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Results Jan-June 2015

Royal Parks Summer Series 10km, Greenwich Park - Sunday 28th June 2015

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 27th June 2015

Orion's Fast Friday, Walthamstow Track - Friday 26th June 2015

The Golden Stag Mile, Barnet AC, Alianz Park - Thursday 25th June 2015

Dulwich Runners. Midsummer 5km - Thursday 25th June 2015

Nike Womens 10km - Sunday 21st June 2015

Marathon des Burons, Trail en Aubrec. - Sunday 21st June 2015

43.2km's.

Colworth Marathon Challenge - cumulative times - Friday 19th - Sunday 21st June 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

1st Men's Team Overall : Thomas Grimes, Patrick Brown, Danny Lee & Manjit Bedi

Colworth Report: from Manjit Bedi.

This was our 4th outing as a team and my 5th to the Colworth challenge in Sharnbook near Bedford. The weather this year was ideal for running not too hot or wet.
This year we took a larger team consisting of Suzanne and Geoff Bench, Danny and Ava Lee, Patrick, Julie and Annalise Brown, Thomas Grimes, Grant Conway, Maud Hodson, Roberto Bruni, Kieran Brown, Fiona Critchley, Fiona Day, Trish Kelly, Russell Price and myself.
As usual we took advantage of the free camping and excellent facilities. The team met up with old friends again from local clubs in Bedford


As can be seen from the results everyone gave 100% in all the races and we won the team challenge for the event for the 4th year.

I have to especially mention the following individuals:

Thomas for winning all 3 races and the men’s overall event on his 4th attempt.
Patrick for coming second in all 3 races and the overall event and giving Thomas a run for his money.
Ava on her debut came third in the women’s races and third overall a great achievement.
Fiona Day for winning the V55 in all races .
Danny (I have never won anything) Lee took 4 prizes to start his collection.
Suzanne for winning V50 prizes in some races.
Russell for being our official photographer .
Everyone had a great weekend

Thanks to the Colworth Striders who put in a great effort in organising and running the event again.
Manjit Bedi


Sorry its a bit late, but I just wanted to say a big thank you all the ELR + friends & family who helped to make Colworth Marathon Challenge a great weekend! I would particularly like to thank Russell for kit, Russell & Geoff for post race rehydration & Suzanne for breakfasts!
Congratulations to all the ELR entrants on the great individual & team performances, but especially Suzanne & Fiona Day for their inspirational runs!
Highlights must be The Suzanne & Geoff Inflatable mattress cabaret, & a mention of Roberto's attempts to join the women's team......
Happy running,
Fiona C.

Maud's report:
I found myself with a little bit of time on my hands this morning, so I've written a report from the Colworth Marathon Challenge, to add to Manjit's and Fiona's. Sorry it's a bit long, but it was a three day event...

I was pretty nervous about this one. Not the running - I was fairly sure I could do that - but the camping. The last time I camped was over twenty years ago, and it was so wet and miserable that it had put me off for life, or so I thought. I nearly wimped out of the whole thing when I saw that it was forecast to rain all day on Saturday. But after self-medicating my anxiety away the night before, I set off, a little hungover, with Fiona C & Russell and shed loads of stuff. You need a lot of stuff to camp, even for two nights.
When we arrived Camp ELR was already taking shape. As I had hoped, some of the more competent campers helped me put up my tent. The first challenge accomplished. Within five minutes the inside of my tent looked like a teenager’s bedroom. We were then treated to the comedy pas-de-deux that was Suzanne & Geoff trying to get their rather large borrowed mattress into their not very large large tent. But that also had a happy ending.
And then the first race. That was why we were here, after all. As Russell poured himself the first beer of the evening, the rest of us made our way to the start line for an ‘undulating’ five-miler. Roberto decided to run with me, which meant I didn’t get to take it as easy as I might have done otherwise. But I was very pleased to dip under 40 minutes (by 2 seconds), so thanks Roberto, and sorry about the whinging.
And then beer and food. The bar in the clubhouse had a great range of cheap and delicious beers from Oakham’s Ales, a local brewery. And the first awards presentation. While I didn’t win anything myself (sniff), it was a pleasure seeing so many of my fabulous team-mates pick up individual and team prizes. Go ELR! It was a good job the women’s team only came fifth, as we realised later that Roberto was listed as a woman, so we might have been disqualified…
So far so good. And it didn’t start raining until mid morning on Saturday. And I managed to sleep through the wee-small-hours disco. The second race, an 8.1 trail run, started at a rather civilised 12 noon, so we had a leisurely breakfast before Russell and Geoff (who was now another non-runner after an injury) made their way to the bar and the rest of use got kitted up for the race. This was an attractive route with a real mix of surfaces, some quite tricky, and lush, green English countryside. Followed by more awards for the boys and girls in red. I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed trudging from my tent to the showers and back in the pouring rain, but hey…
And after spending most of the afternoon in the clubhouse watching the rain-delay in the cricket (Russell & Geoff may have been drinking beer), we set of to the nearby village of Sharnbrook for dinner in the local pub. Some of them couldn’t manage without beer for the half-hour walk, so they marched down the road with their ‘journey beers’ in plastic glasses. Classy. Russell had been matching the runners at a conversion rate of 1 mile = 1 pint, and he manfully completed his 8.1 during the meal.
Some of the proper runners set off to walk back a little earlier while the rest of us finished our drinks and sorted out the bill. Then Suzanne cheekily asked the nice young man behind the bar if he would drive us home, and he said yes, so the remaining eight of us squeezed ourselves into his four-wheel-drive. Apparently the four walkers didn’t look very pleased when we overtook them with a cheery toot, but I couldn’t see that from behind the dog bars.
As I am Ms Sensible, I went straight back to bed while the ELR party animals had another drink or two. But since they were sitting right outside my tent, I could join in the conversation from the comfort of my sleeping bag. (I was lying by the way, I wasn’t really recording it…) It didn’t rain in the night, but it was windy, and there must have been a lot of water on the tent as sometimes a sharp gust of wind would send a splash of water onto my face. Refreshing…
On Sunday morning tired looking runners drifted around the campsite, asking each other how they felt. “Errrr nnghhh”. But the last ones still standing (Grant, Trish & Roberto had joined the non-runners) made our way to the start line one more time. Seldom have I felt less like running a half marathon. But run it we did, and actually we all did pretty well. Not an easy course, with a few hills and some rough surfaces. The route passes the other side of a hedge from the Santa Pod race track, which is seriously noisy - on lap two I was actually a little bit scared that they were going to crash right through, and a pall of smoke hung over the field. But I think that maybe made run faster as I was quite keen to get past. A blissful shady downhill through the woods and one more rather evil little climb and home in a quite respectable 1.55, and 3.45 overall. Another beer, another presentation, and then the final challenge of the weekend - getting my tent back into its bag (thanks, Russell).
Still not convinced about camping, but a great weekend with a lovely bunch of people. And not just my fellow ELRs - everyone is very relaxed and friendly. I reckon I’ll be back for more next year...

Colworth Marathon Challenge - Half Marathon - Sunday - Day 3 - Sunday 21st June 2015

1st men's team : Tom, Patrick, Danny & Manjit

Colworth Marathon Challenge - Trail 8.1 Miles - Saturday - Day 2 - Saturday 20th June 2015

Men's team - Tom,Patrick, Danny & Manjit 1st place

Colworth Marathon Challenge - Colworth 5 - Friday - Day 1 - Friday 19th June 2015

Men's team Tom, Pat, Danny, Manjit 1st
Ladies team, 5th

Dambuster Tri, Rutland Water - Saturday 20th June 2015

swim 1.5k: 28.14, T1 1.12, CYCLE 42K: 1.18.56, t2 1.22, run 10k: 46.32.

parkrun - all venues. - Saturday 20th June 2015

Scott McMillan reaches his 200th parkrun and Tricia O'Neill does her first parkrun at Raphael.
Best time of the day went to Tom Glasock at Hackney in 17.23. First finish for Alex Day at Wanstead, course pb's for Felicity & Shaun also.
Course pb also for Steve Bywater at Walthamstow, Richard Guest at Bracknell, Paul Marshall at Mile End, Ashley Faria at Valentine, Lucy Barron at Hackney and John Healy at Dulwich.
Well done Tricia, let's see you at Wanstead some time.

Orion's John Clarke Memorial Fell Race 5k'ish - Friday 19th June 2015

ELVIS 3 - Eton Manor 5km - Tuesday 16th June 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Grant (el capitán): "Brilliant night last night at the race and afterwards. Our fantastic club just goes from strength to strength"



Team ELR prior to the Race!


1st ELVIS races for: Sam McCarthy, Scott McMillan, Alexandra Brown, Fiona Critchley, Gina Radford, Lucy Barron, Gemma Foxall, Peter Martin, Janice Horslen and Phillip Higgins.
Best symmetry running: Gareth Jones: 22:22 (2+2+2+2 = 8) for 80th!
Come-back banter king: Mark Wyatt


Thanks to Roberto and Jonathan for masses of photos
Thanks to Jim, Ninnette, Russ, Jonathan and Roberto for cheering on the mighty ELR!

Best wishes to Chairman Frank who pulled up with a dodgy hamstring.

Deva Triathlon, Chester Tri - Sunday 14th June 2015

swim 1.5km 25.46, T1 2.09, cycle 42k: 1.13.29, T2 1.21, run 10km 46.26.
Ran a 10km pb in a tri!.

Aviator 10km, Staverton - Sunday 14th June 2015

68 finishers.

Two Castles 10km - Sunday 14th June 2015

3835 finishers...I came home for the weekend to try out the Two Castles 10k. The route starts in the grounds of Warwick castle and finishes in Kenilworth castle. Big turnout of 4000 too!
The route itself has an ascent of around 250 foot so it is quite hilly and challenging.
Managed to squeeze out a PB by 1 second, 37.14.
Would highly recommend to anyone if they don't mind travelling and like hills!

Endure 24 , Wasing Park Estate, Aldermaston - Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th June 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Endure 24 is a twenty four hour race run over a 5 mile loop of forest trails. It takes place in the scenic Wasing Park Estate, Aldermaston near Reading.



