Perfect conditions smiled on some 51 Roadrunners as they lined up on the startline outside Bay House School on this the 33rd running of this fast and flat Hampshire league race. Absent were the traditional hurricane force winds as a fairly still and not too fresh morning made for a pleasant start.
Starting from Browndown Road the crew in white red and blue set out on this 2 lap race along the Portsmouth Road continuing to Marine Parade before finding the samba band for a few mesmeric beats before finding the unusually packaged refreshments at the water station and continuing toward the only slight incline on the course before making the turn onto the Promenade for the return leg.
The course feeling almost like an out and back, our fantastic team could see each other at different stages of the race, offering cheers and whoops of support as they passed.
A sharp U-turn at the halfway point was a welcome sight made all the more joyful by the appearance of the IWRR support crew cheering their hearts out giving every single member a lift as they went. It was here that unfortunately Keith Ruth decided to pull out after struggling with his chest. It’s a hard decision to make, but sometimes its the right one.
Second lap, concentration . Keep moving, keep believing. Get past the Samba band once more, get to the turnpoint, then it’s only a Parkrun left.
Sean Williams ran an absolute blinder, continuing his rise and rise over the longer distances. In only his 3rd half marathon, he managed to snatch another pb as he crossed the line in just over 83 minutes taking 8th V45 to boot. Just seconds behind him were Bill Goozee and Michael Douglas, who, like last year, ran in together, closely followed by Stuart Backhouse taking 10th V45 and bringing the first men’s team home within 32 seconds of each other. Great teamwork fellas.
For the ladies, it was our lioness Hayley Baxter that stormed it around in 98 minutes exactly to give herself a well earned PB.
“I hated that today!” She tells me “I felt dreadful from mile 3 onwards”
But she did what she does best. She dug deep and got the job done in true Baxter style taking 12th V40. Next in was Zoe Sherwin in yet another PB time and 15th V40, continuing what has been a remarkable year for her. Completing the First Ladies team was our fabulous junior Abigail Keyte, running her first half marathon in a cracking 1hr 50 minutes.
“She ran the last 3 miles with a big smile on her face” says dad Tim “I’m so proud of her”
In they came, one by one and two by two. All taking advantage of the favourable conditions by running their hearts out. No fewer than 19 PBS were set, most notable being Nick Carter taking a whopping 36 minutes off his and Tanya Clifford & Jess Hill for knocking 8 minutes off theirs. Also big congratulations to Simon Paul and Eloise Radestock for running their first half marathons, to Gill Shaw for making her club debut and to Sue Hunter for placing 12th in her age category, Lucy Deville for taking 5th place in hers and our second claim member Brian Harris taking 13th in his.
Sean Williams – 1.23.03 PB
Bill Goozee – 1.23.25
Michael Douglas – 1.23.26
Stu Backhouse – 1.23.35
Ross Wilkes – 1.25.17 PB
Andrew MacArthur – 1.27.24 PB
David Blake – 1.31.36 PB
Richard Bezer – 1.34.29 PB
Hayley Baxter – 1.38.00 PB
Garry Sharp – 1.38.49
Paul Martin – 1.41.31
Zoe Sherwin – 1.42.13 PB
Glen Jones – 1.45.07 PB
Kevin Rann – 1.45.08
Simon Paul – 1.47.07
Giorgio Marinelli – 1.48.17 PB
Nick Carter – 1.50.00 PB
Abigail Keyte – 1.50.46
Sarah Ward – 1.50.54
James Shoulder – 1.51.08
George Butler – 1.51.09
Jess Hill – 1.51.29 PB
Dave Wilcock – 1.52.45 PB
Lisa Upstell – 1.54.19
Julie Rasmussen – 1.57.10 PB
Jane Andrew – 1.59.51
Sarah Sharp – 1.59.25
Julie Ray – 2.01.56
Ian Dyer – 2.01.57
Zoe Elliot – 2.02.02
Julie Salter – 2.02.03
Steve Hickman – 2.02.04
Julia Parker – 2.02.07 PB
Sally Trotman – 2.02.09
Margaret Niland-Murphy – 2.06.17
Alison Butcher – 2.06.29 PB
Sue Hunter- 2.11.11
Tanya Clifford – 2.14.25 PB
Caroline Curliss – 2.14.57
Tarnia Eldridge – 2.14.58
Bridget Keyte – 2.15.40
Steve Hunt – 2.22.15
Eloise Radestock – 2.27.19
Lucy DeVille – 2.27.40
Debbie Radestock – 2.29.52 PB
Brian Harris – 2.31.14
Gill Shaw – 2.40.08 PB
Tracey Houdoire – 2.49.37
Lyn Snow – 2.49.41 PB
