baRUNNER - a website for the British Airways Athletics Club

BA Athletics Club News Digest 29th April 2019

Events:

• Thursday 2nd May - Dream Mile - Bath Road 12:45 *
• Wednesday 8th May - Speedbird Ladies (see below) *#
• Monday May 20th - Track&Field Grand Prix - 1000m, Shot, Long Jump, Welie Wanging! Uxbridge from 18:00 *#

We meet at 18:00 at the Bedfont Club on most Wednesdays throughout the year.

New members and potential members of all fitness levels and abilities are welcome at all of these events. The full diary of club featured events is on the club website at: http://www.barunner.org.uk/Event Diary.shtml. Last updated: 4th April.

* Club Event Map: [Clickable link to Google Maps] (parkrun details updated 23rd April) / # Club Points event.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BARunnerUK/ (formal "front window" club page), BA Runner Facebook Group (informal "back office" - ask to join).

Inclusions, with photos, please to Roderick Hoffman at news@barunner.org.uk.

London Marathon 2019 Results # Place (Overall) Place (Gender) Place (Category) Name Runner Number Category Race Status Time 23568 7399 3886 Bernath, Charlotte (GBR) 60436 18-39 Finished 04:33:23 31239 11072 977 Clifton, Helen (GBR) 60435 50-54 Finished 05:05:07 11777 8819 403 Cunningham, Ian (GBR) 60427 55-59 Finished 03:50:55 24519 16686 7892 Foden, Matt (GBR) 60432 18-39 Finished 04:37:11 36742 14105 7434 Foster, Vikki (GBR) 60420 18-39 Finished 05:39:39 20761 6213 547 Garratt, Michelle (GBR) 28775 50-54 Finished 04:23:16 15281 11128 1104 Glover, James (GBR) 21555 50-54 Finished 04:01:37 40244 16273 2704 Grimshaw, Jessica (USA) 60430 40-44 Finished 06:18:53 6183 1041 200 Jovani, Maria (ESP) 33498 40-44 Finished 03:27:47 33582 12326 217 Joyce, Alison (GBR) 60708 60-64 Finished 05:18:09 16885 12108 302 Keenleyside, Piers (GBR) 34086 60-64 Finished 04:08:06 7445 5974 606 Kelly, Chris (GBR) 24630 50-54 Finished 03:33:18 6104 5087 1009 Lindeman, Gary (GBR) 60439 40-44 Finished 03:27:29 38302 15016 1329 Mills, Tracey (GBR) 60429 50-54 Finished 05:53:08 36192 22413 649 Modaher, Jasvir Singh (GBR) 60425 60-64 Finished 05:35:23 15967 11560 1152 Neat, Paul (GBR) 60434 50-54 Finished 04:04:28 32373 11678 6124 Ogle, Cheryl (GBR) 60438 18-39 Finished 05:11:21 29208 10095 883 Reid, Jain (GBR) 60424 50-54 Finished 04:55:33 37240 14393 1275 Ross, Diane (GBR) 60431 50-54 Finished 05:43:47 20358 14288 716 Rushmer, Gary (GBR) 21554 55-59 Finished 04:21:42 31624 20350 560 Singh, Jagjit (GBR) 60423 60-64 Finished 05:07:14 31237 11070 1636 Spasojevic, Danijela (GBR) 60437 45-49 Finished 05:05:07 19237 5611 834 Trafford, Amanda (GBR) 21553 45-49 Finished 04:17:06 Thanks...and plans for next year! On behalf of London Marathon Events and the BA Athletics Club, I'd like to say a big thank you for your support at the 39th staging of the London Marathon. As you can see from the linked press release, there was another record number of finishers; not surprising given the excellent running conditions. Everyone played their part but on your behalf I'd specifically like to thank Stuart Glover, Mike Thorn, Colin Bloomfield, Eddie Ketterick and Alastair Heslop for team leading the five main crossing points. I’d also like to thank my deputy on the sector from Blackfriars to Embankment, Alan Friar and Melanie Holman & Steve Hillier, for overseeing Birdcage Walk. My thanks also to Paul Brandon and the small team of marshals that stayed on to encourage the slower runners onto the pavement whilst the course clear-up commenced. I’m sure the organisers will appreciate the feedback Paul has provided.   If you'd like to help at next year's London Marathon (Sun 26 Apr 2020) then please drop me an e-mail in Jan 2020. Coordinating 150 marshals whilst trying to balance family and work commitments is quite challenging so I prefer to start with a clean sheet each year. And finally, as you've marshalled you have the opportunity to apply for a BAAC guaranteed entry BUT you must first apply through the official ballot, which opened yesterday and closes at 17:00 on Friday 03 May. All those who enter the ballot will find out whether or not they have been successful by the end of October. IF you are rejected you can apply to stevehillier@msn.com to go into the BAAC ballot for a guaranteed place. Thanks again and enjoy the rest, you’ve earned it!   Regards, Simon Turton - VMLM BAAC coordinator Having just got back from Oslo, narrowly avoiding the SAS strike, I watched most of our team running round the course on the map on my computer. Sorry, I couldn't see your pain. Runners and marshals - please send me some stories to include in future editions of this digest. Roderick Hoffman

Stop press - first across the finish line is Piers Keenleyside...