Russ's race report:

(lap splits available at http://www.endure24.co.uk/results/4566634078)

It has taken a little while for me to get into the mood to write this race report. I tried to run with my club (the mighty ELR) tonight and couldn’t 1 week and a half later I could barely even jog 1.5 miles. Everyone was asking if I ask “ok”? No, I was frustrated and achy. Then a voice pipes up “too soon?” and I smiled, yes it is too soon! Too soon as I undertook something pretty epic a week and a half ago. So, still smiling, I am ready to reflect on the amazing journey that was endure24 for actionforme!

The build up to endure24 was relaxed and I felt apprehensive but ready. After a slight taper-tantrum I woke up on Friday and started eating (calorie credit). Arriving at the campsite in good time to set up with the support crew. We had a lovely little camp close to the solo entry and exit from the course, and right on the course! I knew that each lap I would see my home for the weekend and hopefully some awake, friendly support crew-ers, perfect. With a BBQ and a cheeky beer I was relaxing with the crew and went to bed relaxed and ready.

The race, (can I call it a race?) the start was alien for me. Standing at the back chatting to others, rather than staring intently at the pace function on my Garmin. Chatted with a guy looking for 100 miles, bold! Started really slowly and built up to a run, 5 mile laps of beautiful countryside went by. Waves and smiles from my parent and support crew and club mate who were marshalling for the first few hours made me smile.

I mentally shut down and didn’t think about much except an occasional chat with fellow runners and pondering what I wanted at the end of the lap. By mid afternoon I was in a rhythm and progressing well and way ahead of pace, I knew I wouldn’t negative split the race but slowed a little trying to save something. Come evening I got slight foot pain so took dinner and a 35 minute lie down around 22:30 and went back out around for 10 miles more. I had planned to go further but got frustrated and went to bed around 2:30.

Going to bed with 60 miles under my belt felt great, that was my “public goal” sorted, anything else would take me closer to my “personal goal” of 75 or 80 ;-) Waking up at 4:15 I took a lot of poking and encouragement to wake up (massive thank you to the brave sole who shared a tent with a sweaty and hardly-sleeping runner)! With tight legs I ploughed on walking and kept trying to run. More miles past and the legs weren’t keen on running, so I continued walking and grabbing food to eat on the first mile. I couldn’t get running again so maximum distance I could reach was slipping away, but not disheartened I continued walking.

My crew woke up and feed me drink and sausage baps and smiles. My parents came back to join them too. having them all there over the weekend was amazing and really made me cherish the support from my family when I had ME badly. I had hidden away and not opened up and got the support from friends, and feeling that this weekend from my support crew was brilliant. Hence my choice of charity of actionforme, they are building an amazing community as well as pushing research and understanding of ME.

The last two laps I pondered the low times of my ME experience and was sobbing to myself as I walked on and on. As I neared the end of the last lap I was properly balling my eyes out about a mile from the end reflecting on the low times. Eventually, thinking of the support and encouragement of my crew and family I managed to pull myself together. I felt a massive sense of relief and joy to be lucky enough to be where I am today. I will never say that I have recovered from ME, I still have sleep-paranoia occasionally and it has left a scar inside me.

I had done it, my first ultra marathon! 85 miles in 23 hours, 59 minutes and 24 seconds (team name “mania” http://www.frsystems.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Endure15_SM_v2.pdf) . What an amazing experience!

The most rewarding part of the experience has been talking about it, a chance to tell people what I had, how it made me feel, how I have progressed and what I can now achieve. My only advice to anyone with reading this who have/have had ME is talk about. People can empathize and support you, but only if they know how it makes you feel.

Southend Half Marathon - Sunday 14th June 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

2,053 finishers.

Mike: The 20th anniversary of this coastal half marathon is set for the main part of the course, along the sea front (two laps this year), starting in Shoeburyness. While some may comment that the route lacks the scenery of other half marathons, this is more than compensated for by the enthusiastic supporters lining the pavements and also the healthy sea breeze. Except for a very short incline on leaving the sea front before mile 11, the course is otherwise mainly flat.

The weather was fairly warm and humid with the sun trying to break through, luckily for the runners not the scorching sun of the previous year! A perfect day then to record a fast time, so well done to Mark (13th overall), Spencer (135th) and Muhammad (629th) in setting new PB's and Roisin who finished 11th out of 716 ladies. ELR men's team finished 9th out of 71 teams.

This is an event which definitely deserves repeat visits, both for spectators and competitors alike, it is a great day out.
A nice surprise to see Alexandra Wilkinson at the 'turn around' on the course. Thanks for your suuport Alex, but as said by Roisin; 'sorry no time to stop and chat'!

Amba Hotel's City of London Mile - Sunday 14th June 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 13th June 2015

Wanstead Flats gets a new attendance record from 139 to 151. Better get some more tokens ordered, we only have 150. James Wilson's last minute sprint in 18.14 (course pb) for quickest time by ELR for the day for first place. Thomas Grimes first finisher at Grovelands in 18.18. Course pb for Jonny Shaw dipping under 20 minutes for the first time.
James Nichols 2nd place & course pb at Walthamstow.

Woodford Green Open Track Meeting, Ashton Playing Fields. - Tuesday 9th June 2015

3000m event

Self Transcendence 5km, Battersea Park - Monday 8th June 2015

Westonbirt Arboretum Run for the tree's 10km - Monday 8th June 2015

Race report: ELR goes West: Westonbirt Arboretum "Run for the trees" 10k, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire
This race is near my home town of Malmesbury and I've been wanting to do it for several years now, but it fills up really quickly. This year I got lucky, and did the race with my brother and some of his friends, who were impressed by my ELR vest and that I'd come such a long way. It was fun to do this race only two days after the Orion 5 in Epping Forest, so I sure have run past a lot of trees! The Arboretum was founded in the mid 19th century, and now has a vast collection of amazing trees and shrubs including Redwood Trees which you rarely see outside North America. The organisers encourage you to arrive early, so we had time to explore, hug a few trees and warm up, before the race itself, which took you on a one lap tour all around the arboretum, all off road, on mainly gravel trails. There were hills, but despite this, I got a PB of 53:07 and came 259 out of 627 finishers. The race is very well organised, lots of parking, and extra joy, plenty of pristine loos, no queues.

Regents Park 10km Summer Series. - Sunday 7th June 2015

777 finishers.

Dorking 10 - Sunday 7th June 2015

Derby Ramathon Half Marathon - Sunday 7th June 2015

Bedgebury Forest 10K Trailblazer - Saturday 6th June 2015

Very hot and tough course. Lots of hills and uneven terrain. Best goody bag ever!

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10km Series - Saturday 6th June 2015

ELVIS 2 - Orion Forest Five Series - Event 1 of 3. - Saturday 6th June 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Last year's time ( ) for those that improved

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 6th June 2015

Wimbledon Trail Series - Race 2 - Wednesday 3rd June 2015

Great Midland Fun Run, Royal Sutton Coldfield - Sunday 31st May 2015

Vitality Triathlon - Sprint Distance, Hyde Park - Sunday 31st May 2015

Carlton: Managed to complete my first Sprint Triathlon (ITU World Triathlon London 2015, Hyde Park). Since swimming is not my forte, I had real concerns about being able to complete the swim part. Happy to say I managed to finish in one piece and actually had a cracking time in quite challenging weather conditions. Overall time: 1hr 39min 16sec.
Swim 23.44, T1 6.51, Bike 45.23, T2 3.42, Run 19.38.

Vitality Triathlon - Olympic Distance, Hyde Park - Sunday 31st May 2015

Ava Lee : What a morning! Fraught with fun and drama at the Vitality Triathlon. My first ever triathlon - Olympic distance. Definitely not my last! Minor drama in T1 when I arrived to find my helmet missing, discovered it had blown several metres away in the mighty wind and rain. Quite a spectacular fall off my bike at the half way mark, took a few minutes to gather myself and check for broken bones before carrying on a bit bloody and battered.....I made it to the end in 2hr 32mins. Totally chuffed, a few bandages as trophies. Can't wait for the next one!
Swim 30.00, TI 5.10, Bike 1.13.17, T2 2.24, Run 41.23.

Phnom Penh Half Marathon - Sunday 31st May 2015

Jamee Gould: 24 hours travelling, a missed connecting flight, 3 planes, a lost suitcase, brand new trainers and running gear bought at airport, zero sleep and a 6am start, my awesome sis and I finished the Phnom Penh half marathon! Not ideal circumstances but we did it!! — with Paige Gould.

ING Luxembourg Night Half Marathon - Saturday 30th May 2015

Kent Roadrunner Marathon - Saturday 30th May 2015

andykumar.net/2015/05/31/kent-roadrunner-marathon-2015-race-report/

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 30th May 2015

Fastest parkrun of the day for Thomas, 17.00 & first place at Clarisford, Ireland. Two ladies had a first place finishes , Sarah 22.38 at Wanstead and Karen a 5th place finish with 19.56 and a 82.11% age grade. First parkrun for Thomas Glasock in 18.05 at Wanstead with course pb's from Antonio Romero & James Creed. Course pb's for David Baldwin at Walthamstow and for all 4 runners (Jonny, Katherine, Mohammed & Jason) at Hackney Marshes. Great also to see Mark & David Wyatt back at Wanstead as well. DFYB .

Sixmilebridge 10km - Friday 29th May 2015

Scott's Travel Midweek Road Race League - Div 2 - Orion - Wednesday 27th May 2015

This is how to make a guest appearance!.

BUPA London 10km - Monday 25th May 2015

andykumar.net/2015/05/25/bupa-london-10000-2015-race-report/

Hatfield Broad Oak 10km (30th Anniversary) - Monday 25th May 2015

1,283 finishers.

