In the Bedford Autodrome Running Grand Prix, Sunday March 27, Andrew Taylor (M45) achieved a new PB of 19:58 in the 5K event. This beats his previous best time of 20:41 in the Duxford Dash 5K two weeks ago. Taylor has been concentrating almost exclusively on the 10K distance in recent years but decided to target the shorter distance this year. The strategy has certainly paid dividends, putting him up to platinum club standard with 73.29% age grade.
On the same day, in the Lee Valley Half Marathon in Essex, Caroline Mcintosh (F65) put in an even-paced run/walk 2:41:29 effort, her best half marathon time this year. She did not weaken at all in the final stages, showing she had energy in reserve. It was basically training for her upcoming Boston(US) Marathon attempt in May. If she could keep up this kind of pace at Boston, she would be close to her 5:24:01 PB at Berlin in 2018. Boston will be Caroline’s fifth World Marathon Major, after New York City (2015), London (2017), Berlin (2018) and Chicago (2019), leaving only Tokyo to complete the set of six. She should already have completed the Tokyo Marathon in 2020 but Covid-19 caused multiple postponements and eventually cancellation of the event. Injuries over the last few years have caused major set-backs too but Mcintosh has never been deterred from her aim to complete all six Marathon Majors, and who would doubt her resolve?
Caroline Mcintosh pictured in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, while on a short break. Many thanks to Caroline for the photo.
Also on Sunday, nine Joggers took part in the Barr Ellison Thetford Forest 10K hoohaah, over an attractive, wooded, trail course. Andrew Aldridge had a great run in 44:21 (18th of 330 overall, 3rd of 45 in M40). Ruth Bell was next home and first female Jogger in 53:34 (114th overall, 31st F of 190 and 14th of 55 in F15-39), with Paul Roberts (54:34, 119th, 25th of 45 in M40) third Jogger to finish. Then came Anna Mayhew (58:22, 66th F, 11th of 39 in F50), Jan Holmes F55 (1:02:41, 93rd F), Sarah Last F50 (1:06:54, 129th F). Gillian Green F60 (1:19:39, 177th F) and Pearl Fay F60 (1:19:40, 179th F). Wayne Hargreaves M50 (1:04:07, 230th) also ran, representing his first claim club Royston Runners.