I ran my 20th London Marathon on Sunday following a spell of over 18 months struggling with a groin injury. I’m sure it would have healed by now if I had stopped running for a few months but I’ve always got loads booked up and want to keep my total marathon count up (now done 156)
I was hoping for a time of around 4:15 after doing Manchester in 4:26 just over 3 weeks ago. Training had been going quite well and my race times had begun to recover – Thames Towpath Ten, Veterans A.C. Battersea Park Monthly 5 Miler and the Maidenhead Easter 10 all showed improvements over other recent times and more importantly my groin strain did not complain.

As usual I made my way to the start by tube and then overground rail from Charing Cross to Blackheath. My club lays on a coach but it means leaving Ealing at 6:45 – too early for me – I got an extra hour in bed!

A bit windy and overcast at the start and mulled wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt under my running vest but eventually decided the weather would probably get better as the day progressed and opted for just the vest. Made my way to the start pen, “zone 2” in the blue start at about 9:50 wearing a brand new fleece to throw away once we got going! It only cost £5 from Primark (sale price) and I’d looked in charity shops first but they were charging £7 or £8 for second hand!

The gun went at 10:10 and I crossed the start line and chip timing mats just after 10:15. It took a mile or two for me to feel comfortable with my pace – probably went off a little too fast for my current level of fitness. As I had mostly faster people around me I did not feel boxed in by other slow runners who I wanted to overtake as has happened in other years when I was in better shape.

Got to the 5K and 10K mats in good time 25:30 and 52:00 minutes – at the top end of my expectations. Went round the Cutty Sark and then ran on towards Tower Bridge. Saw two or three supporters from my club at various points – always a boost to see a friendly face.

Over Tower Bridge and then on to the halfway point which I got to in around 1:52. Tried to stay relaxed by high-fiving spectators often going over to greet people stood on the far side of corners devoid of runners. Felt myself slowing but not too badly – still under 9 minute miles but slower than the sub 8:30’s I had been doing for much of the first half.

At around 17 miles (and it has been at about this point for my last 3 or 4 marathons) my groin strain started to complain and I had to slow down to well over 10 minute miles and shorten my stride. Focus now was mile 23 and the Ealing Eagles Cheer Squad – about 100 club members would be there along about 50 metres of the course cheering on their team mates and everyone else!

Got there and they didn’t disappoint – the boost I got meant that I managed mile 24 in under 10 minutes!

Next up was the BA marshalled crossing points where I saw Mike Thorn at the Houses of Parliament. He ran ahead of me to take a picture – he can still run when motivated!

Rounded the corner to run past Buckingham Palace and then tried to sprint the final 100 metres to finish with a 4:07 something but failed and finished with 4:08:06. Pleased to have beaten my target time but still a lot more to do for a GFA place to get in again next year. I need to get back under 3:45 by August.

Piers Keenleyside

Club parkrun results for Saturday 27th April 2019

Steve's away for the next three weeks so I'm updating the parkrun results table BUT, more importantly, with so many of us doing different parkruns each week the task of producing the parkrun club results is getting more and more time consuming. For that reason I am exploring different ways of doing the compilation. IMPORTANT - if your time, or that of someone you think should be included, isn't in the following list please let me know so that I can add them next time. Obviously some familiar names didn't run a parkrun the day before the London Marathon so I'll ask again next week.

 Roderick Hoffman

Volunteers - The parkrun organisation have still not provided a report of volunteer efforts.  For that reason we can ONLY include specific volunteer efforts each week if we are emailed about them by 17:00 on the Monday after the run. I may look to include a periodic report on total volunteer efforts.

Roderick Hoffman

NOT Updated parkrun Stats - club parkrun stats

New parkruns

Just a reminder that the club recommended policy when it comes to UK inaugural parkruns is to only attend them if they are now your nearest parkrun - and if possible offer to volunteer over their first few weeks [but that is only a recommendation - other reasons to attend can include being personally invited by the new team and/or having a strong affinity with an area]. When a new parkrun starts up near to our base Steve or I will organise a "Club Featured parkrun" soon after the inaugural where we can meet up as a group and explore the new event.

No new parkruns undertaken by club members this week - we are currently on about 492 different parkruns as a club, though I am about to do a recount. I expect that Petra Otto will add "Snowden Field" (near Peterborough) soon - it had its inaugural on Saturday.

Roderick Hoffman

And if the London Marathon is too short for you - there is always the Two Oceans Marathon

I completed my first ultra marathon on Saturday 20th April. The Two Oceans (56km) in Cape Town SA. I knew it was going to be tough but it got tougher!!! The day before the race the route was changed on the advice of the police due to a possible protest. This meant that I would miss the beautiful scenery of the Atlantic Ocean cliff road known as Chapmans Peak. Instead we would take the Ou Kaapse Weg (old Cape Town road) through the Silvermine National Park and another 100 metres of elevation!!! Race started in the dark and rain but as the sun came up the rain stopped. The rest of the weather conditions were pretty much perfect although full sun came out at midday. I had set myself a target of sub 6 hours but sub 6:30 seemed more realistic given the diversion route. I stuck to my guns and pretty much ran to plan. Went through 21km at 1:55 then the brutal climb started! 5km up hill. Managed to run the whole ascent without stopping or walking. The decent was very painful on my legs. Pushed through 42km at 4:25. All on target still and all felt good. The toughest part of the run was at 45km where 150m elevation kicked in. After that it was more or less downhill to the finish. Last 5km was amazing with the crowds. Just tucked under 6 hours on chip time with 5:57:04 which was 56 seconds faster than my predicted time of 5:58:00 Tim Bellars

Next Digest - Results, news, pictures, feedback, jokes, stories - send them to the editor, Roderick Hoffman, at news@barunner.org.uk.

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