As the days get warmer and the sun stays out for longer, there are more races to choose from. This weekend was no exception. There were less blues out for a 5k run on Saturday morning, but this will be due to some saving their legs for races on Sunday. There was one notable tourist parkrun, with Meera Rajoo-Oakley and Robin Oakley running in Dusseldorf at a small parkrun (36 starters – maybe they had races on Sunday too!) Robin, fuelled, or hampered, by German hospitality ran it in 21:35, whilst Meera ran in 23:44. Charlotte Mills ran at Mersea Island parkrun with a PB of 26:43 All results for local parkruns can be found here. On Sunday, Ella Simpson ran Colchester Junior parkrun in 10:09 and Orlaith Hallahan ran in 12:54.

Moving on to a longer distance, 26.2 miles and 385 yards. It was the 26th Halstead Marathon, which also counts as part of the Essex County road races championship. This is a hilly course, and normally falls on a warm day. Charlie Keitch was 42nd in 3:20:23, with a course PB, which was his goal. Paul Davison was on his 2nd marathon of the weekend, this one being a race, in 3:30:34. Tomasz Komorowski surprised himself with a PB of two minutes in a time of 3:47:24. Hien Hoang ran her first marathon in a excellent time of 4:05:17 and Inga Hayden-Cooper ran in a great time of 4:30:47.

Colchester 10k is a popular event in May, run by the Rotary clubs of Colchester. We had a good turnout. Doug McGillivary was first home for the Bentley Blues in 35:33:06. Craig Mitchell ran a PB in 37:35:30, Paul Connell snuck a PB of 1 second in 38:03:04, Jonathan Mann 39:36:21, Rob Lee 42:46:14, Richard Moor 44:10:21, Ben Myhill 44:36:13, Magdalena Komorowska continued her run of PBs with 45:45:93 closely followed by Jonathon Briggs who ran 45:46:04. Jack Wicks ran in 48:51:42, Darrin Sadler 50:20:05, David Balfour 52:36:86, Caroline Talbot 53:55:01, Rob Dyer 53:20:82, Leoni Harvey 53:55:01 (equalling her PB), Christopher Teates 54:00:99, Darren David, 54:23:63, Norma Smith ran 54:55 and bagged herself a PB and age category prize. Former GBRC runner Luke Groves was the 55 minute pacer, who aided Norma to a superb finish. Louise Balfour ran a PB in 54:57:76 whilst Gary Hill ran his first race in a while in 55:39:32. Charlotte Hammond ran in 58:14:97, Frank Gardiner 1:00:22:26, Donna Harris 1:00:18:27, Mark Harris 1:00:18:37, Michelle Auer 1:03:28:05, Alison Clarke 1:03:28:18, Belinda Palmer-Barnes 1:07:00:23, John Bush 1:12:23:71 and Rachel Rodgers in 1:13:05:43.

Tim Ballard ran a trail race, the Bury to Clare, which is an 18 and bit mile run. Tim finished 5th in 2:16:16.

Stephen Walsh took up the mantle for the half marathon pace with a race in the sunny location of Lisbon. Starting on the 25th April bridge, (Ponte 25 de Abril) it then follows the river. Stephen ran in 1:59:17.

Earlier in the week it was the first of the Harwich 5k series which is 5 races over a period of time, rather similar to our Mickey Edwards, except it is an open race. Results can be found here, with one to take note of, a PB for Charlie Keitch in 18:08.

Rodger Alexander and Paul Carlisle took themselves to the 12th Marsden Moor Marathon, a LWDA trail walk/run. The first five miles were uphill, Paul described it as brutal!

The Isle of Wight has been a draw to GBRC members in the last couple of weekends. Here is a picture of some of the intrepid round the Island walkers enjoying a sit down on the chain ferry!