BUPA Westminister Mile - Sunday 24th May 2015

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 23rd May 2015

40 parkruns this week at 12 venues. Julie Creffield did her 50th at Bushy while Katherine did her 100th & 1st Lady and Aaron Browne his 50th both at Valentines. 1st parkruns for Antonio at Wanstead and Susannah at Nonsuch. Course pb's for James Wilson, Jonathan, Caroline & Felicity at Wanstead. Also course pb's for Jonny, Allan, Will & John Healy. Fastest parkrun this week: Russell Price at Poole 17.33. Last week we reached 2,500 runs at Wanstead from 135 members, this week it's now 2530 & 138. So next target 150 runners at Wanstead, so get over there soon or at least add ELR to your club name.

Run Wembley formerly Sudbury Court 10km - Sunday 17th May 2015

121 finishers.

Riga Marathon, Latvia - Sunday 17th May 2015

Richmond Park Marathon - Sunday 17th May 2015

341 finishers.

Morrisons Great Womens 10km, Glasgow - Sunday 17th May 2015

Ava Lee finishing the Glasgow Women's 10k this morning - 15th out of supposedly 10,000 in 41:14!!! East London Runners got a big shout out when she crossed the line, which was met with The Stony Wall of Silence from a partisan crowd! Those miserable Jocks, huh?!
The commentator shouted 'Ava Lee, all the way from East London, welcome to Glasgow' as I crossed the finish line. I've officially been disowned by the Scots.

Hornsey YMCA Crouch End 10km - Sunday 17th May 2015

Bognor 10km - Sunday 17th May 2015

Nuclear Rush Oblivion, Brentwood - Saturday 16th May 2015

Race report… Tanbir Jasimuddin
Officially, I managed to complete 36k (3 laps) in 8hrs 12 mins 24 secs. Unofficially, my distance was 40.4k in that time.

Position – 60th, 98 starters 42.2km and 175 obstacles.
60th of 98 starters.

This was quite possibly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve done a few obstacle course runs before, but even after 12k, I was puffing. As a marathon run alone, this would be tough. This was all off road, rivers and lakes. On the off road sections, there was mud, a lot of mud, so much so, it was hard to stand up without falling flat on your face, let alone run through it. In one section, I even got my foot stuck in it – I’d rather run through treacle! It was a really well organised event, with waves of runners completing different distances throughout the day, which meant that we had different people telling us that we were nutters. There were some fun obstacles, like the death slide which involved a 20m free fall into a lake, and some not so fun ones like the 119m monkey bars. Apart from the monkey bars, they were quite strict on completing the obstacles, so this certainly was a level above tough mudder. Only a handful of people managed to complete the distance. I started my final lap in severe pain as I managed to drop a log on my foot, sadly I wasn’t able to finish within the time limit, but my Garmin said that I had covered just over 40k and I was pleased with that. I would definitely recommend this event, and I’ll certainly give the 42k distance another go. I can’t wait to see the action photos!

parkrun - all venues. - Saturday 16th May 2015

Wanstead Flats parkrun celebrated it's 4th Anniversary. Patrick & Rebecca were the first finishers. Fiona celebrated her 100th parkrun, Maud & Scott were the points winners for 2014/2015. Course pb's for Patrick, Craig, James & Katherine.
Elsewhere another first finish for Thomas and course pb's for Spencer at Barking, Paul Marshall at Mile End and Dan Spinks at Northala Fields. Dan seems to like Northala as his two last pb's were there also. Also Richard paced his Mum again to get her another pb.

ELVIS 1 - Havering 90 Joggers 5 mile - Tuesday 12th May 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

229 finishers. Bracket times show last year's quicker times
1st Ladies & Men's Team Winners also.



On a sunny but windy Spring evening 58 ELR Members and their supporters made their way to Raphaels Park, Romford for the first of the 7 races forming the 2015 ELVIS Series.

Our Ladies were particularly successful as can be seen from the above and our Men were excellent too.



There were many personal best times and a good few debuts.

Onwards now to ELVIS 2 on Saturday 6th June at Orion.


Race Report by Mike Wilson. This was my first race since a Chingford League fixture back in November, shortly after which I became plagued by injuries. Every attempted comeback was unsuccessful, so I only stated running again last month; a couple of times a week. Last week was my first full club run and I managed to strain my glute and hamstring at the same time. So last night I arrived at the race with a great deal of apprehension and anxiety, just hoping I could finish the race. My plan was to start at the back of the field and jog round with the minimum of discomfort and damage.
I arrived at the start line alongside Dave Knight and Caroline Moore and proceeded to bore Dave with my injury woes. Once the race started I decided to to chat to Dave about football, which then bored Caroline, I am sure! After about half a mile or so, I felt a spring in my legs that I had not experienced for a while and began to lengthen my stride (Perhaps it was the cushioning in my new running shoes!). It was a warm sunny evening in a lovely park and I started to enjoy my run. With no extra effort I managed to pass a lot of people and caught sight of a few East London Runners' in front of me. My legs and back were feeling ok so what did I do? I started to race the rest of it....couldn't help myself really! On nearly three miles I caught sight of Frank Brownlie who let me overtake him by stopping to do up his shoe laces! Some encouragement by spectators Roberto Bruni, Jim Bird and Roger Dixon helped me along and I was delighted to finish in 37.44. Probably a personal worse, but not a disaster; I was actually ecstatic at the finishing line...I had given it my all in the end! I've learnt that times are not everything now and it is the competing for ELR that is important.
Being injured can be a pretty lonely place at times, but I am taking it one day at a time and no adverse affects today. Well done to the ladies and men's teams again, come on ELR!



Jennifer and Karen with their Race Trophies!

Dereham 10m - Sunday 10th May 2015

Halstead & Essex Marathon - Sunday 10th May 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Jason, Wayne and Regis after the race.

491 finishers. Jason Levy Really enjoyed the race, and even some of the hills. I was about 18mins quicker than Brighton four weeks ago, so very pleased. It's was good to meet Wayne Kelly and Regis Martin who both ran really well today.

Vitality Hackney Half Marathon - Sunday 10th May 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Aaron, Scott, James, Craig and Jonathan with their medals.

Hackney Half Marathon race reports...

Andy Kumar - andykumar.net/2015/05/10/run-hackney-half-marathon-2015/

Scott McMillan

After putting in my first sub 90 minute time at Roding Valley a couple of months back, I had my eye on going a little quicker here. And so, on a glorious day, during an extremely well organised event, on a near pan flat course, I blasted through the first 9 miles like a red express train, breaking my 10k record as I went. And then I spent the last 4 and a bit miles desperately trying to keep the wheels on the track, coming in a couple of minutes short of my target.

Did I set off too fast? Maybe, but I wasn't going to set a PB by going slower than PB pace, so I had to give it a bash. Was it too hot? Maybe, I was a bit worried about dehydrating out there, and at times today I felt like I was water boarding myself. Did I train hard enough? Maybe not, I struggled a little with niggles after Roding Valley, and while I've been putting in some good 5k times, I probably cut back a bit on my longer runs.

So maybe a bit of all of this, but most likely the biggest cause lay elsewhere: in the week before the race I had a haircut and trimmed my beard. What an idiot. Have I learned NOTHING from the story of Samson, or NOTHING from the story of the long haired, heavily bearded chap who ran Roding Valley in under 90 minutes? Anyway, special thanks to all of those from ELR who gave me a cheer over those hard last few miles, I really needed it!

Hackney half race report...Jonny Shaw

I hadn't signed up for many races this year in order to save my energy for the arrival of my second daughter a couple of weeks ago so I was really looking forward to this race.

Standing in the 1.30 starting pen I ran into Alex Haward who looked like a coiled spring, it was nice to also see James and Diana before the start. I always seem to run half marathons in 1.43 but as usual I had fantasised about pulling off some 1.30 ish miracle and as usual I had been to lazy to do Grants monday punisher in order to increase my pace. Hey ho the horn went and we rocketed off at breakneck speed, Haward disappearing in a plume of dust. After a couple of miles it became clear that I was not going to maintain the pace and to make matters worse I needed the loo. There was nothing for it but to stagger into the Hackney council portaloo. And then we were off again.
By about mile 5 the sun came out, I realised it had been a mistake to wear my usual couple of layers and a hat, I could still hear Paul Thompson's voice, mocking of my attire, but at least I wasn't wearing my coat and trousers as I usually do up to June. Nothing for it but to stop and do a quick strip to consternation of my fellow runners.
Up to mile 10 feeling hot and queasy, pace slipping all the time a gel at mile 8 had improved matters somewhat so I opted for another at mile 11 and managed to drop my phone and a tenner I was carrying. Grabbed the phone, cash got taken by a gust of wind so I chased it against the directional flow much to the amusement of my fellow athletes. Possessions recovered and it was time to knuckle down and get it done. Mile 12, Craig Livermore sped past me like a bullet we had a brief chat and I bade him farewell as I was flagging big time.

Last mile was a hot haze, I was relieved to cross the line in the usual 1.43, my 1.30ish daydream trodden under foot.
I got blasé about the distance and training and tried to wing it, and it never works!
Note to self, wear the right gear, train and stop making excuses! C u next year hackney 1/2. Brilliant course and amazing organisation if a little pricey- but at least we got caviar in the race pack.

Hope 24 - Saturday & Sunday 9th/10th May 2015

Well done Bozena Myslinska running her first ever 30 miles at hope24run. Team of six covering over 140 miles.
bozenamyslinska.wordpress.com/2015/05/12/hope-24/

Orion Yacht Handicap - Saturday 9th May 2015

Grant Today I ran in the Orion yacht handicap. A 5 mile race made up mostly of hills that are part of the Orion 15 course. A good runout before ELVIS on Tuesday. I came 6th out of 25 with a time of 40.51. Cheers.

Vitality Hackney 5km - Saturday 9th May 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 9th May 2015

Wimbledon Trail Series - Race 1 - Wednesday 6th May 2015

Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon - Monday 4th May 2015

2281 finishers. halfway 2.05.47, 20 miles 3.14.18.

Fiona's Race Report. Or from anxious to exhausted in 4 hours and 17 minutes.

