Havant Ac were the hosts for the fourth race in the Hampshire Road Race League. With a cold and frosty start the more compact Roadrunners team made their way over to the nearby Island (not England) for the early start over the hazy waters of the Solent.
Starting on Bacon Lane on the Southern tip of Hayling Island, the Roadrunners lined up in the chilly air of a cold and crisp November morning to take on this fast and flat 10 mile course.
From Bacon Lane they went through West Town heading on to a particularly fast section of the course along the Old Hayling Billy Railway Line before returning back onto the roads, passing the Ferry Boat Pub and then onto the seafront at Eaststoke and finally returning back to Bacon Lane.
Ross Wilkes was the first one of our team home in a phenomenal 64 mins, very closely followed (2 seconds later) by Matt Fletcher. Both gaining themselves a pair of PBs, Ross knocking 3.5 mins off his and Matt 2 off his. Glen Jones continued his good for, to come in next bagging himself yet another PB, knocking a further 3 minutes off his. Kev Rann also ran a great race crossing the line next and completing the first men’s team.
Next in was the first of the girls, with Jodie Wilmott returning to her best and only narrowly missing out on a PB.
“Lovely course! My lovely husband dropped back to assist my last 5 miles as he had stitch. He made himself into a human wind break for the horrible last mile! I was not expecting to run that well, I was only 22 seconds over my actual PB pre-knee-disaster!”
Good on Pete for making that decision. He was rewarded with a spot prize at the finishline for his chivalry. Next in was club stalwart Karen Phillips, now fully recovered from her brutal fall in the Needles marathon back in the Summer, with mega marathoner Steve Hickman not too far behind her ducking under the 90 minute mark.
“I’m enjoying my time running a few shorter events for a while” he quipped on Facebook the next day.
Talking of falls, the final Roadrunner to cross the finish was Steve Hunt. A bloodied and bruised Steve Hunt.
He took a real plunge coming into the finish as he smashed his nose on the path. Heartbreaking as he was on to break his pb but for this unfortunate tumble. He picked himself up and soldiered on to cross the line a hero.
“There will always be a part of me in Hayling Island. Unfortunately that part used to be attached to my nose! I’m feeling sore but ok, thanks to the power of John Smiths bitter. Oddly I quite enjoyed today thanks to the other roadrunners and I’m glad I dragged my bloodied face across the finish line”
Great determination and true Roadrunner spirit.
Ross Wilkes 1.04.23
Matt Fletcher 1.04.25
Glen Jones 1.15.26
Kev Rann 1.15.42
Jodie Wilmott 1.16.04
Peter Wilmott 1.16.04
Karen Phillips 1.26.26
Steve Hickman 1.28.17
Steve Hunt 1.41.14
