Last weekend saw the return of some road racing action with a handful of Herne Hill Harriers athletes wasting no time in getting back into competition after lockdown, including a couple of race winners.
Pride of place goes to Steph McCall who was the first female finisher at the Goodwood Running Grand Prix Marathon on Sunday morning. Racing 11 laps of the motor circuit with a cold wind blowing throughout her 26 miles, McCall overcame mild hypothermia to clock a superb PB of 2:44:35.
This time was over seven minutes faster than her previous best at the classic distance and given the conditions her target of sub 2:40 if a suitable event is able to take place in the spring of 2021 looks achievable. McCall’s performance sees her move up to third fastest on the Herne Hill women’s all time marathon list behind Rosalind Kieran and Clare Pauzers.
In the Goodwood Half Marathon at the same venue John Kettle was second M40 with 73:30.
On Saturday Nick Bester was the winner of the Run Through 5km race in 16:04 on Clapham Common, seeing off a strong challenge from a local South London Harriers rival on a course which featured 90 degree turns on busy pedestrian paths.
Ryan Willmott placed a good third in 17:10, while Hannah Edwards continued her comeback towards full racing fitness with her 20:56 as she was also on the podium as the second placed female overall in the 5km on the day.
Further afield, twin brothers Nick Dewar and Brandon Dewar both ran in the very scenic Endurance Life Dorset Trail Half Marathon on Sunday, while Julia Wedmore chose Dulwich Park to record a 5km time of 19:22, which she entered into the Virtual Oxbridge Varsity Mob Match 5km and placed 17th overall and third female.
Geoff Jerwood