I have been planning to run the Belfast Marathon for a few years now. It was recommended by Jane, one of the 2 women who were partly why Kieran and I first ran a marathon. These 2 colleagues, were in their 50s and running marathons. They knew Kieran and I ran a bit and encouraged us to enter a 10 km with them. After this we ditched the baggy shirt and beach shorts and bought some technical gear and we started running together.

Not long after Jane had mentioned how much she enjoyed the Belfast marathon I read a letter in a running magazine by someone else who had enjoyed it and urged runners to support smaller marathons. So that was Belfast on my to do list, also I think running is a good way to see different places.

What a contrast from other races, I went to see the start the night before and there was no sign of activity, no barriers fencing,etc, I arrived half an hour before the start, as instructed and the pen was empty.( I have taken a photo).

I was feeling shaky and although I had done the training, it never went right and I felt unprepared. However seeing so many other runners at the start with tape and supports on their legs, I took some comfort in starting without any niggles or injuries.

Did I have a race plan to follow? Well simply, don't start off too fast ( it's not a parkrun) don't stop running and get over the finish line. I made sure I was in front of the 4.30 pacer and hoped that I wouldn't see him again.

There was also a relay marathon and the relay teams were a substantial part of the numbers, in fact out numbering marathon runners by far.

The run was sponsored by a bottled water company but the water stations gave cups, some I saw being filled from stand pipes. At one point they also poured energy drinks into cups rather than waste whole bottles which is good.

The route is varied and covers North, South, East and West of the City. The first 6 miles out towards George Best Airport and back. Then a long trek through mainly residential streets,some street names were familiar.

I had checked before and had read there was a hill at about 9 miles, so I wasn't prepared for quite a bit of uphill in the first half. Still it wasn't the Stanmer Park ladder and I kept my pace and along the top were some stunning views over Belfast Lough.

By this point my anxiety had vanished. There didn't seem too much downhill before we ran along the waters edge on a cycle path by a dual carriageway.
I enjoyed running through the 4 relay change overs as there was a buzz of excitement as runners waited for to their team mates to arrive.

I knew the next time I arrived in the cCity itself I would have covered 20 miles. By this time my legs were getting sore, but I overheard a guy encouraging his mate in a soothing Irish lilt "the pains in your head not your legs" I took this on board and my legs felt fresher.

At some point I took note of a view of the waterfront but some of the last few miles were a blur.

We ran past the queue of lorries going to the docks, I had to wait for a couple to pass before the marshals let me cross the road.

The last 6 miles went through some unremarkable urban landscape before a pleasant stretch passing alongside the river Lagan. Then a nasty mile or so around 24 to 25 up a long hill.

The local support was fantastic, especially towards the end and was really welcome on this hill. By the last mile it had increased to a roar along the final push downhill to the finish.

I saw Kieran cheering me as I approached it, so pleased to see him, knowing he was waiting had helped keep me going. Once over the over the mat I got my bottle of water supplied by the sponsors. By the end of the run I had seen the iconic yellow H&W cranes from every possible angle.

Belfast may seem a long way to go for a run, but I would recommend it, especially combined with a little holiday. The marathon is well organised and Belfast is also very friendly, its a pleasant city to visit in a lovely part of the world!

Milton Keynes Marathon - Monday 4th May 2015

1558 finishers. All done and dusted 3:39:29 PB. I was aiming for under 3:40 just managed to get it. The course was horrible lots of twists and turns uphill and downhill. Won't be doing this one again.

Regents Park 10km Summer Series - Sunday 3rd May 2015

528 finishers.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10km Series - Saturday 2nd May 2015

parkrun - all venues ( Wanstead except where indicated.) - Saturday 2nd May 2015

50th parkrun celebrations for Russell Price & Maya Goodwin. Would have been also for Allan Todd if he remembered his barcode. A great pb for Russell finishing in 17.26 moved him to 24th in the fastest 500 list and 5th on the ELR list for Wanstead Flats. Maya celebrated her 50th with what else but "cake".
Course pb's also for Peter Craik, Aaron Browne, Suzanne "new shoes" Bench, Alexandra Brown, Felicity Price-Thomas and Caroline Moore. Craig ran at Wanstead for the first time and Alex & M

Hamburg Marathon - Sunday 26th April 2015

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 - Sunday 26th April 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Also Yvonne Shashoua 3:30:34 - FV50 47th.
Bryony Hewer - 3:54:08

Danny Lee: Enjoying reading everyone’s reports - here's mine…

Some may have already heard about my highly technical and sophisticated marathon strategy, which I call the Kamikaze Technique (patent pending). It goes something like this: run as fast as you can for about 2 hours, holding nothing in reserve, start to cramp at about 20 miles, spend the final 10K feeling like you’re wading through treacle and wishing you’d never been born - your pace nose diving like crazy - collapse over the finish line and wait to be carried to the medical tent in tears. It’s a plan that’s somehow served me well for many years, but it’s always left me wondering – what if one year, that last 10K wasn’t such a disaster.


So off I went, with my trusty plan, and everything went true to form for the first 20 miles. But passing the water station this year, something was different – I was still feeling weirdly OK! I even managed a couple of “EAST LONDON!!!” fist pumps and got a mighty cheer back from the team for my efforts. Feeling pumped as I pulled away from the station, I convinced myself that today that there would be no treacle. I decided this time to ignore The Cramps that had arrived bang on cue – I’ll show those buggers who’s boss!

Kilometre after kilometre heading west, for once, my pace stayed within target. Even Embankment didn’t seem so long this year, the crowd calling my name all the way. More fist pumps at Birdcage walk as I realised a PB was in the bag. I rounded the corner into the Mall and saw the clock still said two forty something. For the first time in my life, I even managed a sprint finish to cross the line in 2:49:22 - 3 minutes faster than my target for the day! No collapsing, no tears, no paramedics – just high fives and smiles with Alex Day and Paul Quinton who were waiting over the line, both with shiny new PBs of their own! I doubt my “technique” will ever catch on, but for once it worked – at last, I’d run the marathon I’d been trying to run for years!

Ciaran Canavan: My race may not have gone to plan yesterday, but it was an amazing day, made more special by the camaraderie and support of ELR! Well done to those who ran. On your debuts, PBs and personal achievements all round! Love you all


Will Pearce: Well what can I say....another amazing ELR and London Marathon day, so many incredible performances and great support as ever.

Perfect conditions for the race, in the pen chatting to Grant Conway with the rain holding off and off I went sticking to the 3 hour pace maker like glue (as were a lot of others and my legs were taken out a couple of times but luckily no fall). Great to bump into some friendly ELR faces early on John Booth Andrew Baxter and Ava Lee and felt very comfortable at 20 mile water station, picked up my gels from Alex Bee and maybe, just maybe sub 3 was in sight! Faded after 23 miles (with Antonio Martín Romero coming through like a rocket, what a performance!) a bit and lost the pacer but thought in my mind, GFA was still on and so so happy to come in at 3.02.17 and a 14 minute PB...I was elated and very emotional at the finish....I think partly due to the fact that it might have been one of my last runs for ELR, now with a new job and life in Cheltenham.


It has been an absolute honour and privilege to be a member of such an amazing, friendly club and I will miss you all massively. Over the last 4 years I have made great friends and had so many enjoyable runs with you all. Thanks Don Bennett and Frank Brownlie for all the hard work you put in to the club and Grant for the track sessions which help so much. Too many good friends to mention (and I hope to keep running with some of you) but Alex was the man to get me my goal this year and keep me motivated, it would not have happened without you mate.

Thanks for everything and see you all at London next year guys!!

ELR ELR ELR ELR!!!

Sam McCarthy: Would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone at ELR.. Since I've joint in January I've been made to feel immediately part of the team and have met some amazing people... The camaraderie and team spirit of ELR I'm sure is what got my through those last few miles yesterday.. Thanks guys

Race for me couldn't have gone more to plan.. I ran nearly the same pace start to finish getting slightly quicker in final few miles, which I can't believe. What a feeling crossing that finish line... I'm not taking my medal off EVER!

Ava Lee: Little race report -
Feeling stiff and sore today but it was all worth it for such a great day yesterday. I came into this year's marathon with a lot less expectation or pressure on myself, and it was so much more fun. The crowd were wonderful, I've never felt so popular with everyone shouting 'Ava, you can do it' for the entire 26.2 miles. I'm sure I was smiling for at least 23 miles. Despite the plan to go out slow, that didn't really happen. I've decided I don't believe in negative splits anyway! There were tough points where I could no longer keep up the pace but I knew the finish was close and a PB still possible. It was so great to see all the ELR team at 20 miles and to hear of everyone's successes and stories afterwards. Of course the highlight for me was seeing a very happy and salty Danny Lee at the finish line, after his brilliant run.
Now that's all over, it's time for the next challenge. It's Elvis time!!

Natasha Tweedie: London Marathon done in 3:37, a pb of 12 mins and Good For Age!


It was amazing running through London, a city which has become my new home. So happy with my time, which I wasn't expecting with all the niggles along the way. Thank you so much too everyone who supported me along the way, I couldn't have done it without you! Just to name a few, Craig Saunders Jamee Gould, Ninette Fernandes, the long runs with Claire Parker Roisin Archer Caroline Meaby, all of ELR!!, the girls from work, friends/family from NZ, and my physio Wilna Ellis ! I also reached my target for my charity, 'The Children's Hospital Trust Fund.' I thought this might be the last marathon... but Boston is feeling tempting!

Caroline Meaby:



My third London and the first time I've gone in with my head down and a full game plan. I did allow myself a bit of wooping and shimmying at the funky sound systems and geed up a few folk en route but strictly no high fiving kids and no grabbing sweets from randoms. Made the run slightly less fun but taking it more seriously got me the result I wanted. I planned 8.30 miles for the first 15 then 8.20 for 5 then 8.10 for 5 then who knows for rest. I ended up going slightly faster than planned and got to halfway a minute faster than my 3.44 pacing plan. I didn't stick to my strict pacing 100% but the negative split tactic worked. Felt amazing until mile 24 when I started to slow a bit but knew I'd got my buffer, the last stretch on Embankment needed a push then a final sprint down the Mall. Exceptionally chuffed with my 3.42.11 time! Thanks to ALL at ELR, everyone who has trained and pushed me and the Boom Crew of Joanna Graham and Jonathan Wooldridge who did the long runs with me and so many fab other new friends like Natasha Tweedie I've made this time round as well as wisdom of Roberto Bruni Frank Brownlie and Tom Woods who set me the Boston GFA qualifying target at ELR Xmas dinner. I'm not hanging up my running shoes this time round as next stop Berlin! East East EAST London!!!

