A hot and humid August evening saw the final event of the Lincoln Wellington 5K series, based at Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln. The four events, run once a month over the summer typically attracts many of the best runners from the surrounding areas looking to take advantage of the relatively flat (if unlovely) course. Plus 28 members of GRC.
The course itself runs round the playing fields in a figure of 8 and runners complete a small loop before 3 large ones, the last of which can catch the unwary or those unable to count. Although it looks flat and fast, there are a couple of slight inclines to sap the will to live of those hanging on by their fingernails.
Race 1 in May saw the 16 GRC members running in torrential rain.
Race 2 in June was extremely hot and saw 8 members running.
Race 3 in July was unsurprisingly warm and overcast with 9 members taking part.
Race 4 in August was hot and humid with an unhelpful stiff south westerly breeze and a bumper 18 took part.
Memory Mile
2 members took part in the Memory Mile for japes. Peter Bonner smashed round in 5:38 and Robert Howbrook crossed the line in an amazing 6:21.
5K
First back for GRC was Jake Richardson in 15:46. Despite not being all that thrilled with his time, it still brought him in 2nd place overall.
Gavin Potter was next in 17:21, his fastest result of the 3 races he did. He was happy with his overall pace and really enjoyed the final event.
Matthew Kingston-Lee was pleased with how his race went, enjoying a battle between himself, Sam Jepson and Russel Whittaker (who he just pipped to the post with a sprint finish). His time of 17:28 was the fastest 5K he has run since 2018 and will be his 2nd best ever age grading.
Russel Whittaker was hot on Matthew’s heels in 17:31. Though it was the slowest of his 3 races he was still happy with his result.
Sam Jepson found the stiff breeze hampered proceedings over each lap but he was happy to complete a consistent series even if it wasn’t at his best after taking on other multi-sport events recently. He finished in 17:46.
James McMullen, who had completed 3 races was pleased to score his fastest time of the series, with 20:12, pushed along by Scott Jones and Flash nipping at his heels. Scott, with excellent pacing by Flash nabbed a PB with a time of 20:20, his fastest ever official road 5K after a break from racing of several years. Flash giggled his way over the line a second later.
Richard Litchfield continues to storm back to form, setting a blistering time of 20:45 in his only appearance in the series.
Catherine Payne produced a fantastic time of 21:06 which won her category.
Kev Wallace, a last-minute entrant, was thrilled to run a very strong race despite tired legs. This netted him a big PB with 21:42.
Ben Mason ran all 4 races, gathering speed each time and broke through the 22 min barrier, posting an impressive 21:57 sign off after improving by a minute from the first race to the last.
Sylv Hull set a pace she couldn’t quite hold but was incredibly pleased to score a 1 second PB (take every win you can), her best 5K in 2 years.
Marj Spendlow completed all 4 races setting consecutive PBs in the first 3. However, after some very high mileage recently, fatigue set in, but she still posted a very respectable 24:38.
Race 4 yielded some great results for GRC, with several PBs and podium and category places. Jake Richardson was 2nd overall. Catherine Payne won her age category and Nicola Ruston-Litchfield was 3rd in her group, despite suffering a stitch.
