Fireworks, 100k and a Weekend of PBs

Such are the incredible achievements of the team, it’s hard to know where to start in my weekly roundups. So it’s only fair to begin with Anna. If anyone was awake earlier than her this weekend I will be amazed.

3:30am was her alarm call. Up in time to be bussed to the start line for the Jurassic Coast 100k Ultra. If you’ve not seen some of the pictures on her Strava, check them out, wow.

Anna kindly sends me text message updates whilst tackling these crazy challenges. Although I think she accidentally missed a 0 this time, with my phone pinging for every km split rather than every 10k. But it was really quite enjoyable tracking her progress and knowing she was still going.

It also gives you a sense of just how amazing Anna is. I was fast asleep when she started, and it was rather appropriate that the fireworks lit up the night sky when the text message telling me she’d finished landed on my phone. 15 hours and 25 minutes!! If anyone ever complains about a 2 hour long run again, well... Awesome work Anna.

Joe was also taking on his own challenge. Whilst on this occasion he came up a little short of the full distance, he still covered 100km as part of the Centurion Autumn 100. Missing our target can often be upsetting, but it can also be these races which teach us the most, so like Joe did, always take the positives. He’ll be back stronger than ever.

Glenn could be our next Matt B with the number of parkrun PBs he’s collecting in recent months. That’s 5 in his last 11 appearances on Hastings prom, and he’s edging closer to the magical sub 20 with his latest effort of 20 minutes and 16 seconds.

Sally also clocked a parkrun personal best on Saturday as she continues to hit her training targets. 26:55 is her new time and I’m pretty confident she’s going to keep improving in the next few months. Great work Sally.

There was a fastest parkrun of the year as well for Rosy, who can came close to breaking 25:00 at Hastings, missing out by just 3 seconds. Great to see her making early progress on her plan.

10 of the team headed along the coast this weekend. 6 of us went only as far as Hove for the latest instalment of the SGP and a 10k hosted by the local club, Arena 80.

I was pleased to run my quickest 10k in 18 months, clocking 42:45.

Xiulan added to the weekend PBs, having convinced me her target time was way too fast. A target time she smashed by the way, crossing the line in 50:31. She’s 65 you know, and she kindly tells me what a brilliant coach I am, so feel free to follow Xiulan’s example with this feedback 😜

There were also strong performances from Allan (53:15), Jax (57:41), Chrissie (1:10:05) and Sue M (1:10:09). A great morning was had by all.

Travelling further along the coast, we had 4 representatives in the Great South Run. Kirsty, who continues to sit 2nd in the 100% club leaderboard, was rewarded for her commitment to the plan with a new 10 mile PB. She came home in 1:36:48, 4 minutes quicker than in this race last year, and it was an exhibition of pacing.

Steph concluded her first training plan on the team with a 10 mile PB, not far behind Kirsty in 1:41:24, as she sets her sights on London next April.

Su ran a really strong race to finish in 1:45:46. Unfortunately Hannah has been battling a recent illness so it wasn’t quite her day, coming across the line in 2:26:09, but she’ll be back, determined to keep working hard in training and be ready for the big one, London, next spring.

Finally, we head to beautiful Bedgebury. Definitely not a location you head to for personal bests. But Patrick (1:47:46) and Dan (1:54:16) both put in really strong performances in the half marathon, whilst Jane concluded her first week on the team with a 1:03:19 in the 10k.

Again, a fantastic weekend for the team, and those who continue to hit their training targets are seeing the rewards on race day.

Probably a good time to congratulate Lou W. The first runner to ever receive 10 stars. That 50 weeks on the spin, hitting her training targets. Incredible.

Remember, don’t chase results, focus on your training points. If you keep progressing and hitting those targets, your time will come. Be patient. It’s taken me 12 months of consistent training, since getting injured, to get back to where I am now, and I can tell you this, it feels amazing.