Maud Hodson: It’s much harder to write a decent race report when things have gone well, but here we go. Mercifully brief, anyway.

Running a marathon feels completely different when you don’t make a total dog’s dinner of the pacing. I actually enjoyed quite a lot of it. 16 miles, 18 miles - wot no wall? No wall. And at 20 miles, all my lovely ELR friends at the water station - what an amazing cheer they gave me. Half a minute of pure joy. And then knuckle down and grind out the last few miles. Was beginning to feel like hard work, but I wasn’t slowing down. In fact I managed the fabled negative split - first half 1.57.36, second 1.54.02, and was steaming past a lot of very tired looking runners. Grabbed a random stranger by the hand to cross the line with, and job done. PB by 18 minutes, and a monkey off my back.

Joanna Graham So I've filled my belly and had my bath and was taking stock of my day.....words cannot describe how overwhelmed I was with the amount of support from all my friends and family....and the crowd. For those of you I saw...you will never understand how much that boosted me...honestly, as you saw, I went a bit OTT!! For those of you who came, but I didn't see, I knew you were there and that's all that matters - thank you so much to each and every one of you who took time out to be there today in the not so great British weather. For those of you who couldn't get there, I know you were supporting me from afar and that still means a great deal.
Thank you again to each and every one of you who have sponsored me....every penny has been gratefully received and has made today all worth it. For those of you who would still like to donate, link attached below.
Thank you to all the ELR's I've been training with over the last few months - each and every one of you have inspired me and, particularly as most of you were faster than me, without realising, pushed me to try harder....this training clearly paid off and I am over the moon with my marathon début time of 4hrs 5 mins.

Julie Creffield link to report toofattorun.co.uk/virgin-money-london-marathon-2015/

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 ... continued - Sunday 26th April 2015

Maya Goodwin fill's the page: Here's mine. Unsurprisingly, I waffle on a bit...!



So Jo and I have spent many many evenings together over the past 25 years, happily discussing trash telly and musicals over more than a few glasses of wine. Pretty much every evening we've spent together in 2015 have been spent anxiously discussing gels and morning alarm times over a bowl of pasta and a pint or two of water.

Last Saturday night was one of those nights. But with more haribo. At 10pm we both came over a bit hysterical with a haribo head rush and had to go to bed to calm down.

Walking to the station in the morning with my big red bag, I felt so proud.
'Look at me, I'm doing the marathon you know. You can tell because of my big red marathon bag!'
Except we didn't see one other person with a bag walking down! And those bags are not easy to carry, especially as I'd packed mine like I was going in a mini break with a new boyfriend. What?? I was certain I would NEED all my makeup, change of clothes, notebook, and toothbrush... And then everyone said I'd want snacks... Man, it was heavy.

Anyway. Onto the tube. Ah ha. More people, with bags. NOW I'm part of the marathon crew. Off at Greenwich. More people with bags. Oh. Lots more. Suddenly I stop feeling quite so special... Up that bloody hill to the top and off to the Variety photo. Hoodie off, photo, hoodie back on, pronto. The wind was whistling round us up there! Then we set off to our starts, me Blue, Jo Red. I was anxious about being alone in Blue, and Jo was going to come with me for a bit and then go to Red. She's the brave one. Then I saw some of my running club in the distance. In my very best NON radio voice I shrieked 'John A THAAAAANNNN!'
And galloped over, nearly knocking him over in an over excited hug. And I trod on his feet too. I'm such a bloody klutz. Anyway they were in Blue too. I left lovely brave Jo and went to Blue with them. As we were walking over discussing what delights we thought awaited Cieran in his championship pen (massage chairs, apple juice spritzers, proper toilets) I suddenly realised I hadn't given Jo a bin bag. Oh no!! I felt so bad. Typically for Jo, she was relaxed about it when I texted.
'Doesn't matter. Glad you're with someone.'

I dropped my bag off with squeals and bouncing and hugs as I found the Wanstead Parkrun team. Last year I was the other side of the barrier, taking bags, I still couldn't believe I was going to run the actual London marathon! Right. Off to the pen. It was soooo cold. I chatted to some people, but realised I didn't have the head space for inane chatter (I KNOW, right??) and huddled off on my own. Finally threw off the hoodie when we reached pen 1, and off we went. I was OFF.

A RACE OF THREE HALVES

HALF ONE.
We're on our way! I'm actually starting the bloody London Marathon! I've only talked about this for about 20 years, and now I'm doing it, I'm really doing it! The first mile or so was pretty ok. Calm. It felt good to be moving and my jitters finally stopped. I was meeting Jo at the Lucozade station at five miles, and this was just a little 'warm up'. The Blue start was mainly ballot places I think, not as many people as the Red start. It was through Blackheath and all the big fancy houses. Lots of speed humps. Each hump had two marshals to continually shout 'HUUUUUMMMMPPPP'. Which was obviously hilarious to myself and all the other runners. Well. It was the first time anyway. There were about 15 huuuummmmppppps. The poor 15th huuuummmmppppers were sadly ignored. I felt sorry for them.
On and on through South East London. Where on earth WAS I?
'Where is this?' I shouted to a spectator.
'HaHa Road!' They shouted back. Well ta. That helps. I was hoping for a more definitive 'You're in Woolwich love!' Oh well. Keep on running. Oh blimey, overtaken by a rhino, already! I said as much. A dismembered glum voice came out...
'Yeah. I get that a lot

And then there is the Lucozade stand, AND THERE'S MY JO!!! Pretty sure I frightened the bejeezus out of my surrounding runners as I screamed her name! We hugged, bounced and tried to not tread on each other. And then we heard our names! It was our friend Ellie! She sailed past, looking really great. A gel, and off we went.

SECOND HALF
The crowd and atmosphere started to build. We'd written a list of who was supporting where and we knew Pete and my family would be around soon. And there they were! We stopped, bounced, chatted for a couple of minutes and set off again. The cheering was getting louder and louder, and then... The Cutty Sark! 'Jo! We're doing it! We're running round the Cutty Sark!' We stopped and asked a spectator to take our photo with it behind us. Incredible.

More running though places we didn't know... But we knew our friend Sarah was at 8.5 miles, with her banner. I thought I was getting a blister already, which was a worry, but I knew Sarah would have plasters. And being a nurse, wouldn't be squeamish about applying it for me to save me bending over. Which she did. It wasn't even a blister, just hard skin, but she put a plaster on anyway. Thanks Sarah, you're lovely! Another photo, a quick chat and we were off again. Then I saw Kirsty Silver Hearts, who I'd met and ran behind for most of Roding Half!
'Kirst-TEEEEEEEE!'
She turned, we waved and grinned. And then..
'Sorry Jo, the plaster has come off in my sock... Can we stop again?!'
Another stop while I ditched the plaster, and off we set again, to our next spectator, Mil at the Shelter stand. We reach the stand, and stop in front of it, peering. Jo said: 'Mil? Mile Cole?' They looked back, bemused. We hoped that meant her husband was doing well and she'd headed off to her next spectator point.

Then... A sharp right, and.... Holy COW!!! Only bloody Tower Bridge! We got to the start and stopped again to ask a stranger to take our photo. And then went over. The noise. The bells, the cheering, the banging, the whistles... And so much colour. An incredible sight and experience. I never ever want to forget it. And as we reached the end we saw Denise Lewis and her TV crew. She looked right at us, grinned and clapped!

And now along towards the Wharf, with the faster runners on their way home. I saw one ELR vest, I didn't recognise him, and so focussed he didn't hear me shouting. Probably for the best really... And then.... The Variety stand! Fiona, PJ, Sharon, Lucie, Stevie, and Mil. We cried, they cried, PJ heard me swear... We properly stopped there and had a right mothers meeting, crying, laughing, and eating all their flapjacks. It was ace. Eventually we said goodbye and headed off into the depths of somewhere called Narrow Street. It was about now that we realised just how long we'd been out. The smell of beer was strong, and the spectators were definitely more... Jovial! One lady nearly knocked me over in her effort to high five me...
And into the Wharf. Past the CentrePoint cheer crew where I saw my friends Bonnie and Dawn. Bonnie looked her usual effortless glamorous self. I threw myself at her in a salty, sweaty hug. Sorry Bonnie! Up past Mudchute and we saw my lovely Churchfield Mums, with their great big banner. Thankyou so so much for coming to see us! More stopping and bouncing. And then off again. Jo pointed out at this point that we needed to start to stop less, and it was harder to start off again. (That's a convoluted sentence!) I sulked a bit, and squirted her legs with water. Then panicked that I'd given her cramp. Oops!

Through the Wharf, and along to Mile 20. I was really looking forward to this, as I knew you would all be there. But just before 20 miles, it all got really tough. We had to stop again, while I took yet another gel and tried to clear my head.

THIRD HALF
As we approached, it was just a SEA of bouncing, grinning cheering people who knew me. It was just the best welcome ever. I hugged and ran, and hugged and ran, and jumped and laughed as I was squirted full in the face with water. I just love ELR, you're ACE.

The high wore off pretty fast though and I was really struggling. I had to start to count my steps to keep my head in the game. Past Sarah again, and Pete and my family for the third time. There was much less walking than I thought, thanks to Jo, and we knew all her supporters were in this last stretch. When she saw her PT at 23 miles... Blimey. I cried. Her PT cried. Even the spectators watching them hug were crying. We were all a bit soggy....
And then the last three miles were a blur. I counted my steps, walked a bit, ran more and sort of zoned out. I tried to thumbs up as I heard my name (I was called Mayer, Myer, and Mary) but my hands were too swollen to do it properly. One walk break I looked up and realised I'd walked past Ninette. Dammit, of all the times to walk!

