Following GBRC’s victory over the heatwave, this fortnight’s report offers a snapshot of the victory laps you lot have taken on race day. Everything that follows is the product of hours of training, oceans of sweat and many moments of deciding to continue despite the discomfort. So, limber up, make sure you’re fuelled and psyche yourself up for a tour of our achievements.
The Great Barrow Challenge
This fortnight’s hattrick goes to Malcolm Statham who ran the Brantham 5 in 38:58 pushing through the humidity and surmounting the course’s hills. Even more impressive that this effort was preceded by the completion of his 246th marathon. On Day 1 of the Great Barrow Challenge Malcolm accomplished an impressive 5th place finish in 4:17:39. To make it a trilogy of achievement Malcolm returned to the Suffolk Running Centre for Day 4 of the challenge, again taking 5th place in an even quicker time of 4:12:45. A few days to recover and then he’s going back for marathon 248. Now this is pure speculation, but when Malcolm claims he’s 250 marathons and done it’s because he’s graduating to ultras right?
The Great City 5K
Rewriting history and proving that something good did happen in 20:20, Craig Mitchell and Sarah Evans ran the Great City 5K event.
Spitfire Scramble: 24 Hour Run
Imagine running for a full day with limited rest, camping in a searing heatwave, staving off dehydration and fatigue. Then add: burning fields, forced course closures and the genuine danger of a full night of Coach Lou’s “refuse-to-let-you-quit” motivation. Words can hardly do justice to the dramatic efforts of our GBRC runners at the 10-year Spitfire Scramble, but I’ll try. Cue big orchestra soundtrack and slow-motion action replay…
Flying solo, John Bush and Bee Palmer-Barnes completed 5 laps of the scorching course a piece. Having experienced, respectively, 6 and 3 previous spitfires, they were able to embrace this year’s challenges and walked (limped?) away having thoroughly enjoyed it!
Scott Young assembled his squadron (Charlie Keitch, Claudia Keitch, Gary Howard, Caroline Searle, Cameron Taylor) for a 5th outing at the Spitfire navigating the hottest one yet. The Bentley crew secured 11th place out of the 29 entered in the 6-8 category.
In a climactic finale, Team Rampant Ramblers (Donna Harris, Mark Harris, Ella Harris, Martin Cotton and Lou Balfour) brought more than alliteration and mild innuendo to the event. Securing a third-place podium finish in the 3-5 team category, they circumnavigated the course 25 times proving these GBRC stars make a perfect formation.
Well done to you all for bringing the big blockbuster energy!
Harwich 5K Series
This fortnight saw the last of the five races in this series where finally the weather turned out in support. The event was applauded by Donna Harris, Ladies Vice Captain, for all the laughter, encouragement and support the Bentley Blues inspired. Special mentions go to Ella Harris and Richard Allen (both 4th) in their gender categories; Inga Hayden-Cooper (15th) and Anna Lyon (20th).
Ipswich Twilight 10K
With more hattricks this season than Saka (and on a much better team) Paul Smith secured a new PB at the Ipswich Twilight 10K in 57:09, improving by over 2 minutes.
Arthur Whiston 5 Mile Memorial Race
The commemorative race in honour of Arthur was well attended by Bentley runners and saw some outstanding performances: Stephen Bullen finished in 31:26; Jonathan Mann in 32:54; Charlie Keitch in 33:07; Magdalena Komorowska in 36:36; and Christopher Thornton in 37:07.
A bronze medal in the Essex County Champs Series was won by Bev Shortley, whose consistent discipline in training is only outrun by her commitment to humility. I can only hope that this success acts as further evidence to convince her of just how amazing she is.
Barbara Law won her “last” (jury’s out…) County medal securing a silver place in the 70+ age category. Perhaps the fact that the runner who beat Barbara out of first place is over a decade younger or maybe the fact that an age category doesn’t exist to represent her begins to demonstrate the extent to which she is shifting the paradigm of running and aging. Her grace, grit and the 7-minute improvement on last year’s time are an astounding example for us all.
Parkrun Round-Up
Magdalena Komorowska celebrated 250 Parkrun at Highwoods in great company, as well as travelling to Beccles Quay for a friendly, trail route.
Caroline Searle completed the Fountains Abbey PR in 33:23.
While Tim Clifton marked day 2311 (!) of his run streak with Markshall Parkrun. Showing that he’s been there, done that and literally has the t-shirt:
Congratulations to you for having the endurance to make it to the end; the finish line is in sight (if you’re struggling – try counting in your head). As usual, please share your achievements on the Facebook post so we can celebrate with you. Wherever this summer takes you, it’s great to know that we’re all running together.
Great Bentley Running Club 