Hannah & Neil Pollard ran the Manhattanite 10K on Manhattan Island on Saturday 7th December, as part of a relaxing weekend break in New York. The race was a small, friendly affair with just 100 runners, but it brought out the best in both of them. Neil finished first man home in a time of 35:32 (SB 33:35) and 1st of 10 in his M40-49 age group, while Hannah was 2nd of 42 female runners in 43:49 and 1st of 8 in F40-49. Hannah was just 5 seconds outside her best 10k time this year.
The photos of their trip might well make Hannah and Neil candidates for the ‘Vest On A Quest’ competition, with the annual winner to be announced at the Newmarket Joggers’ Christmas Party and Awards Night on Saturday 14th December.
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Above top left: Neil & Hannah with 10k medals; top right: Neil on podium, 1st placed male; bottom left: Hannah 2nd placed female; bottom centre: Hannah & Neil by Christmas Tree after race; bottom right: Neil & Hannah on Brooklyn Bridge. Thanks for photos on Strava.
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Despite the high winds of Storm Darragh, several high profile running events did take place within a reasonable distance of Newmarket. In the MK Winter Half Marathon at Milton Keynes on Sunday, Ross Birkett (1:21:37, 22nd of 2,138 overall, 4th of 175 in M35-39) performed exceptionally well overall and in his age group, recording his best half marathon time this year.
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Also on Sunday, four Joggers ran in the ATW Stevenage Winter 10K & Half Marathon event. In the 10k, Junior Jogger Cerys Bithell (43:27, 26th of 304 overall, 4th F of 139, 1st F of 5 in FU17) put in a great effort under the difficult conditions, while Phil Blundell (49:15, 64th , 11th of 19 in M45-49) recorded close to his best time this year. In the Half Marathon, Helen Hilario (1:44:58, 78th of 318 overall, 19th F of 106, 1st of 8 in F50-54) and Eleanor Bithell (1:45:00, 79th, 20th F, 3rd of 13 in F45-49) ran together for mutual support and did very well in their age groups.
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Above left: Helen, Phil and Ellie after their races; right: The medal. Thanks for photos.
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Much nearer home on Sunday, the Zig Zag Brandon Country Park multi-lap trail event got the go-ahead and attracted two Joggers. In the 4-lap Half Marathon race, James Thomson did well to clock 1:47:59, finishing 2nd of 50 in his first attempt at the distance this year, while Jon Brooker (6:12:59, 7th of 8) achieved his first known Ultra Marathon in the 9-lap race of just under 30 miles.
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Above top: The 11:00 start, with James Thomson centre-left of photo; bottom left: In action during the half marathon; bottom right: With medal afterwards. Thanks to James and Zig Zag Running for photos.
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VALENCIA MARATHON UPDATE
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Apologies for missing out Carol Carter and Richard Defries last week, who both enjoyed running in the Valencia Marathon on 1st December and put in top efforts. Carol (3:15:25 PB, 654th F of 6,182, 29th of 686 in F50-54) did extremely well to finish high up in the female finishing order and in her age group, earning a PB and an age grade of 81.85%. This beat her previous PB in the same race in 2023 by 25 seconds and was her 6th marathon. Her negative halfway splits were exemplary, showing 51 seconds faster in the second half, while her pace barely altered the whole way through. That’s how to run a marathon.
Richard (3:59:23, 19,978th of 28,186 overall, 1,931st of 2,797 in M50-54) also put in a very good effort in this high class field, with comparatively few in the way of ‘fun runners’ at the rear. According to runbritainrankings.com, his PB stands at 3:32:07 in the Dublin Marathon 2010 and he has completed seven marathons so far. He also completed the South Downs Way 50M Ultra in April this year (11:25:29), along with Jimmy Smith.
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Carol was also missed off the report of the Essex Remembrance Run Half Marathon, which took place on Saturday November 9th at Carver Barracks, Saffron Walden. She finished in a time of 1:35:08, 1st F of 43 and 1st of 14 in F50-59, so another great performance. Her half marathon PB stands at 1:27:33, at Liverpool in March this year, earning a most impressive age grade of 87.84%. After starting off in parkruns in 2015, her running career has really blossomed over the last few years.
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Above left: Carol Carter and Richard Defries with medals after Valencia Marathon; right: Carol Carter with Essex Remembrance Day Half Marathon winner’s and age group medals. It wasn’t the South Downs Way 😁. Thanks to Carol and Richard for photos.
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VEST ON A QUEST
Another Jogger, Martin Smith, was in the Bahamas on holiday last week and was staying on Paradise Island. Included are some of his photos which also might interest outgoing Chair Kate Warboys, who is due to judge the competition before the Awards Night on Saturday 14th December.
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Above: Martin Smith by Fort Montagu on New Providence Island, the smallest of four old forts found on the islands, built in 1741 to defend the British possession from Spanish invaders. Thanks to Martin for the photos.