Round the corner, past my lovely Uncle and Aunt, and up towards the palace. 800m to go. That's only twice round the track, but it felt like forEVER. Run past the camera, and then walk. We composed ourselves... And turned into The Mall. Hand in hand we crossed the line. And burst into tears, hugging. We'd only bloody gone and done it.

Jo Bull, Maya's run partner I know Maya and I have a number of mutual friends who would have seen her marathon report, but this is it from my viewpoint. Then I'll stop banging on about it.

London Marathon completed. It was very special. I think today it’s really sinking in just how amazing an event it really was.

Maya and I had always said we would run it this year and run it together. She was in the Blue Start and I was in Red so we arranged to meet at the Lucozade station around 5 miles. How to add a stressful element into a 26 mile run!

We had our charity photo taken, right next to the Red Start and then I was going to walk her to Blue but she spotted some ELR guys so we hugged, said goodbye, and went our separate ways. Me minus the promised bin bag. But I forgive her.

It was quite daunting to be on your own, surrounded by thousands of people, waiting for it to start but, to a man, everyone was so friendly - marshals, bag drop, water station etc and most of the runners I spoke to seemed to be first timers. Maybe we all just had that look of fear and gravitated to each other! It was while I speaking to one that I spotted Betty Spaghetti aka Elizabeth Dimelow. We hugged, sent out some Badger love, then she went off to line up at the toilet queue and I thought I’d never see her again.

At 9.45am I lined up in my pen. At any moment I thought I could cry. Runners families were calling to them from behind the barbed wire fences (ok they were just mesh) and a runner commented “blimey, it’s like the Hunger Games”. The crowd started to applaud the entrance of 20 or so Rhinos that had just paraded in to the enclosure. Maybe the Hunger Games comment was apt, having a rhino horn at your back is quite intimidating.

10.10 came and went and we all shuffled forward. Finally crossing the start line at 10:29! I may have cried. Totally missed the first mile marker, probably too busy thinking "bloody Nora, I'm actually doing this".

At mile 3 the Blue and Red starts come together and run alongside each other. I may have cried at this point too - in Red you are aware that there a lot of people but as the two join you realise just how big the event is, plus there was so much more noise now! I started to look for Maya.

I got to the Lucozade station at 4.5 miles and waited. After a couple of minutes I could hear Maya screaming my name. It was a relief to now be able to relax, we’d met each other: that part of the challenge was completed.

We were lucky to have lots of supporters around the route and had a list we could check to see where the next person would be. I think that really helped the miles go past and it was so lovely to see them. We would stop and have a chat then set off again. We also did a tourist selfie at the Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge! These iconic points on the route were everything you could hope they would be. Especially Tower Bridge, it was just an assault on the senses of noise and colour. On Maya’s Hen we had gone across Tower Bridge cycling a Pedibus, feeling like stars as the tourists turned to gawp, but that was nothing compare to this. You just felt so amazing as people celebrated what you were doing.
I loved, loved looking for Badgers. Seeing Elizabeth in the Red assembly zone was just the tip of the iceberg, then it was Ellie who came past us just as Maya and I had met up – “come on” she shouted. I think she thought we had just stopped for a rest. Sarah Howard, Banner Badger, at mile 8.5 and 22 – just amazeballs, Sarah administered hugs, sweets, and nursing skills. Good to meet Jeff too. Then Elizabeth again. As we were heading to mile 14 (my most favourite mile – less to do now than had been done plus the Variety cheer point to come) the significantly faster runners were on their way back at mile 22. I spotted the 3:15 pacer and knew that Susie Stannard was on her way! I kept looking and finally spotted her, I shouted but the shouty range of my voice is shot to pieces. Mrs Christmas, who wasn’t looking where she was going, almost collided with me – I think I’m off the Nice List. Now it was time to look for Variety.

OMFG!!! I apologise to any other Variety supporters who were at the Cheer point because this was all about Maya, and me, and Sharon, and Fi, and PJ, and Lucie, and Stevie, and Helene – and there was Mil and Lizzie too!! I could have stayed there all day eating flapjacks. Stevie told me a short cut through the underpass that would take me to the racers side of the road. I was tempted. Reluctantly Maya and I finally dragged ourselves away.

Running with Maya was like running with a celebrity – she OWNED all of East London. If it wasn’t her family, it was neighbours, mums from school, people from Parkrun, or folk from her running club cheering her on. Even Denise Lewis saluted her. I swear the ELR water station at mile 20 was only there really to cheer her on – their very own conquering hero.

Seeing Lucy, my PT, at mile 24 was fantastic. I think the whole crowd was crying at us hugging and gushing!! Then I saw my family (mum, husband, children, Jenny and Siri) outside Somerset House – spotted Taff first, I’m normally looking for him. These moments of seeing family and friends just gave you the most amazing boost. When people called my name I wanted to run for them, I wanted to pick up speed and show them I could do it. I had to tell Maya to slow down at one point as she picked up speed, caught in a moment.

Virgin Money London Marathon continued - Sunday 26th April 2015

The run was made of elastic time, as friends Laura and Hannah had described. You split the mileage into sections and calculate how long each section is going to take but parts slip past that you just don't remember. Some bits were rubbish when you’re just over it all. At mile 16 it's like "really? another 10?” At one point even Maya said “I’m over being famous now.” Some parts were sticky, quite literally around the Lucozade and gel stations. But most of it was just amazing. Sometimes overwhelming. I had to stop myself from losing it emotionally as I got caught up in the noise or music. The music was varied and joyous. I wanted to dance not run. I wanted to thank every single person who called my name. I wanted to clap everyone who had come out to support us. I wanted to tell them all that they made me feel special and invincible.

At mile 25 Maya said “I can’t do it”. I looked at her, we had one mile to go, and said “But we’ve done it”. I think we might both have broken down crying at the point if we hadn’t have spotted her Uncle and Aunt standing on the bend at Westminster Bridge. Outside the Palace we composed ourselves and then headed off down the Mall. Crossing the line, hand in hand, was fabulous. We had done it. Together. Then we dissolved into tears.

We always said our aim was to get round and not hate it. I didn't hate it, I actually even enjoyed parts!! Slight haze last night and very surreal but at the 3am I thought "wow. I've run 26 miles. 26.2!". Just an amazing experience.

Shahib Ali reports:
One can only describe my relationship with the London Marathon as
being a tempestuous, fractious affair, with plenty of heartache and
introspection and some timely happiness. Without boring you, I'll keep
this very brief as to fully understand the personal meaning of VLM15
for me needs an appreciation of the context.

FLM08
I was a novice. Prior to commencing training for this marathon I had
only done 10km distances, at 42 minutes, knew no marathon runners for
advice and just followed one of the training manuals from the FLM
magazines. As an example of my inexperience, my first long run - I
remember it clearly, it was the same day as the Australian Open final
2008 - I felt really happy when I had run the furthest in my life, no
more than maybe 8 miles, then hit the wall, was hypoglycaemic, having
only had a tomato as my pre run meal. To my horror, I had no money on
me, no bank cards, no Oyster, no mobile and came really close to
begging for 50p to buy a chocolate bar. Luckily I managed to take the
bus home. I estimated distances using Google maps. In the end I was
beset by left ITB injury and came home in 04:32:32, just happy to
finish having originally aimed for sub 4 hours.

FLM09
Again, I knew no marathon runners and pretty much had the same
training in terms of methodology, although much better in quality.
Thought perhaps did enough to get sub 4. Days before marathon had
mouth ulcers, felt sluggish and on Saturday before the marathon (the
day when Tevez and Ronaldo destroyed Spurs after Spurs had a clear
penalty denied) literally drank gallons of orange juice to clear the
ulcers. What a folly. First half of the marathon utter despair and
desperation. Had so much diarrhoea I do not know how often I stopped.
I was turned away from a newsagents after I enquired whether I could
use the toilet, I was stuck in a pub toilet in an attempt to clear my
bowels for around 10 minutes, did plenty of Paula on the streets of
South London and to cap it off, fell, cut my left shoulder area (still
have a scar) and was with St John's for 10 minutes contemplating
stopping. I soldiered on, walked, limped and partially ran my way to
the finish. 04:39:49. Was really disconsolate and each time someone
said, 'you finished, be happy', it made it worse as the manner of the
performance was dispiriting.

VLM14
Thought I was a better runner. Club runner now. Posted times I was
happy with for HMs and below. Surely could get a sub 4 now? Had a
Garmin by now. Knew experienced marathoners. Thought training was
better. Marathon day was the same old story. Plenty of diarrhoea in
the first half, plenty of stops, walking and running inextricably
intertwined with each other, shouts of support from the crowd only
reinforcing the sense of underachievement, all those scars came back
with a vengeance, complete isolation and an overwhelming sense of
despair and disappointment. If ever I wanted the ground to open up and
swallow me, this was it. Again contemplated stopping but ploughed on
and finished in 04:25:22. Whilst waiting to see my wife at the end, I
burst into tears on Horse Guards Parade, tears of pain and sorrow, it
was like when I used to cry as a 5 year old when my mother used to go
abroad and leave me with my father, three marathons and each time
disappointment and missing the elusive sub 4 hour, which was my own
personal, to some a modest, objective. Crying on Horse Guards Parade
was to be a seminal moment for me. The crushing sense of despondency
was much more to do with how the marathons were unravelling beyond my
control, how I lurching from one disaster to another, as opposed to
the time per se, which was significantly less important.

