*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 352 16 May 2011 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Successful Richmond Half Marathon * Individual winners - Paul Martelletti (VPH) and Claire Grima (HW) * Leading Ranelagh finishers - Phil Killingley and Marie Synnott-Wells both 3rd * Ranelagh men's team places 1st, women 2nd * Chris Bundhun is our first finisher in the Sutton 10km * Peter Haarer finishes 6th (1st vet) in Oxford 10km * Anna Scally finishes 4th in the Staines 10km * Howard Gleave finishes 4th in the Richmond Park Marathon * Liz Kipling and Estelle Damant both inside 10 minutes for 3000m * parkrun placings for Michelle Davies, Duncan Mallison, Mark Herbert, Nick Wright and Sean Paynter * Green Belt Relay this weekend * Get your entries in for the Richmond 10km SEE HERE ******** RANELAGH ROAD GRAND PRIX Full details of our 2011 Road Grand Prix are up on our website here:. The next race is the Dorking 10 miles on Sunday 5th June. This also includes the county 10 miles championship and is the third race in the Surrey Road League. Note the earlier start time - 9am. There is still time to enter. Details:. After Dorking comes our own Richmond 10km on Sunday 19th June. See below... RICHMOND 10km Niall O'Connor writes: "This year's 10k race will take place on Sunday June 19th at 9am. The 'Ranelagh Richmond 10k' has supplanted the 'Dysart Dash' since 2010, with last year's new course being used again in 2011. This quicker course is now completely on tarmac, but does still encompass a large portion of the towpath. The start/finish area are the same as the finish area for our half marathon (Riverside Drive.) The race HQ will be the Ham and Kew Football Association clubhouse. This is both the club and Surrey championship and should be an exciting, quick race. In order for this improved and impressive course to be a success we need plenty of volunteers to assist with marshalling the course, manning the water-station at the finish and a few to assist the competitors with removing their ankle chips, amongst other tasks. Please drop me a line at 10k-enquiries@ranelagh-harriers.com if you are available to help. In general you will be needed from 9am to 11am but all help will be gratefully accepted. All race details are available from this link, including directions to the race HQ and entry information. Please note that we already have well over 400 entries, so if you're planning to run get your entry in soon to avoid disappointment. GREEN BELT RELAY Best of luck to the two teams we have entered for this weekend's Green Belt Relay. B&B IN THE LAKE DISTRICT As many of you will know, our previous club President Clive Beauvais and Sue Ashley have moved up to the Lake District and opened a B&B near Keswick. It's called Thornthwaite Grange and their new website is now up and running. Please take a look: www.thornthwaite-grange.co.uk. For 2011 only, Clive and Sue are offering a 25% discount off your final bill. To claim the discount you'll need one of their special numbered discount leaflets - your e-news editor has a supply of these, so just contact me and I'll pass one on to you or put it in the post. RUN IN ICELAND! REYKJAVIK MARATHON 20th AUGUST 2011 Peter Forham writes: "I am now linked to the 'All-Iceland Ltd' Travel Agency who organise packages to the Reykjavik Marathon. I have run this marathon on two occasions and it is an excellent race, mostly flat and with a good atmosphere. There is much to see and do in Reykjavik and the race is on the weekend of 'Culture Night'. In addition, much of the spectacular volcanic scenery including geysers and waterfalls is only an hour or two away. Other trips can be arranged to the famous 'Blue Lagoon Spa' or a walk on the glacier. All-Iceland have reduced the price of this trip from £895 to £640 per person. The 4 days/3 nights price is based on two people sharing and includes return flight from Gatwick, airport transfer, your stay in the modern Center Hotels Plaza in Reykjavik with breakfast, and a 24 hour Reykjavik Welcome Card. Race Entry is guaranteed, but not included in the cost as there are options to run a 10k or half marathon. Please contact me if you would like further