Eleven Newmarket Joggers (NJ) completed the Bonfire Burn 10K at Histon & Impington on Sunday 2nd November. First club member home was Sam Sadler (36:53 PB, 11th of 646 overall, 1st of 79 in M40-49) in a new PB time and winner of his age group trophy. Sam is one of the longest standing members of the club, having joined at least 14 years ago and is having one of his best seasons yet. Next to finish was new member Sergio Pelado (43:39 SB, 69th, 14th in M40-49) from James Thomson (45:03, 91st, 45th of 119 in M18-39).
First finisher for the NJ women was Bridget Wallwin (54:04 SB, 84th F of 311, 9th of 64 in F50-59), who did very well in her age group, with help from pacer NJ Martin Smith (54:00, 307th, 62nd in M40-49). Other NJ finishers were ace-veteran Alan Thornhill (59:44, 450th, 34th of 46 in M60+, aged 75+), in-form Joanne Bouttell (1:00:37, 177th F, 10th of 25 in F60+), improving Sarah Last (1:03:10 PB, 199th F, 35th in F50-59), Sarah Kinston (1:04:12, 208th F, 39th in F50-59), Caroline Mcintosh (1:13:07, 284th F, 19th in F60+, aged 70+) and Gillie Green (1:24:49 SB, 305th F, 23rd in F60+); Gillie injured her hamstring but still achieved a season’s best time.
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From left: Sarah Kinston; Vanessa Allen (not NJ); Bridget Wallwin; Martin Smith; Caroline Mcintosh; Sarah Last;
Sam Sadler; Jo Bouttell; Gillie Green; James Thomson.
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Above from left: Jo Bouttell & Sarah Kinston with medals; Sarah Last after her race PB; Vanessa, Martin, Bridget & Sarah Last.
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On the same day, the annual Great Yarmouth East Coast 10K took place. Suzanne Bailey (59:25, 781st of 1,032 overall, 241st F of 437, 6th of 20 in F60-64) put a sound performance, not far from her best time this year.
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Above from left: Suzanne Bailey finishing her race in classic style; the Great Yarmouth promenade scenery; the medal.
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Meanwhile, in North Norfolk, four Joggers enjoyed taking part in the annual Chase The Train 8.8M race, which followed the Bure Valley Path and Bure Valley Miniature Railway over approximately 9 miles, from Aylsham Station to Wroxham Station in The Broads. Competitors first ran the 8.8-mile route from Aylsham to Wroxham and then took the miniature steam train back from Wroxham to Aylsham after all participants had finished. Apparently the train takes about 45 minutes to cover 9 miles, so it would require a pace of about 5 min/mile to keep up. Eliud Kipchoge could have done it with no problem and maybe a few of our top NJ distance runners.
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Above, from left: Reuben Smith, Angela Drury, Marc Drury and Chris Underwood; Wroxham Station; the miniature steam engine.
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Above from left: The race finish at Wroxham Station; boarding the miniature train back to Aylsham; the Bure Valley Railway.
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First Jogger to finish was Marc Drury (1:00:19, 13th of 179 overall, 3rd of 16 in M50-54), who ran with Chris Underwood (1:00:21, 14th, 9th of 25 in MO); then came Angela Drury (1:19:31, 28th F of 82, 5th of 13 in F45-49) and Reuben Smith (1:21:20, 104th, 13th of 17 in M45-49). They all put in good efforts but it looks like none of them kept up with the train, unless it left Aylsham after the race started.
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New York City Marathon, Sunday 2nd November: Two Joggers competed in this Abbott World Marathon Major. Richard Defries (3:36:47, 10,578th of 59,129 overall, 766th of 3,375 in M50-54) ran together with his wife Carol Cienna Carter (3:36:51, 2,506th F of 27,123, 239th of 2,323 in F50-54) and both thoroughly enjoyed the race, as well as doing very well in their age groups. There was a marvellous atmosphere, with streets lined with spectators all along the route from Staten Island to Central Park. The scenery was elating, though they found the course surprisingly undulating, with five bridges to cross in all; the total elevation was about 810 feet. Richard’s marathon PB remains 3:32:07 in Dublin 2010, while Cienna’s PB stands at 3:15:25 in Valencia 2024, according to Power of 10.
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Above: Richard Defries & Cienna Carter with medals. Cienna’s silver medal is
for being a competitor in the Abbott Major Marathon age category championships.
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Winter Warrior 50K Ultra, Saturday 1st November: This trail race, organised by Boghopper Races, started in Trouse, just south of Norwich, and went all the way along the Boudicca Way to Diss. Sianie Painter (8:40:33, 121st of 135 overall, 48th F of 54, 18th of 23 in F50-59) took on the challenge. It was her 16th ultra race and her 8th since last January. She was not looking for a PB and was content to jog/walk most of the way and enjoy the scenery and fresh air. The total amount of climb was 1,647 ft; she has certainly covered some mileage this year.
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Above: Two scenery shots of the Boudicca Way by Sianie Painter; her Winter Warrior 50K medal.
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Regarding last week’s Suffolk Winter XC League report, the results for the Framlingham XC fixture were not yet available at the time of writing. They should be in by next week.
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Many thanks for all the photos, which help to bring the race report alive.