VLM15
Everything had changed. Had long and detailed discussions with plenty
of runners, none more so than Grant and Carlton, and it seemed to be
the case that porridge with water seemed to be the pre long run meal
of choice. All this time I was having one weetabix with milk and
during runs I used to feel bloated, windy and uncomfortable with
belching. To compound matters, before all the marathons, I committed
the cardinal error of having two weetabix pieces with milk, with
double amounts of fibre and milk, therefore making alterations on
marathon day. This added fibre and milk was all going through me with
the added stress of a marathon. The Alpen porridge that Grant
suggested in one swoop eradicated all the above mentioned problems and
also gave me more energy. Quite disappointing that even though I had
studied nutrition at university, I did not comprehend that excessive
fibre, and especially milk, could be so calamitous. Further to
changing my pre run meal, I also added Cliff Shot Blocks during runs
on the advice of Grant and William and I suddenly realised I did not
feel hungry on my long runs anymore. As a result, that fear I had over
long runs, namely of getting hungry and weak after 2 hours, was
dispelled. Then on my way to the Finchley 20, another great piece of
advice from Antonio. I used to always think that all of my training
runs had to be of a 100% intensity and so the stress of that notion
led to prevarication and indecisiveness before going on runs, which
more often than not led to skipping runs. Having spoken to Antonio, I
realised a lot of the runs could be mild/moderate in intensity and
that took the stress away from training. The fun and enjoyment came
back. Long runs were better than 2014, less stop and start, higher
intensity, more consistent. I was also coming to the club nights more,
doing more tempo runs, and doing more runs in my own time. When I
became lazy, or went through pain in training, I quickly trained my
thoughts on Horse Guards Parade and the tears and it helped to
motivate me. I was overjoyed that at the VLM15 I ran from start to
finish with no walking or stopping. Each time I came across a point
where I had encountered problems in the past, it was a psychological
boost to go thorough it without any event of note this time round,
such as on the Highway just after the half way point where last year I
nipped off, went to the building site, jumped a barrier and had to
answer the less dignified call of nature. The marathon was still a
marked struggle, however, huge struggle, I never felt comfortable at
any stage at all, legs were generally heavy, both groins played up at
different points before nursing my left calf home, cajoling and
imploring it to not let me down, pleading with it almost, after
feeling it at around mile 21, so close to the finish. Luckily it held
up and although I was at sub 3.30 pace at the half way point, I was
mature enough to know that I was not quite good enough for that, bid
farewell to the pacer (who incidentally has done more than a 100
marathons since 2009) and did my o

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 25th April 2015

Boston Marathon 2015 - Monday 20th April 2015

Neurocare Headstart 10km, Rother Valley, Sheffield - Sunday 19th April 2015

Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 - Sunday 19th April 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

7,760 finishers.
Russell Price: 2:52:54, BQ, GFA, PB (almost 20 mins), 72.25% age grading..
Brief race report = "f*ck yeah"

Full race report:

My brief race report needs some expanding on..(no swearing in this one!)

Firstly, a massive thanks to everyone who has been part of my journey! Those who have helped, supported, run with (and against) me, those who looked at me weirdly as I go off on one about running, those whose stories and results have inspired and amazed me, and a massive shout out to team ELR you are all awesome!

Having only suffered two tangible taper-tantrums I headed up to Manchester feeling relatively relaxed, after all it is the “Fastest, Flattest, Friendliest” marathon. A lovely pre-race Saturday relaxing out in the sunshine with the support crew (who were drinking beer in front of me :( ) put me in a chilled mood ready for race day.

Race day morning, still relaxed and feeling “in the zone”, starting in the sub 3 hour pen but quite far behind the 3 hour pacer threw me a little, and meant a few too-fast miles at the start to get ahead of the masses. A quick wave at the support crew at 4 miles put a smile on my face, then back into the zone.

I honestly don’t remember much of the race, the “zone” meant I was just putting one foot in-front of the other with an occasional glance at the Garmin/splits scrawled on my arm. Woke up at a few points on the switchbacks to try and spot other runners (thanks for the shouts Allan and Tanbir, sorry for not spotting you Dan! Great results all round).

And a few signs caught my eye: “you are the slowest runner so far”, “if your Garmin says 26.1 miles you need to do another lap” gold!

Woke up at 23 feeling "a-ok" so pushed on and must have overtaken about what felt like 30 people in the last miles (but I swear the 25 mile sign was in the wrong place)! Turned into the final straight and got my sprint on, passing a few more. Staring intently at the clock and a quick glance at my watch told me I could make sub 2:53 if I went for it. I flew passed my shouting support crew, totally missing them in a cacophony of noise and my intent focus on the clock (sorry!).

Crossed the line and wobbled around a bit before getting a hug from a foil blanket and having the massive medal hung around my neck. A mixture of joy and calf cramp kicked in (so glad it waited till after the finish). Job done, sub 3 smashed with a triple (PB, BQ and GFA). Who is up for Boston next year?

Would I recommend Manchester, yes, despite not remembering much, the bits I do remember were awesome! Flat, fast course and great friendly support (patches of support, which I prefer, not sure how I will cope with constant noise at Boston / London next year)!

My next challenge is a 24 hour race, which I am now doing for a charity which means a lot to me, but more on that soon…

Best of luck to everyone running London, Boston and Hamburg!


Dan Slipper: Congratulations to everyone who ran today! Great running and amazing times! Thanks to everyone for the support. It does make you run faster and better.

Allan Todd: 3:14:43 for Manchester Marathon CHIP time. In tears stood outside Old Trafford, not the first time that's happened. ‪#guinnessoclock


‬ Allan Todd's race report: Manchester Marathon 19th April.

I feel compelled to write a brief race report as it's worth feeding back from an incredible marathon.
I chose Manchester instead of London as Russell Price ran it last year and sang its praises. The lead up was great until my hamstring decided it wasn't going to flex as effectively as hoped for. Major doubts before hand and a 'whatever will be will be' attitude adopted.
Great location, set up, outside old Trafford, even for non football fans it's impressive. Plenty of loos, but poor baggage organisation in the runners compound.
The starting pens were a free for all, but as the opening 2 miles were ran on a dual laned road it all evened out. A turn around point at 2 miles helped me but others did complain about it.
They said flat, boy it's flat 2 hills akin to Wanstead Leisure to Wanstead tube size, not daunting.
They said friendliest, they weren't wrong. Imagine running a race with supporters out in the road a la Tour de France.
They said fastest, they were bang on. Long straight roads.
Plenty of drink stations, I mean plenty especially in the last 4 miles.
Lots of isotonic drinks and people with jelly babies helped hugely.
Pacers were spot on as well. Great camaraderie and support made this special.
You see old Trafford loom in the distance 3 miles out, and unlike Big Ben it actually gets closer quicker. A left at Lou macari's chip shop and 160 metres sprint in. Free beer, big medal, no pressure at the finish.
Downsides, bagging area, 3 tight spots due to roads narrowing, lots of bollards and 3 miles out of town.
Overall 9.5 out of ten.

Innovation Hyde Park 10km - Sunday 19th April 2015

553 finishers.

Woodford Green Open , Athletics, Ashton Fields. - Saturday 18th April 2015

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 18th April 2015

Highgate Harriers/City of London Open Meeting - Wednesday 15th April 2015

Yorkshire Half Marathon - Sunday 12th April 2015

St Clare Hospice 10km - Sunday 12th April 2015

265 finishers.

Paris Marathon 2015 - Sunday 12th April 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Putney & Fulham Riverside Half Marathon - Sunday 12th April 2015

Brighton Marathon 2015 - Sunday 12th April 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

9,009 finishers.
Andy Kumar Well done, guys! Slightly disappointed with my time; the marathon is completely different beast from a half! The last 6 miles are a real drag. Still a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and dare I say it, much more scenic than London!! 😎
Link to Andy's Race report - andykumar.net/2015/04/13/brighton-marathon-2015/

James Nichols Thanks all. Very happy with that, actually enjoyed my debut! The sun helped. Massive thanks to Claire for the company over 16 miles and ELR for the training runs and advice. Full report tomorrow, for now the pub!



James Nichols in action!

Claire Parker Ecstatic doesn't even come close- crossed the finish line and burst into tears- completely overwhelmed. Hardest, proudest thing I've ever done. Congratulations James thank you for your company also and to all the other ELR's I didn't see.



Claire Parker is enjoying her first marathon!

Jason Levy Well done team ELR. Really enjoyed the race, but a lot slower than I wanted. Have already entered for next year as me and the Brighton marathon have some unfinished business to sort out!

James Nichols FULL report. - I’ll start with some context. Rewind 2 years to March 2013 when I decided to start taking running a bit more seriously than just the odd stroll in a park. I had signed up for a triathlon and so entered a few 10k’s and started investigating the parkrun circuit in South London. Every run was a personal best for a few months, hmm, this is addictive. I did that triathlon in August and the run leg was a breeze. A move to East London followed and the PBs dried up, not related, but frustrating.

Made my half marathon debut in Bexhill that winter, not just a first half but a first time running further than 11 miles. It was tough. Long distance running is not for me, I remember thinking. Imagine doing two of those back-to-back?

2014 arrives, and activate my resolution straight away, to join that Running Club that my friends at the Orient had been banging on about. And so a love affair with all things ELR begins. I sign up to a couple of spring half marathons and throw myself into track sessions. And I join a couple of the long weekend runs, backing out before the end, still adamant that marathons are not for me. But something about the camaraderie of everyone training for London, Manchester or Brighton intrigues me. The HMs go well for me personally, the structured training has worked and it’s nice representing a Club, looking out at the progress and personal journeys of others in those marathons. And, bang, I’m hooked. “I want some of that” – woah, where has that come from? 3 months ago you were adamant, and you’ve still never run further than 13.1 miles you fool! A summer of ELVIS follows, and the London ballot result means it’ll be Brighton for me.

2015 starts with an injury then illness, I fade badly at the Benfleet 15 (no surprise there), and 26.2 miles seems a long way away. 12 week plan put together in Excel, I won’t bore you with the details, of which there are many. I skipped sessions all over the shop, but it did work as a guilt trip every morning in the office as the weeks ticked by. My first 16 miler is a struggle, the Gade Valley 17 better. A decent blast at the Anglesey HM, a few run commutes to central London, a 16 mile test in Kingston where I finish strongly and, hang on, am I actually enjoying this? A confidence boosting PB at the Brentwood HM and, with 2 weeks to go, the 20 mile barrier broken in rotten weather.