information, on 07799 072307 or peter@all-iceland.co.uk quoting 'ICE11'." ALETSCH HALF MARATHON - SWISS ALPS 23rd-27th JUNE 2011 Peter Fordham again: "I still have a few places left for this trip which includes the 21k race on mountain track in incredible scenery. The price at £599 is unlikely to be repeated due rising airfares and adverse currency rates. It includes return flights from Heathrow to Geneva, Rail and Cable Car Transfers to Bettmeralp, 4 nights at the 3 star Hotel Alpfrieden with half board and Race Entry. I am currently taking a group of 9, who go for the relaxation, hiking, good food, fun and mountain air, and the race of course! If you are interested please call on 07799 072307 or mail me at alpinepeaktours@yahoo.com MAIDENHEAD HALF MARATHON Peter Faull sends this from Purple Patch Running: "Maidenhead is going to have its own Half Marathon on September 4th 2011. We believe that this race will become a firm favourite in the fixtures list as it is a flat, scenic, traffic free road route, hopefully lending itself to many PB's. For this inaugural race, everyone entered will keep the number they run in for ever - no-one else will run under your number. Once you have run the race five times, your number becomes a coloured number to show everyone your achievement." BORN TO RUN Wiebke Kortum send this review: "We are born to run. Have you not felt this anyway? At least since you joined Ranelagh? Christopher McDougall's book 'Born to Run' outlines a fascinating evolutionary theory, giving insight into up-to date morphological studies which apparently support that we, men and women, are not walkers by nature, as has so long been assumed by scientists, but RUNNERS - because we possibly were made for persistence-hunting like following antelopes until they collapse! Yes, this seems to have been a regular feature, until recently pursued by Kalahari Bushmen. McDougall's book 'Born to Run', pocket edition from 2010, raises more interesting points. Some of them you will perceive as controversial, from the beneficial consequences of running barefoot, to the impact of character development on running fast (!!!), to what kind of food really boosts a runner's performance. As a journalist McDougall researched the work of American sports universities, famous coaches and ethnologists and sought contact with ultrarunners themselves. His account vividly describes the eccentric personalities in the field of current super-endurance-runners, especially those who shun the press and compete at distant places which seem impossible to run in. Ever heard of the Leadville 100? A 100 mile race in the Colorado Rockies, altitude 9,200 feet to 12,600? McDougall lets us participate in the famous Leadville of 1994 when not only did a woman challenge the leading ultrarunners of the world but moreover the delegates of a mythical tribe of long-distance runners, living deep in North Mexico's canyons, made their appearance - the Tarahumara. Personally struck by repetitive injuries McDougall resolves to find them and see for himself how they run and what distinguishes their style. We follow his investigations and journeys up to the awe-inspiring finish, when he has recovered to previously unexperienced strength and has the honour to race with them a fifty miler in their home country. Stories, facts and observations interweave into a highly entertaining read but what struck me most was the joy springing from each of the pages. You are in all likelihood passionate about running anyway but there is a good chance that you will be even more enthusiastic about it after you read this book. No wonder when our shared interest is in fact a back-to-the-roots-move!" SUBSCRIPTIONS... ...for 2011-2012 are now due! Rates are: Seniors £40 Under 20 or Student £10 Family Membership £70 Retired and over 60 £20 Second Claim £20 Non-running member £10 Post your payment to Membership Secretary, Ranelagh Harriers, 135a Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7AA or leave it in an envelope at the clubhouse. If you have any queries please email the Membership Secretary WHAT'S COMING ************* More details of the following from Marc Snaith (07717 213035 mailto ( mdsnaith5@hotmail.com ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07983 430264 (After 5pm Weekdays) Home: 020-8286 3530 / mailto nandmwells@aol.com ) Sunday 5th June Dorking 10 miles. 