In it’s 3rd year of running the Southampton Half Marathon organisers decided to add a bit of variety into their event. 3 distances are now on offer with a 10k, a half marathon or the full 26.2 miler to choose from. Taking in some of the landmarks of the city, the course visits Bargate, the QE2 Anchor, St Mary’s Stadium and of course the Itchen Bridge.
Southampton has not seen a marathon in the city for over 30 years. 2 laps of the half marathon course faced the 1500 runners as they lined up for the 9am kick off. Everyone of them hoping that the clouds would remain as forecast to sheild them from the sun in Palmerston Park. 8 plucky Roadrunners took on the challenge, some of those tackling the distance for the very first time.
Michael Douglas made an amazing debut at the ultimate endurance test to storm home in 7th place, and gaining a coveted Good for Age place which will give him an automatic place in some major races around the world.
“I didn’t want to blow up. Racing that distance is a lot different to the shorter ones I am used to. I had a lot of good advice from my brother and my coach. I think I paced it pretty well” he said
Next in, also making a magnificent debut was Simon Pilcher, just dipping under 3.5 hours. Matt Fletcher also gained a PB in a fantastic 3.33.53. Julie Salter was the only girl from IWRR in the race. She also gained a PB on the course despite the double challenge of the Itchen Bridge and was a brilliant 5th in her age category.
M.Douglas – 2.56.32
S.Pilcher – 3.29.33
M.Fletcher – 3.33.53
T.Cordery – 3.35.07
J.Salter – 4.02.32
M.Brazier – 4.04.56
M.King – 4.11.09
N.Scott-Denness – 4.29.11
Team Competition
4th Douglas, Fletcher, Cordery
The 1/2 marathon started an hour later, again from Palmerston Park. A fantastic turn out of 4700 lined up to tackle the single lap race, 28 of them Roadrunners. The course, (of course!) was just the 1 lap, but the sun was starting to peep through and the temperature rising.
Simon Randall was the first Roadrunner home in a fantastic 1.24.31 followed by Richard Harvey in 1.25.04. Gordon Mucklow was 3rd in with a long awaited PB of 1.33.47
“The course was very scenic along the river” said Richard “The course was fast and fairly flat…. well compared to the IOW anyway!”
Other members who ran their fastest race over the distance gaining PBs were Darren Andrew, Harry Vernon, Katie Mackenzie, Julie Rasmussen, Julia Parker, Misha Hetherington, Claire Stevens, Tracy Pole and Lucy DeVille.
S.Randall – 1.24.31
R.Harvey – 1.25.04
G.Mucklow – 1.33.47
J.Rogers – 1.40.41
D.Andrew – 1.42.07
A.Morris – 1.44.28
S.Morris – 1.44.52
A.Douglas – 1.45.03
J.Dewing – 1.51.17
C.Williams – 1.52.49
C.Howard – 1.53.49
Z.Sherwin – 1.55.15
H.Vernon – 1.55.20
J.Andrew – 1.57.23
K.Mackenzie – 1.58.26
J.Rasmussen – 1.58.41
J.Parker – 2.02.13
A.Batchelor – 2.02.49
M.Hetherington – 2.04.29
C.Stevens – 2.10.58
C.Hatcher – 2.11.19
T.Pole – 2.12.03
R.Dempsey – 2.12..10
N.Stilwell – 2.13.43
I.Williams – 2.16.02
L.Deville – 2.17.32
J.Randall – 2.40.27
L.Snow – 2.51.49
10.30am saw the last race of the day get underway. The 10k saw 1600 runners participate, however Shannon Brennen was the only Roadrunner to line up to start. She came into the finish at Guildhall Square in a respectable 63 minutes.
S.Brennen – 1.03.44
