Barns Green ½ Marathon

Barns Green ½ Marathon

11 MSTC athletes took part this time. This year the race was brought forward by a month from it's traditional time at the end of October. Slightly warmer weather and a later than usual start made it quite a civilised race but as usual superbly well organised and marshalled. 

The men certainly surpassed all expectations. Jim, Mike, Martin and Gordon all gained new PBs. Jim was really flying with 1h22m33s while Mike ran his first time under 90mins with 1h28m6s. Martin started very strongly and finished in 1h36m58s and Gordon cruised round with his dad for most of the way (just leaving him towards the end) for a 1h48m04s. I think we are going to see further huge improvements from both Martin and Gordon in the next couple of years.  Steve A managed a respectable time (1h32m23s) just 6 days after completing LEJOG and James paced himself round sensibly to a sub 90 minute time (1h29m28s) 

Lucy (1h43m4s) held off a very strong challenge from Emma Jaffe (1h44m38s), with Rachel not far behind both(1h46m10s). Hazel was a bit disappointed to find it quite a struggle this time in 1h51m19sand Helen Graham comfortably completed it sub 2 hours (1h57m06s) 

MEN WINNER 1h06m53s 

  1. Jim Graham         1h22m33s     23.45%   10pts
  2. Mike Jaffe           1h28m06s      31.75        9  
  3. James Dear          1h29m28s*    33.79       8
  4. Steve Alden         1h32m23s     38.16         7
  5. Martin Sanwell    1h36m58s     45.01           6
  6. Gordon Skeats     1h48m04s     61.61         5 

WOMEN WINNER 1h25m04s 

  1. Lucy Williams    1h43m41s    21.89%    10pts
  2. Emma Jaffe        1h44m38s*  23.00         9
  3. Rachel Baker      1h46m10s    24.81         8
  4. Hazel Tuppen     1h51m19s    30.85         7
  5. Helen Graham    1h57m06s*  37.66         6

 * means chip time not available so slower 'gun' time is recorded in the results only