Manchester Half-Marathon – October 16th
A quality field lined up in not the best of conditions in Manchester today for the Half-Marathon won by Adam Hickey in a very good time of 64.41, the Race having eight thousand five hundred and two finishers. Blackburn Harrier Ben Fish – winner of the Chester Marathon two weeks ago in 2hr 24.04 – had a great run to finish in 8th place with a time of 67.01. After the Race Ben told the Club that “The conditions today were perfect for me and I felt I had recovered well from the marathon. I was hoping for a seasons best, just a bit unlucky to miss out on sub 67. Great running by Jack getting a PB”.
U20 Jack Hindle who has already run for England this year, had a great race finishing 43rd in a new PB time of 73.59 which was a minute and half faster than his previous best. Jack spoke to the Club and said “I’d entered Manchester quite a long time ago after a good result at Freckleton. I knew I could run quicker on a fast course, so put the entry in. I’ve worked hard throughout the year and knew I’d have a good run if I raced with my head. Setting off I felt strong and tried to get in a rhythm. The pace was strong but never felt comfortable. The conditions were awful to be honest which made it harder. The last 4 miles where grueling but training has proved that I can hang on. I’m super happy to PB and get under 74. A huge thanks to Paul Guinan, who has coached me over the year and it’s been the best year I’ve had”.
Mark Bleasdale we think was making his Half-Marathon debut on the road and had a very good run coming home 209th in 84.08.
(Mark Bleaadale and Jack Hindle)
Tom Mckee made his debut in a half-marathon and had a pretty solid run in 401st place with a time of 88.54 – mum Katherine (5638th) also ran posting a good time of 2hr 08.05; And congratulations to Annabel Farrar (5390th) who ran a new PB time of 2hr 06.05 and in doing so achieved her time target for her race and the raising of over £500 for a cause very close to her heart. V45 Andrea Rigby and one of the Harriers Coaches in High Jump and Sportshall came home in a time of 2hr 44.43 (8151st).
(Katherine and Tom McKee)
(Andrea Rigby)
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Green Drive 5 – October 16th
Two hundred and fifty seven runners in the Green Drive 5 which featured the Lancashire 5 Mile Championships within the Race won by Luke Minns in 26.03.
Joe Monk who has had an excellent year, continued his good form in the wind and rain to take 2nd place overall and the Silver Medal in the County Championships with a time of 26.34 – a new PB by half a minute, which given the conditions, shows what good form he is in and after the Race he told the Club that he was “pleased with the race, was on my own throughout and windy conditions for the first half made it hard. Pleased I managed to salvage a very good run, coming together nicely for Leeds and Abbey Dash”.
Behind Joe in 5th place was Shaun Livesey in a time of 27.52 and that gave him the V40 Lancashire title as well. Reflecting on his Race Shaun commented “After my recent success at the Burnley fire 10km I earmarked the Green Drive Five as a race to potentially run a pb at the distance. It also incorporated the Lancashire Championship and by doing a bit of homework I knew Rob Affleck from Preston had moved up a category, that is if he was to race ( he did) there was the potential of a gold medal. I was feeling in good shape apart from a little knee trouble and I said to myself I wanted to run sub 5:30 pace. The weather wasn’t the best but it was the same for everyone. At halfway I was 7th but I was maintaining a good comfortable pace I moved up 2 places and held on to finish 5th in 27:52. A gold medal, but no pb only managing 5:34 pace. Cheshire 10km next I think”.
Having run in the Red Rose League the day before, Carly Edwards backed up for the Race and set a new PB finishing 73rd in a time of 34.45, over a minute faster than her previous best and to add to a growing number of new personal bests being racked up by the Harriers in races. Following the Race, Carly spoke to the Club and told us that “I set off quite comfortably having raced the day before. I decided to run off feel rather than letting my watch dictate the pace. I got to about 3.5 miles and suddenly my legs started to feel heavy. I ignored it and focused on trying to move up a couple of places. I finished strong and was pleased with the end result. I’m determined to step out of my comfort zone now and focus on speed rather than distance”. In 111th came Kaylie Simpson (38.14) who was tackling her first 5 mile Race since 2015.
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Blackpool Autumn Breaker 10k – October 16th
Two hundred and sixty five finishers at Blackpool for this Race with Claire Bridge from the Harriers placing 127th in a time of 53.45 which gave her 4th place in the Women’s V45 competition. RESULTS
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