Two Joggers made the trip to the Netherlands for the Mazuno Amsterdam Half Marathon. Phil Blundell (1:40:29 SB, 2,668th of 13,340 overall, 160th of 579 in M45-49) was in excellent form and must have benefited from his easier run (with a work colleague) in the Peterborough Half Marathon the week before, when he clocked 1:56:14. In this race he was not far from his PB of 1:36:57 (2023). Easier runs in races are a good way to train, without straining anything, if the urge to go faster can be resisted. Meera Mahadevan (2:11:29, 2,991st of 6,020 F, 169th of 422 in F50-54) also did very well amongst female runners and in her age group. Her best time this year was 1:56:16 in the Cambridge Half Marathon in March, with her PB 1:53:53 at St Neots in 2024. Following her excellent Manchester Marathon debut in April this year (4:47:35), she has been unable to find time for a lot of training, so did very well under the circumstances.
Above from left: Phil Blundell (second from left) with Ely Runners mates at Amsterdam HM; Jon Brooker, finishing Autumn Blickling HM.
Near Aylsham in North Norfolk on Sunday was the Autumn Blickling Half Marathon. Jon Brooker (1:35:53 SB, 77th of 1,000 overall, 3rd of 34 in M60-64) was in top form, clocking his fastest time since 2019, and doing very well to come 3rd in his age group. Since turning 60 earlier this year, he has been moving the clock back with every race.
Meanwhile, Lilian Corbett (1:50:48, 63rd of 259 overall, 5th of 89 F, 2nd of 54 in FS) enjoyed a great run in the High Lodge Half Marathon near Thetford. She was well up with the leading female runners and so close to winning her age group. Earlier this year she did a slightly faster time in the Cambridge Half Marathon (1:49:33), in her first attempt at the distance since turning the required 17 years of age. However, the High Lodge race was off-road, over uneven ground on grass and gravel; also, along narrow, lumpy paths through woods, with trip hazards; altogether, a much more difficult task. Also running in this race was Craig Ladley (2:43:44, 244th overall, 24th in M40-44), in his second half marathon to date, following 2:23:05 at Cambridge earlier this year.
TRACK, XC & RACE WALK NEWS
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Good news from Elke Hausler, who has been competing in the European Masters Athletics Championships in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal (8th to 19th October). Last week we reported that Elke finished 4th of 10 and clocked a season’s best 5:35.46 in the W60 1500m final. That put her 2nd to Clare Elms in the fastest times recorded by GBR W60 runners this year, earning her an age grade of 97.30% on Power of 10. We can now report that Elke also qualified for the final of the W60 800m on 18th October, finishing 4th of 10 in a new PB time of 2:43.18, 92.90%. The race was won by Anne Gilshinan of Ireland (2:26.02), with GBR Virginia Mitchell (2:27.21) second. Elke just pipped the other GBR runner Christine Anthony (2:44.22), who is a member of Saint Edmund Pacers and a close friend.
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Above from left: The line-up for the W60 800m final, with Elke Hausler GBR 4th from right, Christine Anthony GBR 2nd from right and Virginia Mitchell GBR, 5th from right; the eventual winner, Anne Gilshinan of Ireland, is on the far right in green. 2nd photo: Elke Hausler & Christine Anthony of GBR.
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Elke didn’t quite manage to qualify for the W60 4 x 400m final on the final day of the championships. However, as a fitting finale, she was fortunate enough to take part in the W50 4 x 400m final as a substitute for a withdrawn member of the GBR W50 team. She did well to clock 71.60s (close to her PB of 1:11.41) and helped the team to a bronze medal win in a time of 4:29.05. Her husband Michael Hausler, won a silver medal in the M65 Shot Put, so a successful weekend all round.
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Above: The top three teams in the W50 4 x 400m race, with Sweden top, France 2nd and GBR in the bronze medal 3rd position, Elke in front; 2nd photo: Third-placed GBR W50 team, with last-minute substitute Elke crouching in front.
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Six junior Joggers formed two teams of three, to take part in the Ipswich Jaffa Junior XC Relays event at Bourne Park on Sunday 12th October. In the U13 boys’ event over 3 laps of 2km, Rio Mcandrew (08:27), Lewis Stinger (09:21) and Noah Poujardieu (08:03) did well to finish 3rd of 5 teams with 25:51 total. In the U15 mixed event over 3 laps of 3km, Sophie Blundell (15:11), Lily-Ann Cooper (14:58) and Seb Barrett (13:01) put in good efforts to finish 3rd of 4 teams in 43:10. It was excellent team experience for the juniors.
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Above: The two NJ teams from left: U13 boys Rio Mcandrew, Noah Poujardieu and Lewis Stinger; 2nd photo, U15 mixed: Sophie Blundell, Lily-Ann Cooper and Seb Barrett.
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In the Enfield Race Walking League, it was the 8th and final fixture of the season on King George’s Playing Fields, Enfield. The main event was the 5km Handicap, which attracted 16 walkers. Participants were started off at intervals, according to their handicap. Great news that Lily-Ann Cooper U15 won the Handicap, with Suzanne Bailey W60 in second position. It was a PB for Lily-Ann of 35:33 and a PB for Suzanne of 36:11, showing how much they have improved over the year. In the separate 2km walk, new NJ recruit Rio Mcandrew clocked a first-time PB of 12:28, while Sophie Blundell did well to record 18:55 in the 3km race (PB = 18:46.60). None of the Joggers received penalty points for incorrect walking.
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Above from left: Lily-Ann Cooper with her 5km Handicap race walk winner’s trophy; the scene of the Handicap race walk.
Above: Pictures of Rio and Sophie during their 2km and 3km race walks.