9am start. Details: Sunday 19th June Richmond 10km. 9am start. Details:. Saturday 16th July Elmore 7 miles. 2pm start. Details:. parkruns every Saturday at 9am Bushy Park Diana Fountain car park Richmond Park Richmond Gate Wimbledon Common Windmill car park Banstead Woods Car park off B2219 Park Lane, Chipstead Bedfont Lakes Bedfont Lakes Country Park, Ashford, Middlesex Kingston The Hawker Centre Old Deer Park Pools in the Park on the A316 Other venues, more details and registration at www.parkrun.com The 2km junior parkrun for under 15s takes place at 11am on the first Sunday of each month from Bushy Park's Teddington Gate. WHAT'S HAPPENED *************** RICHMOND HALF MARATHON Sunday 8th May The first of our two open races was very well received and our entry limit of 1,150 was reached well in advance. This led to perhaps an unusually large number of unattached runners in the list of entries - many club runners have yet to recognise the necessity of entering early for races nowadays! In the event less than 800 actually started. Conditions were comfortable early on but when the sun broke through the temperature climbed. The course reverted to the 2009 version, with the start at the Petersham Road traffic lights and the approach to the finish along Riverside Drive. Road works in a couple of places caused slight problems and the St John's Ambulance had to deal with a handful of casualties but overall the race went well. Race Directors Heather Martingell and Carol Barnshaw must be warmly congratulated for the smooth running of the event, especially in the face of a fairly poor level of response to appeals for marshalling help. This is a complicated course that requires a large number of marshals to ensure the safety of the competitors, and inadequate support could put the future of the race in jeopardy. All thanks to those who did help but if you didn't, please consider it next year, when the race will be under new management. Victoria Park's Kiwi Paul Martelletti evidently likes Richmond. He was runner-up in the Half Marathon two years ago and won our Richmond 10km last year. He made it clear from the start that he had no intention of settling for second place this time and built up a substantial lead inside the first mile. Kevin Quinn of Aldershot settled into an isolated second place wih Phil Killingley flying the home flag in third place. The gaps at the front of the race stretched steadily until at the finish Martelletti had almost four minutes in hand over Quinn, with Phil more than two minutes further back in third place. Martelletti's 68.10 was some two minutes faster than he ran in 2009 and stands as a new course record. The race incorporates the Surrey county championship. Martelletti is ineligible so the county gold medal went to Quinn, the silver to Phil and the bronze to 4th placed Graham Brook of Stragglers. Steve Whitehead and Chris Bundhun had a close tussle to take second spot for Ranelagh, Steve coming out ahead by ten seconds in 79.21. Phil, Steve and Chris combined to win the open team prizes and the county team gold medals. The leading over 40, David Freeman of Tadworth, ran 76.59 in 7th place. Trevor Maguire in 14th place was the fifth over 40 home, just ahead of the leading over 50 Ian Kitching of SLH. Somewhat to his surprise, John Ricketts - 45th in 88.36 - won the second over 50 prize. Claire Grima of Hercules Wimbledon was an even more decisive winner of the women's race. Her 83.29 brought her home more than four minutes clear of Melissa Galea of Clapham Chasers. There was a minute and a half then before Marie Synnott-Wells crossed the line to give Ranelagh a brace of third places. These three won the county medals and for good measure Marie also took the over 35 and over 45 county golds! Woking won the team and county team races but Ranelagh took second place in the open team thanks to Marie, Jane Craigie-Payne and Sandra Forrest and second in the county thanks to Marie, Sandra and Rachael Holmes.. RAVENS 5km handicap Thursday 28th April at Wapping 1 K Skilling (Ravens) 28.50 (actual time 18.45) 2 Andy Bickerstaff 28.58 (19.03) 10 Alan Davidson 29.34 (22.23) SUTTON 10km Sunday 1st May The Sutton 10km is not the most popular race but it features in the Surrey Road League so we also include it in our Road Grand Prix. We had a fairly small turnout led by Chris Bundhun whose 36.22 was, I think, a personal best. Behind him last year's GP champion Trevor Maguire chalked up a useful few points, ahead of Duncan Mallison, David Rowe and Bill Neely all well inside 40 minutes and John Ricketts a couple of seconds outside. 