If ever there was a busy weekend on the roads, this was it. James Rhodes brings the highlights.
Vamos Valencia
There is perhaps no city as famed for road running as Valencia, and this year’s edition of the Valencia Half Marathon demonstrated why that is. The usual perfect conditions gave way to considerable rain, but the performances remained red hot. At the front end, Yomif Kejelcha broke Jacob Kiplimo’s World Record by one second (57:30). A few minutes later, Agnes Ngetich (63:02) slotted into second on the all-time list in her marathon debut. That came off the back of 29:18 10k and 44:16 15k splits, the latter four seconds faster that the World Best.
The best British performance came from Clara Evans, finishing fourteenth in the women’s field. That improves her PB by over one minute and breaks Charlotte Arter’s Welch Record, set in Barcelona in 2019.
Photo: James Rhodes
Five places behind, Natasha Phillips considerably improved her own European and British U20 Record to 70:18. That time moves her to fourth on the Scottish all-time list behind Eilish McColgan, Liz McColgan and Steph Twell.
Hannah Irwin (70:49) improved her own Northern Irish Record, whilst Jenny Nesbitt (71:32) and Anna Bracegirdle (72:45) set big PBs. Running from the mass start, Hannah Viner’s gun time of 74:32 is a seven second PB. Her chip time of 74:16 an even larger improvement. London-based Georgie Grgec of New Zealand clocked 70:12 for a Herne Hill Harriers club record and a two-and-a-half minute PB.
Strong performances from Tom Anderson (62:00) and Zak Mahamed (62:07) saw the pair rewarded with lifetime bests. Such is the depth of the field, they finished 28th and 34th respectively.
Behind, Ollie Lockley (63:28), Liam Dee (63:43 PB) and Ben Alock (64:06 PB) had good outings in the rain. In all, 23 British men ran inside 70:00, impressive depth for a Spanish race!
Fast in Frankfurt
Around 1,000 miles northeast, thousands of runners were taking to the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, which came with strong British interest. The most impressive performance came from Dorking & Mole Valley’s George James. A runner perhaps unknown to many, he clocked 2:14:59 in his marathon debut at London in April. He made a significant improvement on the Frankfurt streets, finishing twelfth in 2:11:19.
That time moves George into the top-40 on the British all-time list, equal with Marc Scott and one place ahead of Ben Connor. It is also a qualifying standard for next month’s European Road Running Championships.
Behind, Logan Smith improved his PB by almost four minutes to 2:15:49. Carl Avery (2:17:01 PB), Dean Williamson (2:20:04 debut) and Lachlan Oates (2:23:18) also had good days at the running office.
Ben Connor on pacing duties in Frankfurt. Photo: Mainova Frankfurt Marathon
Having set PBs at 5k, 10k and the half marathon in recent weeks, it is no surprise that Georgina Schwiening did the same over 26.2 miles. She improved to 2:25:46, finishing eleventh and moving to ninth on the British all-time list. Her time is just one second faster than Philly Bowden ran in Berlin earlier this month.
Louise Small (2:29:33) was also rewarded with a PB, whilst Tracy Barlow (2:35:51) ran her fastest in four years. Making her marathon debut, Beth Kidger clocked 2:37:40 whilst Naomi Mitchell ran a 2:38:37 SB.
Closer to Home
Two of the more challenging marathons in the United Kingdom took place this weekend; the Beachy Head Marathon and the Marathon Eryri (Snowdonia).
At the scenic – but undoubtedly tough – Marathon Eryri, Andrew Davies broke the current Course Record by over two minutes, finishing in 2:28:41. That time is less than one minute shy of the race record set by Jeff Norman in 1985 (2:28:02). He finished almost five minutes clear of second placed Michael Kallenberg (2:33:40), with Michael Young (2:37:25) third.
There was a similar margin of victory for Louise Flynn, who finished in 2:59:27. She was the only woman to break the three hour mark. Elinor Kirk (3:04:41) and Antoinette Rose (3:06:44) joined her on the podium.
On the south coast, the Beachy Head Marathon incorporates over 1,100m of elevation gain. This year’s winners were Amelie Karlsson (3:41:52) and Oliver Varny (2:57:14). He was the only person sub-three hours, and finished seven clear of the rest of the field. Precisely 1,100 runners finished.
