Road Runners tackled Manchester Marathon and Coastal half-marathon.

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) braved injury to finish well at Manchester

Seven Road Runners tackled the Manchester Marathon.

Report by Don Hale.

 

A team of seven Road Runners travelled North last weekend for the Manchester Marathon, which also included an elite race, and a trial for top English runners aiming to represent their country in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

Claimed to be one of the largest Marathon’s in Europe, this event attracted over 24,000 entrants and provided a stern test for a variety of club and general runners of mixed abilities.

Jonathan Kettle was the impressive first NWRRC member home in just 2 hours 48 minutes and 45 seconds for 468th place overall, despite a late injury scare, with Josh Keogh also running well in 850th place in 2.56.00, and Stuart Culverhouse performed well again in 4,496th place in 3.39.47.

 

*Josh Keogh (*above left) with Stuart Culverhouse (*right).

Steve Roberts was pleased to finish 7,248th in 4.02.22, and partners Cai Roberts and Kelly-Marie Alford ran exceptionally well together to record a brilliant time of 4.26.01 including a massive 44-minute PB, with Helen Hannam also celebrating, after narrowly dipping under the 5-hour mark in 4.58.22.

*Pictured (*above left) Cai Roberts, Kelly-Marie Alford, and Helen Hannam at the Manchester race, with (*above right) Steve Roberts.

Afterwards several team members expressed some mixed emotions and admitted: Jonathan Kettle: “I had a major hamstring cramp with just 200 metres to go, so I had to stop, and lost at least three minutes. I’m gutted!”

Kelly-Marie Alford said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. I feel so emotional. I was dreaming of a sub-5-hour marathon but finally got a sub-4.30. Happy tears for sure.”

And Helen Hannam added: “Super pleased with my time. All the hard training paid off.”

Will Williams led the team home at Coastal half-marathon.

Report by Don Hale.

 

Five members of North Wales Road Runners competed in the Sanlam Coast half-marathon last Sunday which attracted over 400 athletes from across the UK and followed a windy but scenic route out and back from Prestatyn’s Nova Centre.

Will Williams enjoyed another fine run to lead the team home in 6th place in 1 hour 26 minutes and 56 seconds, with Gethin Wyn Jones in 13th place, and knocked 5-minutes off his last half-marathon time to finish in 1.31.06. 

*Will Williams (*above left) with Jamie Tharme at the Coastal half-marathon, and (*above right) Gethin Wyn Jones with his finishing medal.

After the race, Gethin, confirmed: “Really happy with my run today. I felt comfortable and enjoyed the whole thing. My last 5-mile pace was decent too, and 5-mins quicker than last month’s Anglesey Half.”

In addition, Jamie Tharme finished 30th in 1.37.47, with Samantha Williams running well in 108th place overall, and she was the 28th female athlete in 2.06.44, whilst veteran Sue Smith was 123rd, and the 36th female in 2.12.59.

*Samantha Williams (*above right), and Sue Smith at the turn point.

A delighted Jamie later said: “Ding-dong, a new half-marathon chip time PB, knocking well over 6-minutes off my previous time. Not too shabby considering I was on an all-inclusive holiday less than a week ago, so not trained, and with big headwinds, and a master blister and cramps.”

And it was also good to note that local runner Bethan Wyn Roberts won her MW50 age cat in 1.54.24 in 76th place overall and she was the 11th female athlete, whilst running with her good friend Amanda Durber.

The overall race was won by James Yarwood (Abergele Harriers) in 1.15.33, with Thomas Heard (Oswestry Olympians) 2nd in 1-16.53, with 3rd, Daniel Jones (Denbigh Harriers) in 1.21.35. The 1st Lady was Bethan Durrellin 1.36.08. There were 402 finishers.

 

*This is the link to the provisional results for the Coastal half-marathon:

https://bespokefitness.niftyentries.com/Results/Sanlam-Coast-Half-2022#