St Albans Half Marathon - 8 June 2014

It was a beautiful morning in the park at St Albans this morning with clear blue skies and hardly a breath of wind. The temperature at about 10.00am was in the low to mid twenties (in the shade) and conditions were perfect for almost everything apart from running a half-marathon. Unfortunately that's what Les, Liam and I had travelled there for.

There was a good sized field and 2503 finishers but a number of people dropped out mid race with heat related issues.

The event was well organised but the start was a bit congested and as the run was on narrow paths to begin with it took a good mile to try and pass the slower runners who had gathered near the the front. It soon got better with the remainder run largely on closed roads.

The route started undulating near the start but Liam and were running together and keeping a decent pace for the first half of the race. However I started to suffer from the heat on the long uphill stretch from 6 miles to 8 miles and Liam, who was coping much better with the conditions, pressed on. I came close to dropping out after about 8 miles due to overheating but decided to ease off the pace, especially on the many hills, to make sure I got to the finish. Thankfully there were plenty of water stops where I could get a cold mini shower and cool off a bit.

Speaking to Les as the end he had also suffered with the heat and the many hills that made the run so tough.

We agreed at the end of the race that the race lacked any real flat sections and it seemed like it was either uphill or downhill all the way round. 

Out of the 2503 finishers Liam Ko posted a very good time of 1.44.27 for 368th place. I managed to get home with a time of 1.55.37 in 841st place and Les Potts finished in in a time of 2.03.34 to finish in 1251st place.

The ice lollies handed out at the end were very welcome!

Chris

London BUPA 10K - Sunday 4th May 2014

The only decent day of the bank holiday weekend saw Pete, Sian, Fiona and me take part in the above event. For Pete, Fiona and me this was the second consecutive year we have taken part. For Sian it was her first entry into a 10K event and the first time she has run further than 5K!

This was a mass participation event starting and finishing on The Mall just by Buckingham Palace and passing a number of London's iconic landmarks and it was run on closed roads. The event was really well supported by the public and the many bands along the way gave the event a party atmosphere.

The race was run in ideal weather conditions with super medals and goody bags for the 12,133 finishers.

Flitwick Tri results were:

Les Potts            placed 3,112 in 50m46s  (the first time I have achieved a negative split)

Pete Jones         placed 6,434 in 59m12s

Fiona Jones       placed 6,481 in 59m18s

Sian Jones         placed 11,807 in 1h25m50s

Les

Milton Keynes Marathon - 05.05.14

A few months ago Liam & I finally convinced each other that after several half marathons it was time to tackle the real thing and naively entered our first full marathon - the Milton Keynes Marathon on 5 May.

Whenever possible we increased our training runs and in the weeks just prior to the race reached distances of about 19 miles albeit at a modest pace.

We both had race plans that included first and foremost finishing, with Liam hoping for a time of around 4 hours and me a time of 4hours 20/25 minutes.

The event started outside the MK Dons stadium with the first 12/13 miles on closed roads to and around the shopping centre then back again before heading on to the Redways for the final 13 miles, finishing inside the Don’s stadium. It was a lovely day for running although just a few degrees too warm.

Apart from not having starting pens based on expected race times and starting with the half marathon runners which made the start a little chaotic the event was really well organised, the crowds and marshals were all really supportive. There were plenty of water & gel stations and live bands on route.

Unsurprising it was a race of two halves. The first half went well for both of us although we’d both admit to running faster than we should have. I got to the halfway point in exactly 2 hours and Liam about 1hour 50 minutes and hence both on target for respectable times.

Unfortunately by about the 28km point I was struggling to keep running and spent the next 10k having to alternate between running and walking. This was part due to being exhausted but also I encountered knee pain as well as blisters that I had not had before. With 3 / 4km to go I managed to speed up a little and completed the course in 4hours 40minutes i.e. an average pace of 6m38s per km and finishing 1,454^th out of 2,107 finishers.

Liam went well for the first 33km before tiredness started to take hold with the last 3 / 4km being a real struggle for him with cramp in both legs. Liam finished in 4 hours 25minutes averaging 6m22s per km and was placed 1,229^th.

Whilst both proud of our achievement we immediately swore that this was our first and last full marathon. Needless to say within 24 hours Liam was considering his next marathon, and whilst I am still reluctant to enter another you never know….

Les

Bedford Parkrun 17.05.14

A very warm and windless Bedford Park greeted runners for this week's Parkrun. Amongst the 278 runners were 6 from FlitwickTri. Jack and Steve clearly found conditions to their liking and achieved impressive new PBs.

The times were:

Chris Wright            22.06
Jack Wilkinson        22.13
Steve Clough          22.35
Fiona Jones            27.41
Emily Potts             30.21
Sian Jones              37.39

Well done everyone. 

Bedford Parkrun - 10.05.14

The few minutes before the Bedford Parkrun yesterday were wet and breezy but thankfully it stayed dry for the run itself.

We had a new face taking part in Aidan Yau and there were 6 others from the group running out of a field of 213.

Times were:

Liam Ko                22.22
Emily Potts           30.50
Les Potts               30.54
Ellen Wright          32.16
Chris Wright          32.17
Aidan Yau              32.31
Sarah Eke              32.39

Well done all.

Silverstone 10K - 07.05.14

On Wednesday evening, I drove over to Silverstone for the 10k run round the grand prix circuit. I was surprised how popular the event was with just over 1100 competitors but the wide track meant there was no delay getting away at the start. As always seems to be the case at Silverstone it was quite breezy but not too bad. I finished in 47.55, which was a PB beating my previous best set in 1998, for 459th place.

 

Two PBs in five days and still not good enough for the ‘Flitwick Tri performance of the week’!

Bedford Parkrun - 03.05.14

With Les and Liam resting up before the Milton Keynes marathon and Pete Jones volunteering there were 4 FlitwickTri runners taking part in the Bedford Parkrun on Saturday out of a field of 276 runners.

With ideal running conditions Steve Clough got under the 23 minute barrier for the first time recording an excellent new PB.

Times were:

Steve Clough         22.56
Fiona Jones            26.41
Emily Potts             31.02
Sian Jones               36.57

Well done everyone.