1 B Reynolds (Clapham) 32.51 23 Chris Bundhun 36.22 36 Trevor Maguire 37.45 47 Duncan Mallison 38.18 49 David Rowe 38.27 56 Bill Neely 39.04 69 John Ricketts 40.02 192 Alan Davidson 47.09 254 Alan Howard 51.29 279 Tom Reay 53.14 398 David Meaden 64.39 HAWASSA HALF MARATHON Sunday 1st May Karen Weir reports: "I had nothing against the Royal Wedding, but when given the opportunity to make the most of the extra day off work by going to Ethiopia to run a half marathon, I couldn't turn it down. After all to run a half marathon in one of the spiritual homes of distance running and to meet the great man himself, Haile Gebrselassie, would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for a mediocre club runner such as myself. The race was in Hawassa, a five hour coach journey south of Addis through the Rift Valley and was being hosted by Haile's Resort Hotel on the edge of Lake Awassa which is apparently inhabited by hippo. Unfortunately we didn't see any but there were plenty of other sights to feast our eyes on during the three lap race including pelicans, goats, donkeys and the locals washing themselves on the banks of the lake. We started at 6.30 in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat, and at an altitude of 1,700m we'd been warned to add 10% to our estimated race times, which turned out to be very true. However, I have never enjoyed a race so much and despite the extra effort involved I ran the whole thing with a big grin on my face. You couldn't help it, surrounded by such inspiring scenery and people. There were crowds everywhere and excited kids ran barefoot alongside you or held out their hands for a 'high 5 '. The amount of cheers I got made me feel like an elite athlete and spurred me on. I was a amazed to finish 5th lady in a time of 1.45. Peter managed a very respectable 1.36 despite his hamstring pinging at 5km (and he hasn't run since) but it was that kind of race, you just had to finish! After our race there was an Elite Half Marathon which featured mainly Ethiopians and Kenyans, the winner Kimutai Kiplimo coming home in the full heat of the day in 63 minutes. Finally, 1,000 runners, mainly locals running barefoot or in flip flops, ran a 7km race, in which for the entry fee of about 30p they got a smart new race t-shirt which would obviously be a very prized possession. Prizes were presented to all the winners by Haile and his obvious delight and support for runners of all abilities was clear to see. After a quick shower and a huge lunch laid on at Haile's hotel it was onto the coach to begin the long journey home. My four days in Ethiopia turned out to be a truly amazing experience and to run a half marathon there was the icing on the cake. I can't wait to go back and spend more time in such an inspiring country surrounded by some of the poorest yet happiest people I've ever met. We hope to run again next year and I hope that some of you would like to join the trip. If you are interested in running the Hawassa Half Marathon in 2012 then drop me an email - Karen Weir karen@karenandpeterweir.com ." LIMERICK MARATHON Sunday 1st May Martin Halvey ran 2:53.15. VANCOUVER MARATHON Sunday 1st May Wiebke Kortum reports: "When my sister and I lined up for the start, I was unexpectedly more jittery than ever before at races and for a few seconds I thought I would be the only person fainting before the run had even started. Jogging over the start-line was a relief - and quite emotional. Approximately five years ago, as I remember it, my sister and I had talked about running a marathon together when we would be both forty. Neither of us was