Grantham Running Club round-up
Four members of Grantham Running Club made the trip to the village of Great Shelford in Cambridgeshire on Sunday for their annual 5k race organised by the parish council to raise £5,000 for their local charities.
On a lasso shaped course going through both Great and Little Shelfords and in perfect running weather, Peter Bonner was first home for GRC in 18 minutes dead, his fastest 5k to date.
He had been hoping for a personal best having bagged one at his 500th parkrun earlier in the month but he was blown away by his time after cutting 23 seconds off his previous best.
Having had the foresight to play his GRC Grand Prix Joker on this one, he was also rewarded with an 80 percent gold age grading for the first time.
Next back was Catherine Payne also setting a new personal best after taking 21 seconds off her existing one with 20:10 to finish as seventh female in a quality field. Catherine also played her Grand Prix Joker.
Third back was Robert McArdle in a season’s best of 23:14 to secure fourth position for the team as the third counter.
The final runner for the Grantham club was Sarah High In 25:10 and she was able to bag third in her age category, a remarkable run considering she had run the equivalent of a marathon at the Equinox 24 the previous weekend.
Grantham Running Club's Vicki Geeson faced a race against time to compete in the Vitality 10k in London on Sunday.
Her train from Peterborough was delayed and Vicki arrived with little time to spare to get the club's green vest on before heading to the start line.
The race started on the Mall, finishing just beside Buckingham Palace.
It was all super organised with great support on most of the route and Vicki took in the sights of St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, The Eye and Westminster Abbey.
Some of the course was very congested but that didn't take away the enjoyment as the sun shone and the rain stayed away until the very end.
Vicki finished the race on 1:16:57 and, while this was not the time she had hoped for, it is a work in progress.