I’m a little speechless. Not ideal at the start of a blog post. I understand now why I was so excited about this race, I couldn’t have dreamt a better outcome for the Team.
Times aside, what pleased me the most and generally in recent months is the attitude of those signed up to Team Orange. It’s not just the positivity but the encouragement to others around you and the knock on effect that seems to be having.
5ks are tough, I discussed that pre race, but of the 23 runners in action on Wednesday, I don’t think a single one of you can argue you didn’t give it your best shot. That for me is what matters the most.
Obviously the PBs are what will be discussed the most and I won’t apologise for that, but what I will add, for those of you not quite at the level you want to be right now, trust the process. Use the success of the rest of the team to fuel that fire. If you keep working hard, your day will come.
The first PB on the night was from Sam Davies who ran 18:54. Sam is actually training for an Ultra in a few weeks time but has clearly been boosted by joining the Team.
George Marshall was close on his heel in 19:28. Only 10 days ago he’d never gone under 20 minutes for 5K and he knows as well as I do, there is more to come.
Conal Tracey, hot off his perfectly executed Brighton Marathon performance, knocked over a minute off his previous best 5K, crossing the line in 20:25. That was also 2 minutes quicker than his time from 2023, only two runners improved by a greater margin.
Matt B recorded his 5th PB in his last 7 attempts, clocking an impressive 21:15, donning the black and green for the very first time. Welcome to Hastings Runners Matt.
Alice Tigwell smashed her 5K PB, smiling her way to a time of 23:40, to mark further improvement in her running in what has been a great start to the year.
Rachael Inns who has been training for longer distances tore off at an alarming pace but really dug deep in the final stages to record yet another PB of 23:46. I think this was her 4th of the year as she continues to get quicker across all distances.
Helen Cassell had been feeling poorly and also overcame cramp to decimate her previous best 5K time, finishing in an impressive 27:00.
Can I take credit for Kayla Quinnell who ran 28:31? A 30 second PB for 5K. She’s only just signed up and to be honest I wasn’t going to, until her race feedback where she expressed how much of a difference both the warm up and my pre race chat had helped her achieve a new personal best. Thank you Kayla, I will take some credit after all.
Rebecca Richardson is in week 3 of her 16 week training plan to run a sub 30 minute 5K. A training plan which I’ve had to rip up and start again after she produced a new PB of 29:46. Fantastic running Rebecca.
There are very few on the team that produce the level of consistency week in week out that Mark Dunn does. He was rewarded with a new PB of 30:51. Proud of you Mark.
Ellie Miller clocked a 5K PB for the 2nd time in less than a week, coming home strongly in 32:38. I was duly thanked by husband Matthew who was grateful for how well Ellie now sleeps due to her increased running.
That’s all folks. Just the 11 PBs, but it would be remiss of me to stop there. New member Kieran Price produced the quickest time of 19:15 highlighting he starts his first Team Orange plan in good shape.
I produced my 3rd quickest 5k of 19:34 and was really pleased with that. Chris Piper managed his second quickest time over this distance in 21:01, Chris and I know that time is going to be smashed soon.
Martin Turner ran a really solid time of 21:27, pretty impressive given, unknown to me, he ran an extra 5km or so the day before (don’t do that folks) to join us at parkrun start for the easy run.
Neil Jeffries produced a strong performance to come home in 21:54, his first 5K this year and shortly after returning from an injury layoff. Andy Alabaster didn’t quite get the time he hoped for in 23:41 but played a key role in supporting both Rachael and Alice to achieving their own PBs, which just shows the support within the team.
Jo French is training for a marathon right now, so her goals lie elsewhere, but still produced an excellent run to come home in 26:29. She was followed by Jax, who would probably have recorded a PB of her own, but for turning back to try and rescue one of her race number magnets which tumbled to the floor.
Sue Wilkinson ran 27:37 and is building her fitness back up after a short injury layoff. New member Klare Beecroft laid down a marker with a 28:11 and seemed slightly concerned post race when I explained chatting during 5Ks and effort sessions is frowned upon in Team Orange 😂.
Su Sparkes ran 29:51 a few days after he gladiatorial performance in the London Marathon and Sue Mann improved on her time from last year by over 2 minutes to clock 31:57.
What a fantastic night!!! Thank you for making me a very happy Coach.