a very regular runner then. One and a half years ago we had decided on the venue, Vancouver, and here we were, she coming from Houston and I coming from London. We stuck together for the first mile, but we had agreed beforehand that we would run separately and thus I wished her well quite early and ran off. Difficult - I wanted to run my own race but at the same time I wanted her close by in case it would be hard for her, with two little children and a job she had had considerable less training. As it turned out, I needn't have been concerned at all. The first 15k flew by, I noticed that it was hilly despite of the rather flat course profile at this part which I had seen before, but apparently I was so adrenalin-fuelled that I hardly felt any effort. Shortly before the half distance we entered Stanley Park, a beautifully kept peninsula with old cedars and conifers, blossoming cherry trees and in between startlingly fresh red tulips. The water to your right, snow-capped Coastal Mountains in the background, crystal-clear air, the sky spotless blue, the sun bright but at 9.30 not too warming, it really was a beautiful day. I clipped the half-marathon marker at exactly target time 1:50 and felt confident. For another 6 to 7k we stayed in the park, before we ran back into Vancouver downtown and this unfortunately ended the solely pleasurable part for me. Many scenic sights followed, the Burrard Bridge, where you can look out on the Pacific, wide roads along the coast, Canadian wooden houses with spacious porches and more flowering trees in front. However my legs felt increasingly tired, especially my calves and I slightly regretted the beautiful beach runs I had had the last two weeks before I came here. The last 10k I spent in a kind of haze not looking left or right, just focussing on the horizon and getting back to this bridge, which I knew was 2k from the finish. Long stretching hills piled up and when I finally reached the 100 ft high bridge I was absolutely exhausted. On the top a man held a sign saying 'Never run 26.2 miles' which was a bit pointless at 25 miles and rather discouraging as I was anyway near collapsing. Luckily it was more or less downhill from there and I pulled myself together. When I crossed the finishing line I had no energy left for exhilaration, miraculously I was three seconds faster than last year in Vienna, which had been my first marathon. The most wonderful moment, however, came, when my sister appeared, barely six minutes behind me finishing HER first marathon and looking as fresh as if she had started just round the corner. We fell into each others' arms and felt very proud that the complete offspring of our parents could run marathons and do it well. It left us with the sense that we could try virtually everything, if we only wanted - a notion which I know must have crossed the mind of many of you fellow runners! To those of you who might consider Vancouver for your next marathon: despite of the slightly misleading course profile regarding the undulations, it was perfectly organised with numerous well looked-after water stations, the half-marathon on a different course and with different starting times, gel-stations and a functional shirt for everyone. The course will be changed next year, hopefully even longer through Stanley Park." 1 B Osnara (Kenya) 2:19.54 (chip time 2:19.54) 765 Wiebke Kortum 3:46.44 (3:45.17) REIGATE YMCA 5 miles Sunday 1st May 1 A Robinson (TH&H) 27.18 (chip time 27.18) 283 Wally Garrod 48.05 (47.48) KESWICK HALF MARATHON Sunday 1st May 1 S Littler (Wesham) 1:13:18 253 Bob Beatson 1:49:50 545 Stewart Warburton 2:11:32 ESHER CHURCH SCHOOL 10km Monday 2nd May 1 A Jackson (Strag) 34.17 33 Ben Shore 43.33 100 Pete Warren 50.30 101 Melissa Glackin 50.32 KINGFIELD CANTER 2.85 miles Wednesday 4th May at Woking This completed 23 years of monthly Kingfield Canters, organised throughout by Jim Miller. 