Michael Ball who completed in 36:38 and 37^th position. Brian Munns and Nick Conway had done a pre-race recce of the course which proved fortuitous as they finished 51^st and 53^rd in 38:06 and 38:13 respectively.

First lady home and setting a great example as Ladies Captain was Ursula White in 39:27 and 66^th position (6^th female). Jim Beeton and Jim Withers finished in 70^th (39:41) and 85^th (41:35) position and Cathryn Starling was next lady for the club in 113^th in 44:01 which sets her training on course for her first marathon in April. Completing the mud drenched course for the team were Terry Braverman 130 46:16, Stuart Janes 132 46:44 and Carolynn Anderson 134 47:01 to complete the seniors line up.

The Juniors was a well contested event and Micheal Bartrum showed his stamina and speed to finish 3^rd overall putting in a great run beating many older aged entrants. Charlotte Jones was first for the girls in 24^th position closely followed by Chloe Beeton in 28^th and Charlotte Grass in 37^th, all competed very well in their age groups and put in superb performances.

The winners for 2009 were:

Team Member of the Year – Alan Goodenough

Most improved Female – Miranda Paul (4 marathons and an ultra marathon in a year)

Most improved Male – Stuart Janes

Newcomer Female – Kirstie Newton

Newcomer Male – Greg Davis

Team Member Female – Cathryn Starling

Team Member Male – Jim Withers

Special mentions went to Jenny O’Callaghan, Neville Clarke, Nick Conway, Debbie Read, Brian Munns, John Vale and Ursula White.

Suffolk XC League – Framlingham – 1st Fixture

The Suffolk Cross Country Season has started and as ever it’s in at the deep end (literarily with mud, moats and bogs) with the fixture at Framlingham a 3 lap gruelling course around the moat of the famous castle and landmark. A welcome return to the team and form for Steve Edwards who finished 34^th overall with Brian Munns following closely in 38^th. Neville Clarke was next in 52^nd followed by Jim Withers (68^th), Neil Williamson (83^rd) and Stuart Janes (128^th). Only 2 ladies were brave enough to attempt the course and first home for the team galloping around the moat was Susannah Rush 98^th overall with Jenny O’Callaghan in 133^rd.

Over the last week there have been Marathon runners a plenty for the town with Vince Colby completing his 4^th marathon of the year in Dublin in 3:23:19 a PB for the season previously he had ran: Amsterdam (3:44); Rome (4:05); London (3:41).

WE WILL MEET AT THE LEISURE CENTRE FOR THESE EVENTS TO ORGANISE CAR SHARING (REMEMBER IT IS £3.00 EACH TO THE DRIVER) TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED NEARER THE TIME

1/11/09 Framlingham

15/11/09 Bungay

06/12/09 Woodbridge

24/01/2010 Bury St Edmunds

??/02/2010 Stowmarket (Date TBC)

SCAA XC Chamionships

10/01/2010 Newmarket

follow the link below for the results.

wandlebury results

wandlebury 5 mile results