3…2..1… HAPPY NEW YEA… wait a second! Can you believe that was over a month ago!
Where does the time go?
We are now 6 weeks in to 2022 – or should I say for the marathoners amongst the Green and Black army about 7 weeks until the ‘Spring Mara’ season!
One thing I’m not alone in is noticing how the nights are beginning to draw out, Constant Reader. A small sign that hope springs eternal, no?
Without much further ado, let us take account of January and crown the first Member of the Month for this year.
Eastern Turkey is the destination of our first jaunt of the year – I do spoil you!
Our intrepid perma-traveller, Nev Chamberlain is on a mission to complete the world… literally.
The Adana Half Marathon was the race that he donned the GRC vest. His first half since 2018, he was especially pleased to clock under two hours with 01:58:00.
There seems no better way to banish the January blues than by taking the lesser travelled road… in fact ditching the ‘road’ altogether.
The Lincolnshire Cross Country Championships saves its ace up it’s sleeve for the crowning event every year. The brute of a course at Biscathorpe is always full of thrills and spills.
Firstly the men were flayed for 10k with Peter Bonnner first home followed by Rob Howbrook, Gav Meadows, Robin Atter, Tom Johnson and Jason Walker.
In the women’s 5.7km race, Caroline Davis came home first, followed closely by Michelle Parczuk and Sarah High.
On the same day the Sherwood Pines New Year 10k, an off-road based route, if not a bit more picturesque,was conquered by Nicola Webster the first of her double headers in January.
He Oundle 10k – back to roads – would see her run some 2 minutes quicker. It was a welcome return to racing since November 2019: A very different world back then!
((Note – We could well be back to Oundle, so hold tight.))
Continuing the Lincs XC theme was Rachel Hamilton (James Hamilton) who’s just about scraped into January’s contention with her First Vet Lady performance and a very, very credible 7th overall at Boston, held at the end of the month.
Just her second XC for the Green and Black army, she once again she fired warning shots of just how strong a runner she is quickly growing in to.
Paul Rushworth (Tracy Paul) gained some recognition as he once again took to the Four Villages Half in Helsby (and three other villages, duh…) and recaptured some form with a clocking of 01:37:20.
So, to our runner up for January.
Whilst not exactly relishing every single muddy lap and river crossing at the time, he has shown real strength of character to tow the line of the club’s XC outings at almost every fixture over the Autumn and Winter.
it clearly has paid dividends as his road running has continues a meteoric improvement in a short space of time.
The North Mids XC is a competitive series and it pits runners across some testing courses and conditions.
Showing his dedication and his running prowess consistently to place 7th overall in his Age Category, Robin Atter – the newly-crowned winner of the GRC Newcomer Award 2021 – is very well deserving of runner up.
Well done ‘ol boy!
Now, just smile next time someone takes a photo of you running in field. You do this for fun!
Our run-away winner (pun very much intended) has been arduously plugging away despite injury setbacks over the course of the last few years.
Her much favoured 10k distance the foundation for her very worthy set of performances.
‘Warming up’ quite nicely at the multi-terrain Sherwood Pines with her running chum it was the Oundle 10k (told you we’d be back!) that saw her realise a goal she’s been determinedly chipping away at for several years.
Having found memories at the 2019 incarnation, he hitherto previous standing PB, our purple haired warrior took to the undulating course in the uncharacteristically mild January weather. Ergo, it proved perfect racing conditions as she set a new 10k PB by over 2 minutes and broke the 65 minute barrier to clock: 01:04:45.
Rightfully delighted with her work, it may prove to dangle the carrot to keep striving forward for brighter and better things.
January Member of the Month
Not just one thumb up, but a massive trademark double thumbs up for our January Member of The Month; Lou Kennedy!