85 year-old David Gammage, who got round the course in 43.57, completed his 200th run - though that's nothing on Alan Davidson who completed his 240th. 1 Alan Davidson 25.18 (actual time 20.18) 13 Steve Rowland 26.59 (18.59) 14 Sonia Rowland 27.00 (20.25) LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 6th May in Hyde Park The more observant will note that this was in fact the first Friday. Apparently something else had been going on in London the previous week... 1 D Burbridge (High) 16.25 17 Mick Lane 18.55 86 Alan Davidson 22.29 178 John Hanscomb 33.17 MARLOW 5 miles Sunday 8th May 1 F Downs (Chilt) 26.46 725 Marina Quayle 44.26 TOWN and GOWN 10km Sunday 15th May at Oxford. Peter Haarer wasn't able to replicate his overall win in 2010 but he was the leading veteran by some distance in 6th place. 1 D Bruce (Ox U) 31.56 6 Peter Haarer 33.44 94 Giles Marshall 39.46 STAINES 10km Sunday 15th May It was good to see Anna Scally back in action finishing in 4th place in the women's section and taking the second vet prize.. 1 C Dettmar (Head) 33.48 39 Anna Scally 42.04 384 Wally Garrod 58.39 423 Alan Meaden 61.09 462 Hannah Davies 63.22 467 David Meaden 63.54 520 John Hanscomb 70.48 BOGNOR PROM 10km Sunday 15th May A PB for David Rowe. 1 J Baker (Chich) 32.18 21 David Rowe 38.03 RICHMOND PARK MARATHON Sunday 15th May Howard Gleave reports: "I finished in 4th place overall in 3:04:54. I wanted to break 3 hours but on that course (seven big hills) and that wind it was not to be. I was run out of the medals by around 10 seconds but I was very tired and had suffered from bad cramp from 18 miles so any attempt at a final sprint, even assuming I could summon the energy, might have caused my legs to lock up. Still, not bad for an old boy..." HOOK 10 miles Sunday 15th May 1 S Naylor (Wood) 51.33 148 Tom Reay 87.21 SURREY TRACK CHAMPIONSIPS Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th May at Kingsmeadow Marc Snaith ran in the 5000 metres and finished 10th in 17.47.49. Liz Kipling won the 3000 metres in Richmond St Mary's colours in a time of 9.57.02. Meanwhile on 11th May Estelle Damant broke the 10 minutes barrier for the first time, recording 9.57.73 for Loughborough students. EUROPEAN VETERANS ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS (NON-STADIA) Friday 13th - Sunday 15th May at Thionville / Yutz, France Alan Davidson reports: "I got my warm up for EVACNS in doing the Lensbury Bridges handicap at Lambeth before dashing to catch Eurostar at St. Pancras. The French organisation at Thionville started badly with registration opening 35 minutes late and only two desks for non-French / German athletes compounded by wrong numbers being given to some runners who then had to battle back through the scrum to get them exchanged. Also throughout the games the British delegation especially kept battling with the French officials who kept changing the rules/regulations on age-groupings/team declarations/medals availability etc. In the main the final result was closer to what the athletes had paid for and signed-up to. Thankfully the 10k was well organised and marshalled on a warm, slightly breezy morning. The course consisted of two laps of traffic-free roads, pavements and cycle tracks. I being stuck in a 10k rut of poor 47 min performances had to accept 42nd in 46.49 but I did at least get the chance to outsprint a Spaniard and an Italian near the finish. The M60 age group had far more runners than any other (e.g. 66 to 28 in M65) but that did at least give me a chance of being in a cross-country relay team and I was picked for our 'B' team sandwiched between two much faster runners! A number of times running up and down a flat but bumpy field including three times into a strong wind made up the 2k relay course and my team was 7th in 23.23 but I was pleased to be told that the three of us ran similar times. The M65 medal ceremony confusingly featured a Swiss M55 but apparently the organisers had issued the M65 runner with an M55 bib by mistake. A pleasant part of these events was summed up by me frequently chatting to a Dutch runner staying in our Yutz hotel and I was amused by a Czech runner who saw the boldly emblazoned Leclerc (the sponsors) on my running number thinking I was French. I told him I owned a chain of supermarkets! A very enjoyable trip (especially as I told our team initially that with earlier Achilles problems I couldn't risk the half marathon) although Eurostar managed to have to run out at reduced speed