The event also offers a half marathon, won by Madeleine Baptista (97:22) and Ethan Strevett (91:49), plus a 10k. That was won by Rob Sherwood (38:09) and Lianne Leakey (46:05).
Half the Distance
Western Tempo athletes finished first, second and fourth at the Stroud Half Marathon, led by Dylan Gillett (68:12). Daisy Irving-Hyman of Thames Hare & Hounds was the fastest female (79:21).
Not content with cross country racing on Saturday, Ben Whyte (73:13) set a PB less than 24 hours later for victory at the River Thames Half Marathon. He was joined on the winner’s podium by Ailsa Clay (87:20).
Emma Perz-Horn (77:04) and Ben Kruze (71:19) took the honours at the Stratford Half Marathon. Samuel Roberts (68:03) and Eleanor Warren (82:27) did the same at the Worksop Halloween Half Marathon.
Given the elevation profile of the course, Jack Robinson had an excellent run at RunThrough’s Crystal Palace Half Marathon. He finished in 73:33, over ten seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Jessica Johnson (92:54) won the women’s race. Cat Avenell (43:33) and Rupert Denny (37:32) won the associated 10k.
Another RunThrough event was the Macclesfield Half Marathon, which provided victories to Tom Charles (70:55) and Molly Savill (84:08). Vicki Cronin (36:43) and Ian Fisher (34:20) won the associated 10k. Lucy Naga (93:41) and Jack Pilkington (76:52) won the Carsington Water Half Marathon.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Steve Geraghty (73:07) and Lundsey Eastman (84:29) at the Monsal Trail October Half Marathon, and Bonnie Rye (1:41:22) Zared Arasaretnam-Hale (1:17:16) at the Bedgebury Forest Half Marathon. The associated 10k went to Oliver Knowles (37:22) and Claire Thomas (49:30).
Finally, Janet Dickson (89:58) and Stuart Paterson (75:10) won the Port of Condie Half Marathon. The race takes runners around Kinross, Milnathort and Loch Leven in Scotland.
Even Shorter
Of the many 10k races on offer this weekend, one of the fastest times came at the Fleet 10k. That was courtesy of Max Davis (29:33), winning by over 90 seconds with a 23 second PB in the process. Deirdre McDermot (37:04) joined him as a race winner, in her fastest time of the year.
Kate Maltby (36:58) and Max Hazlehurst (33:21) won the Millom Striders Halloween 10k, and Elias Ahmed (32:29) and Francesca Boote (39:41) the Northolt 10k.
Sophie Wallis (33:41) and Matthew Bowser (31:31) finished first at the Brigg Poppy 10k. Sam Hull (34:02) and Niki Morgan (41:35) did the same at the Clock Change Challenge 10k in Calne. A great race to help remember to turn your clocks back an hour on Saturday night!
Russell Greaves (32:46) and Natalie Curgenven (38:14) were victorious at the Haltemprice 10k, now organised by RunThrough. Wins at the Accrington 10k went to Ben Makin (33:40) and April Thorpe (39:17), and to Ruth Barnes (44:32) and Ed Dickinson (39:04) at the Rosemullion 10k. Ian Allen (31:52) and Polly Kiani (40:49) won Stratford’s Big 10k.
Amy Jones (64:14) and Oscar Stapleton (57:36) took the honours at the Halloween 10 in Exeter. Over half the distance there were wins for Nicky Savill (32:03) and Sam Bailey (28:37). James Pease-Watkin (59:32) and Troy Jane Penfield (68:48) won the Ashford & District 10.
Midweek Racing to End
The end-of-the-month midweek 5k races conclude the round up this week. Both frequent racers, U17 Olivia Forrest (17:08) and Ollie Garrod (15:26) won Serpentine RC’s Last Friday of the Month 5k in London on Friday.
The October edition of the Leeds 5k provided Jake Norris (15:43) and Stella Cross (17:45) with victories. Peter Merrit (15:24) and Clem Coady (17:07) won the Power of 5k in Morecambe on Friday.