March Running Report

Last update: 28th March 2010

Reading Half Marathon

Sunday 21st March 2010

On a very warm day, Corinna Hussey set a PB of 1:59:05 at the Reading half marathon. Hussey was elated to finally break the 2 hour with 55 seconds to spare. The half marathon route was mostly flat with hills at 2 and 7 miles and leads the athletes through and around the centre of Reading. The local support was incredible and the Madejski Stadium made a wonderful finish for a great occasion.

Stowmarket Joe Cox Half Marathon

Sunday 28th March 2010

Another excellent turn out for the Hares at a local half marathon. Fifteen Hares took part (out of a total of 304 runners) in the Joe Cox half marathon organised impeccably as usual by the Stowmarket Striders. Despite threatening rain, the day remained dry and occasionally sunny though the head winds were cruel. Combined with the hills on this undulating course the result was a tough race that challenged all the athletes.

With Matt Gant, Steve Hunt and Francesca Dowie in training for the London Marathon and the triathlon boys looking for a solid run as part of their Ironman training the scene was set for a an excellent race between the Hares. Gant set the pace and lead the Hares through the first 4 miles until caught by Grimwade who tested him for the next few miles. Sadly, as so often is the case recently, Grimwade imploded at 9 miles and had to let Gant go, Hanley and Hunt both passed Grimwade but could not catch Gant who had run a perfectly paced race to finish in a time of 1:34:00. An excellent performance from Mike Rosbrook, the oldest athlete in the event, saw him complete the course in 1:50:12, whilst in his very first half marathon Steve Cox's brilliant 1:44:20 suggests there is more to come. Eager not to be outdone by the other, husband and wife team Deb and Andrew Stewart both achieved PBs. Full results below.

Pos Name                Time
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 45 Matt Gant        1:34:32
 57 Richard Hanley   1:36:59
 86 Steve Hunt       1:40:46
 88 Doug Grimwade    1:41:41
 91 Brian Airlie     1:42:11
113 Steve Cox        1:44:20
148 Andrew Stewart   1:47:55
163 Mike Rosbrook    1:50:12
165 Steve Bowen      1:50:30
192 Martin Alabone   1:54:15
234 Rebecca Smith    1:59:10
256 Sarah Hunt       2:02:56
258 Anna Claffey     2:03:52
267 Deb Stewart      2:06:44
301 Francesca Dowie  2:37:58
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