Writing this with the knowledge of the performances that took place in April 2019, March’s GRC Member of the Month is, in many respects, an hors d’oeuvres to what would be served in a spectacular April for the club. Nevertheless we were treated to some many excellent performances in March, as highlighted by the nominees and eventual winner of the coveted title. As always there were plenty of other efforts worthy of acknowledgment, apologies if you consider yourself overlooked!
The Retford Half Marathon saw some fine performances. Ian Williams was nominated for the third month in a row for his 1:20:41 PB, as was Matthew Kingston-Lee for his sub 1:17 clocking. Holly Durham and Joss Smith were nominated for their efforts; Joss credited too for her fine third place in our very own Grantham Cup 10K race. Tony Johnson ran very well at Retford. He also ran excellent times over the next two weekends at the Ashby and Oundle 20 mile races which saw him nominated for the first time in 2019. February MotM winner Caroline Davis was nominated for her fine runs at the same 20 mile events.
Samuel Jepson-Rivers was commended for his fine showing in his debut half marathon at Retford and a new (short-lived) PB over 10K at Gainsborough Morton. Wife Naomi Jepson-Rivers was also nominated for her (equally short-lived) 10KPB at the same race. Joaquim Jeronimo was another runner nominated for efforts over 10K. Breaking 40 minutes at the multi-terrain Rushcliffe10K, his time clocked when finishing fifth at the more challenging, but also multi-terrain, Grantham Cup was particularly notable.
Anthony Boyle was nominated for his three minute PB at the Cambridge Half Marathon, while Sam Dodwell was cited for his similar improvement over the same distance at the London Landmarks Half. Running double the distance, Rob Howbrook was nominated for finally securing a coveted London Marathon Good For Age place after his sub 3:30 clocking at the Barcelona Marathon. The injustice of being denied a place for this year’s race following a GFA rule change in 2018 when competing in an age category considered absurdly hard compared to others, was thankfully appeased somewhat.
In a closely fought affair, the runner-up for March GRC Member of the Month was Jonny Palmer. A second claim member of the club, Jonny not only won the Chester Ultra 50 Mile race, he smashed the existing course record and was 34 minutes clear of the second placed finisher!
The winner of March Member of the Month pulled off some similarly impressive ultra distance efforts. Adam Wasiołka celebrated becoming a fully fledged first claim member of Grantham Running Club by taking part in no less than four marathons in March,including the Leeds to Liverpool Canal Canter which was a back to back marathon taking place over two days. This supreme feat came a month after he ran the Enigma Quadzilla – four marathons in four days. Like several of the candidates for March MotM, arguably better was to come for Adam in April when he finished third and first at the Phoenix Day and Knight Excalibur Marathons (both times finishing in under four hours) a week before running a very respectable 3:22 at the Boston (UK)Marathon.
Gratulacje to Adam on being Grantham Running Club’s March 2019 Member of the Month!
Adam Wasiołka, Mar 19
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