Mark Popple completes Bedford Half Marathon in world record time for being dressed as a gingerbread man
Stamford’s Mark Popple took the biscuit on Sunday when a half-baked idea bagged him a world record.
Popple – who runs for Stamford Striders and Peterborough Nene Valley - ran the Bedford Half Marathon disguised as a gingerbread man and became the fastest runner ever over the distance dressed as the human shaped cookie.
It was inevitable that Popple, who has a half marathon best of 1:15.55, would be slowed by his unusual attire, but he still ran well finishing 29th in a time of 1:24.26.
Fellow Strider Sam Barrett finished 27th in a time of 1.24.17. Stuart Hill was 86th in 1.31.08 with Adie Stevens setting a time of 1.33.50 for a 114th place finish.
Chris Lockett came home in 120th place after clocking 1.34.37 while Jim Grant was 133rd in 1.35.46 which secured him second spot in the 60-64-years age category.
Brian Kearsey was runner-up in the 70-99-years category after finishing 178th in 1.39.30.
Suzanne Moon was the leading lady Strider after posting a new half-marathon personal best of 1.42.31 which bettered her previous time by nearly five minutes.
Robin Ball returned 1.54.15 with Hilary Cox completing the Striders contingent among the 754 finishers in 1.59.30.
Cheryl Allibone completed the Knebworth Half Marathon in a sub two-hour time.
Setting out in November 2018 to run 12 half-marathons in 12 months, Cheryl actually completed this with the Manchester Half last month, but then wanted to get a baker’s dozen.
At Silverstone's Grand Prix circuit, Andy and Sonia Kendal raced around the 10k while Sophie Marsden ran her first-ever half-marathon in a fantastic 2:21.
Eighteen Striders competed at the St Neots Half Marathon, including several who had run at the Rutland Water night runs.
Barrett was the first Strider home in a personal best of 1.24.04 which was a blistering 6.23 min/mile pace.
Paul Massingham, Graham Edwards and Nick Harding all broke sub-90 minutes while Fran Carlin, Louise Lee, Ian Hempsell and Claire Willis returned personal bests.
Steve Glencross came home in a great sub-two-hour debut half marathon while Viv Middlebrook produced a superb 77 per cent age grading.
Rupert Clifton ran the Long Sutton 10k in 52.33 while, much further afield, Richard Mardling ran the Bangalore 10k in India.
Nicholas Smith also competed in his favourite race the Caythorpe Dash which is a 10k road/trail run with superb views over the Trent Valley.
Nicholas employed his secret weapon, Cocoa Bean, to come home first in the man and dog classification and both are now looking forward to the half marathon distance in March.
Andy Potter took part in the George Munday 10k at Leverington, hosted by Three Counties Running Club, while a strong turn-out of Striders were at the Rutland Water Night Runs.
Fran Carlin bagged himself a personal best of 49.35 while Lesley Allen, Carys Randeria, Sue Fisher, Chris Godwin and Zoe Gill came first in their categories.