due to a power car problem and going home the train in front broke down at Lille!" BLACK PARK parkrun 5km Friday 29th April 1 D Norman (Strags) 17.41 10 David Rowe 19.34 20 Duncan Mallison 20.33 96 Kirsty Bangham 26.07 97 Heather Martingell 26.08 FRIMLEY LODGE parkrun 5km Friday 29th April 1 R Brookling (unatt) 16.34 186 Danny Hobbs 33.41 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 N Riley (unatt) 17.23 4 Bill Neely 19.07 50 Stewart Anderson 21.37 58 Jerym Brunton 21.56 83 Andrew Brown 22.52 84 Tony Appleby 22.59 85 Richard Goddard-Jones 23.08 149 Michael Sikora 26.12 181 Peter Lowman 28.30 188 Val Lowman 28.59 231 Stacey Barber 32.28 232 Lynne Barber 32.29 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 J Trapmore (Shaft B) 15.46 12 Ted Mockett 18.17 42 David Rowe 19.53 187 Ian Grange 22.52 350 Kirsty Bangham 25.42 413 Gill Wilson 26.55 425 Nicholas Fordham 27.09 426 Peter Fordham 27.10 519 Danny Hobbs 29.22 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April Duncan Mallison and Mark Herbert finished second and third while Michelle Davies was the leading woman. 1 T Haughian (SMR) 16.07 2 Duncan Mallison 19.02 3 Mark Herbert 19.44 8 Lee Davies 20.55 16 Michelle Davies 22.17 70 Deirdre Inman 30.38 73 Cindy Croucher 32.08 BANSTEAD WOODS parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 T Holden (SLH) 17.30 20 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 21.09 22 Simon Burrell 21.19 67 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 24.03 79 Tom Reay 24.49 122 Marina Quayle 27.13 172 Deborah Blakemore 31.43 KINGSTON parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 D Collier (26.2) 17.42 11 Chris Camacho 20.45 63 Louise Gill 29.32 WHITSTABLE parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 T Lloyd (unatt) 19.38 12 Phil Jackson 22.38 POOLE parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 J Cieluszecki (unatt) 16.23 5 Nick Wright 18.25 CANNON HILL parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 R O'Sullivan (Tipton) 16.49 4 Sean Paynter 17.26 44 James Whistler 21.57 BUSHY JUNIORS parkrun 2km Sunday 1st May 1 S Don (SMR) 7.26 27 Euan Sinclair 10.10 35 Finlay Sinclair 10.58 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 7th May 1 M Delahunty (ES&M) 18.30 13 Jerym Brunton 19.39 24 Stewart Anderson 20.30 67 Andrew Brown 22.30 79 Sally Dell 23.08 98 Jar O'Brien 24.13 122 Andy Woodhouse 24.58 134 Michael Sikora 25.37 140 Louise Reeder 25.59 141 Clive Naish 26.07 148 Philippa Shaw 26.20 159 Sue Camp 26.48 175 Val Lowman 27.36 188 Peter Lowman 28.43 190 Christine Goodsell 28.48 205 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 29.51 214 Tamsin Burland 30.47 222 Bronwen Northmore 32.25 233 Pat Hewlett 33.22 235 Bev Ali 34.35 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 7th May 1 T Haughian (SMR) 15.38 13 Nick Wright 18.12 18 David Rowe 18.22 123 Adam Wright 21.29 289 Peter Fordham 24.19 364 Kirsty Bangham 25.25 469 Wally Garrod 27.37 498 Danny Hobbs 28.06 647 John Hanscomb 33.11 654 Sharon Rowe 33.46 CANNON HILL parkrun 5km Saturday 7th May Sean Paynter was third in. 1 S Pictor (unatt) 16.50 3 Sean Paynter 17.24 11 James Whistler 18.24 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 7th May Mark Herbert finished in second place. 1 L Davis (Ports Uni) 18.15 2 Mark Herbert 18.57 50 Heather Martingell 26.52 51 Mike White 26.53 BANSTEAD WOODS parkrun 5km Saturday 30th April 1 T Holden (SLH) 17.30 20 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 21.09 22 Simon Burrell 21.19 67 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 24.03 79 Tom Reay 24.49 122 Marina Quayle 27.13 172 Deborah Blakemore 31.43 KINGSTON parkrun 5km Saturday 7th May 1 C Wagner (Strag) 18.49 12 Chris Camacho 20.23 48 Wiebke Kortum 26.45 PONTEFRACT parkrun 5km Saturday 7th May This was the inaugural Pontefract parkrun. 