Onto race day, and I’m ready, I think. It’s impossible to know though. The thing with the marathon is, it messes with your mind. I became addicted to reading about it. “You’re training too much” one article, “You’re not training enough” the next. In the end, all that’s clear to me is it’s such an individual event and what works for one won’t necessarily work for all.

So while lining up in the starter pen at Preston Park I tried to focus on the one piece of advice that EVERYONE agreed on – “stick to your plan and don’t go off too fast”.
And we’re off. A nice easy mile or so, the worst hill out of the way and then I spot another ELR in Claire Parker. After a quick chat, we’re both on debut and with similar doubts about what is in store, it’s clear we’re running to a similar pace and so a pact is formed.

Really helped me to stay sensible, and those early miles go by without alarm, ticking over nicely at my planned 8 minute miles. It’s sunny, but there’s plenty of drink stations and the crowd are fantastic, in number and in noise. An hour passed, then another.

I think back to 2013 again, one hour would have felt hard work. Here I’m two hours in and feeling pretty fine. I’m aware there could be dark times ahead though, “the race begins at 20” after all.

At around the 17 mile point I stretch away from Claire, who has done fantastically and on course for a great time. Time to put the headphones in and let my specially selected playlist guide me through the last hour. The next 3 miles are my quickest of the day, and I’m now further than I’ve ever run before and feeling tired but generally OK as the course winds round the dreaded isolation of the Shoreham power station.

“Race begins at 20”? Pah, what were they talking about? Mile 21, fine. 22, fine. 23, f…uh-oh, I’m slowing down, this isn’t good. I frantically grab sweets off helpful spectators but struggle to take them down. It feels like I’m almost stopping, but the reality is it’s just a couple of miles about 30 seconds slower. Relax Jim! If this is as bad as it’s going to get, I can handle it. No need to panic, this is natural and I’m still passing some
people.

Just a 5k to go, easy. Focus, you’ve worked so hard for this, don’t let it slip now. Again the crowds along the seafront are fantastic and make those last 20 minutes or so bearable. It’s all a bit of a blur. Through 25 miles, tantalisingly close now. Through 26 and I’ve got this, headphones out and enjoy the moment. Clenched fists and a yelp of delight over the line. I’ve done it. I’m a marathon man!

Get a hero’s welcome from my two nieces after the race (in my head it was like I had just won Olympic Gold) and spend the rest of the afternoon with the family revelling in the achievement. Thanks to everyone at the Club who has given me advice or trained with me since I joined, a marathon wasn’t even on the radar a year ago and now I’m already thinking about my next one.

Obviously I’ve got no means of comparison but I’d highly recommend Brighton. Can’t fault the organisation, the on-course tracker worked a treat for my supporters and also no qualms about the use of paper cups which seems to be coming in for some stick. And finally good luck to everyone else running a marathon over the next couple of weeks. I look forward to supporting all those at London with a much stronger appreciation of what it takes. If I can do it, anyone can.

Those stats in full (impressed myself with the even pacing!):
Split time Split pace Total time
10km 00:50:25 05:02/km 00:50:25
Half 00:54:36 04:55/km 01:45:01
30km 00:43:55 04:56/km 02:28:56
Finish 01:01:40 05:03/km 03:30:36

Brighton Marathon 10km - Sunday 12th April 2015

1,995 finishers.

Innovation Clapham 10km - Sunday 12th April 2015

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 11th April 2015

Easter 10km, Regents Park - Monday 6th April 2015

Destination Limerick 5 mile, racecourse. - Sunday 5th April 2015

Windsor Marathon Prep 20m, Dorney Lake - Sunday 5th April 2015

Trowse Norwich 10km - Sunday 5th April 2015

576 finishers.

Abbey Run 10km, Quin, Co Clare - Saturday 4th April 2015

parkrun - all venues - Saturday 4th April 2015

Folkstone 10m - Friday 3rd April 2015

650 finishers. Grant report's: Folkestone 10 mile race. The journey time was about 90 minutes via the Dartford tunnel. The race venue is just outside Folkestone in the seaside town of Hythe. The race venue is in a primary school. No showers and no private changing facilities, just the school hall where everyone congregates and where you collect your numbers and timing chips. There were portaloos provided but not enough as there were long queues. You could get a 10 minute massage for a fiver which was good. The race start was in a flat grassy field next to the school. We did a circuit of the field and then through the town onto the promenade. We the ran about 4 miles along the flat promenade before doing a circuit around some pretty public gardens and then back along the promenade in the opposite direction where we could see slower runners making their way up to halfway. Conditions were pretty good with a slight headwind against on the way back although it was quite muggy and the two water stations were needed. We ran back to the school but thankfully we didn't have to run around the field again although both Stuart and I made the run long by about 100 metres and this along with the off road section may have cost us a sub 70 minute run. You got a bottle of water and a Costco medal at the end but that was it. With entries over 750 I think a bit of money was made by the organisers with a cheapest entry fee of £15.25 up to £20 on the day. However this was a 7 minute PB for me and I was delighted with my average pace which was a shade over 7 minute miles so you can't be too greedy can you?! Stuart and I ran together for most of the run and it was great to have a mate to run with. We also enjoyed being the only two cheeky cockney raiders there. He pipped me at the end but I am sure I will get a chance for revenge at some point. I would do this race again, particularly if I was P.B hunting but it's not a must do in my view.
Time was 71.23, 139th out of 656 finishers.
Conway's ratings out of 10
Value for money 5
Facilities 5
Support 5
Course 6
PB potential 9

The Jantastic Challenge 2015 - Monday 5th January to Sunday 29th March 2015

Also Ben Waller 91.7% 36 run's. Sarah Burns 58.7%, Katherine Jones 50.4%, Catherine Kaar 33.3%, Saheb Yousefi 26.1%, Emiko Preist 16.7%, Katherine Lawlor 10.4% and Bilal 8.3%.
Don's report: This year Jantastic got even bigger with the inclusion of cycling and swimming, also Strava, kit, and a charity page.
This provided the chance to do a bit of cross training if injuries prevented you running. This year the team grew from 31 to 51 with around 18 new members trying it out for the first time.

There were the usual tech problem's that arose. Such as Ramesh & Patrick joining the team twice, Ciaran not having enough room to log all his run's and rides. Richard letting me into his account to set it up and me winding him up by telling him he was doing 7 a week instead of 3. Explaining to Roberto how each month changed. A few members confusing the longest run/ride of the week with there weekly total. Thought i'd joined an ultra club the first time.

On the whole the team did well. We logged 2,777 workouts with 1816 run's , 825 cycle rides and 136 swims. We came 30th of 661 full teams. We reached 10th place in the Large team category of 143 and 5th in the Large Running Club group of 50. . We finished reaching a 95.7% down from a 95.9% total after the time challenge was taken into the equation. About 10 members lost points on that part where you had to set yourself a target for a set distance.
Injuries hit a few like Emiko, Katherine and Saheb. A few like Joanna , Mark, Saheed and Lee were able to adjust the targets and use the Joker's to carry on. The bigger the team the harder it becomes to keep them all logging each week but with my nagging most did come through. This year I couldn't see the Joker's data so can't log that data. 11 member's finished with 100%.

How did our rival's do? As with last year Viewtube Runners finished ahead with 98.5%. Julie Creffield's team Too Fat To Run finished with 38% but with a really large team of 173 they logged 2,137 workout's leaving them 21st of 661 teams logging the most workouts. Barking Road Runners 87.4%, Mile End parkrun 73%, East End Road Runners 56.5%, Walthamstow parkrun 47.1%.
It's been fun, see you all next year.

Paddock Wood Half Marathon - Sunday 29th March 2015

Paul reports: This is a very flat (only really 2 hills, one at around 2 miles and another between mile 11 and 12) and therefore fast course through Kent country lanes. Well organised and decent sized field with over 2,500 runners. The last 5 miles was tough as the wind was pumping but I managed to take a few sec off the time I ran last year so no complaints. Unofficial time 77:45.

Hampton Court Half Marathon - Sunday 29th March 2015

Surrey Spitfire 20m - Sunday 29th March 2015

Orion 15m - Saturday 28th March 2015

Pictures available in Photo Gallery

Patrick Brown proudly poses with his Second place medal.



Grant reports: Saturday 28th March saw the ?th running of the Orion 15, a race steeped in history back to 1923 and although it presents a tough challenge it's one of my favourites, particularly for the sense of achievement which is close to completing a marathon. Conditions were reasonable with a mild and windy day along with the relentless hills and muddy sections which makes this race a real challenge. ? ELR's started. Unfortunately illness preventing David Baldwin from finishing but all of the remaining ELR contingent dug in to record great times with the three brothers Patrick, Euan and Alex with their 2nd, 5th and 8th place finishes securing the team prize for ELR for the first time and much to the delight of our hosts! Patrick's 2nd place followed his first in the Orion Mercury earlier in March. A great achievement. There were great performances all round with those doing spring marathons putting in a good stint as we start our taper. Thanks to all our supporters Lucy, Jim, Mike, Julie and Annalise. All in all a great day out for ELR and I can't wait to come back for my 5th Orion 15 next year.




Mens Team 1st Place - East London Runners - The Brown Brothers - Euan Brown, Alex Day and Patrick Brown.

parkrun - all venues. - Saturday 28th March 2015

Course pb by Jenny Ansell in 19.25 giving her the 5th fastest time by a lady at Wanstead Flats. Now I just have to get East London Runners on her club name.

Seven Pools Run, Sutton Coldfield - 10km XC - Sunday 22nd March 2015

375 finishers.

Rome Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015

Warwick Half Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015

1657 finishers.

Brooklands Half Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015

543 finishers.

Hastings Half Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015

2990 finishers.

Richmond Half Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015

Link to Race report by Andy Kumar 1:40 pacer.
andykumar.net/2015/03/23/pacing-the-2015-richmond-half-marathon/

Reading Half Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015

13,338 finishers.

Link to Race report by Julie Creffield.
toofattorun.co.uk/reading-half-marathon-2015/

Brentwood Half Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015

2509 finishers.

Wimbledon Common Half Marathon - Sunday 22nd March 2015