.
Bedford Autodrome 10K, Sunday, 4th August: In their first 10K races of 2024, Neil Pollard (34:15, 3rd of 181 overall, 1st of 9 in M45-49, age grade 84.87%) and Hannah Pollard (44:20, 5th F of 79, 2nd of 9 in F40-44, 71.92%) both put in high class performances over the motor racing circuit at Bedford Autodrome. Hannah is now second fastest female Newmarket Jogger over the distance this year, with young Lilian Corbett (aged 16) achieving 42:24 in the Newmarket 10K in June. Neil is now third fastest male Jogger over the distance, with Mark Hayward in the lead on 33:41 from Robert Dobson on 34:00.
.
Above: Neil & Hannah after the Bedford Autodrome 10K. Thanks for the photo.
.
Stour Valley Path (SVP) 50K Ultra, Sudbury to Manningtree, Saturday August 3rd: Jimmy Smith (4:30:56, 4th of 156 overall, no age groups given) appeared to stroll through this race, over his favourite type of trail route and one which he knows well, having successfully completed the SVP 100K Ultra from Newmarket to Manningtree in 2016 and 2023. This will no doubt be good training for his third 50-mile ultra race in the Chilterns on 21st September, which will be helping to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society, as will his fourth and final 50-mile trail race at Wendover Woods in November.
.
Jimmy Smith in Sudbury before the SVP 50K; Jimmy on his way along the Stour Valley Path. Thanks for the photos.
.
Great Barrow Challenge 10 in 10, Barrow, near Bury St Edmunds (26th July to 4th August): Originally (~10 years ago) the challenge was to do 10 marathons in 10 days, but it has become increasingly popular to offer the challenge for all distances and mixtures of different distances. Newmarket Joggers had no individual entrants in the ’10 in 10′ challenge but we did have several runners over various distances on different days. Caroline Mcintosh F70 ran half marathons on Day 1 (2:50:20) and Day 8 (2:49:24), mainly as training runs for her Helsinki Marathon on 24th August, plus extra mileage on top of the half marathon distances for good measure. She will certainly be well prepared for Helsinki.
.
Other Joggers were there mainly to offer support to Nic Senz of Newmarket’s Let’s Run Girls (LRG), who managed to complete 9 x 10K + 1 x Half Marathon on the final day, for an impressive total distance of 111.1km (69 miles) in 10 days. Her NJ supporters were Nicole Smith (1:09:20 in 10K, Day 3), Miranda McWade (1:21:21,1:08:54,1:10:13 in 10Ks, Days 4, 8 and 9), Sue Kent (1:23:13,1:22:13 in 10Ks, Days 6 and 10), Meera Mahadevan (1:16:23 in 10K, Day 10) and Jan Holmes (1:16:25 in 10K, Day 10). Newmarket Jogger Anna Mayhew, the leader of LRG, was also there to support, though is currently injured and could not run.
.
Above: Nic Senz of LRG, who completed the 10 in 10 Challenge, displays all her medals. Thanks for the photo.
.
Joggers and LRG members after the final day of the Great Barrow Challenge. Thanks for the photo.