1 M Cooper (Penistone) 18.36 11 Chris Wright 23.05 20 Mary Hickson 25.45 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 14th May 1 D Talbot (TH&H) 16.54 5 Ted Mockett 18.25 6 Mark Herbert 18.38 9 Peter Faull 18.53 10 Bill Neely 19.09 13 Jerym Brunton 19.27 37 Stewart Anderson 20.58 38 Lee Davies 21.01 40 Phil Jackson 21.06 49 Lee Coole 21.25 52 Chris Read 21.31 56 Karen Weir 21.40 58 Michelle Davies 21.49 72 Andrew Brown 22.25 145 Tony Clark 25.56 146 Philippa Shaw 25.56 166 Stuart Young 26.30 180 Jar O'Brien 27.37 181 Mike White 27.37 242 Pat Hewlett 32.58 243 Bronwen Northmore 33.03 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 14th May 1 M Trees (Belgrave) 16.03 186 Ian Grange 22.14 228 Chris Wright 22.59 405 Mary Hickson 25.15 478 Heather Martingell 26.20 481 Kirsty Bangham 26.22 487 Vicci Randle 26.28 608 Emily Harriman 29.09 712 John Hanscomb 32.35 KINGSTON parkrun 5km Saturday 14th May Second place for Nick Wright. 1 R Reeder (Strag) 17.39 2 Nick Wright 18.26 9 Chris Camacho 20.13 24 Wiebke Kortum 22.57 CANNON HILL parkrun 5km Saturday 14th May For the second week in succession Sean Paynter filled third place while James Whistler continues to close the gap. 1 T Harrison (unatt) 16.56 3 Sean Paynter 17.36 7 James Whistler 18.09 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 14th May 1 M Hollywood (T Turbo) 18.34 40 Gill Wilson 25.49 45 Sharon Dooley 26.21 79 Deirdre Inman 30.55 82 Cindy Croucher 32.09 85 Tanya Allen 33.42 ALBERT PARK parkrun 5km Saturday 14th May 1 Unknown 16.15 7 Andy Bickerstaff 18.51 FINALLY... The London Backward Running Championships are to be held on Sunday 17th July at Crystal Palace Park. There are two events, 1km or 3km. According to the organisers "The present world champion, Garret Doherty (who is from Ireland), has arrogantly put out a challenge to say that 'He doesn't believe that an English club runner is able to beat him over the 1km or 3km distance.' We would love for someone to beat him and be able to say that yes we do have fantastic English backward runners too. Our mid price £15 entry fee is valid until 1st June. We are also offering a special May team promotion - five participants for the price of four." Details and a video:. And a testimonial: BACKWARDS RUNNING'S ROLE IN LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING by Dr. Stevenson, who is a life member of the American Running Association and National Health Federation, and presently serves as a mental training consultant for athletes. "Doing a lot of backwards running will rapidly get you in condition to run long distances. Incorporating backwards running into your conditioning program also reduces the chance you'll ever injure your knee. These are the two most striking ways backwards running benefits the long-distance runner. Mike Pulido, got in condition for his first marathon in a mere six weeks. Before making the big effort, Pulido had run infrequently at best; a 10K race was his only previous running competition. It was obvious to Pulido that, especially with his limited racing background, he had to devise a unique training regimen if he were to get in shape for a marathon only six weeks away. What he came up with was a training regimen which had him: 1) running uphill backwards whenever he came to a hill, and 2) often running 4-6 miles backwards during his workouts. Pulido tells his story this way: 'I ran in the City of Orange Marathon back in January, 1979. At the time I was an engineering student at California State University, Fullerton, and had six weeks off between semesters. So, I decided to try to run a marathon at the end of that period. In those six weeks that I had, I ran at first no more than 2 or 3 miles a day. I then worked up to 7-10 miles every other day; during these workouts, whenever I came to a hill, I'd turn around and run up it backwards. About two weeks before the marathon I went on some 15 mile runs, and anywhere from 4-6 miles of that I ran backwards. The 4-6 miles I ran backwards were mostly hills, and it took a long time; the whole workout would take 3 hours. The backwards running was very tough initially; it was so tough I couldn't run backwards more than a few hundred yards at first. It was hard on the ankle and the joints in the lower portion of the foot, since you're on your toes all the time. But, I stuck with it, and soon my joints became very strong. When I ran the marathon, I had hopes only of finishing. However, I did very well, and finished under 3 hours 20 minutes - this being my first and so far only marathon'."