Week Ending - 2021/01/31

SNOW SCUPPERS SUPER SIX RACE BUT BUSY BADGERS PLOUGH ON

A combination of poor weather, injuries, January blues and lockdown malaise put the dampeners on the Badgers inter-club Super Six race last week, which went ahead albeit with limited numbers. Set up by club officials to enable athletes to achieve another club standard time to go alongside the ones achieved in the autumn Super League, it was the speedy Matt Scarsbrook who was fastest overall with an impressive time of 34:50 for the six mile distance. This was eight seconds faster than his effort at the Kibworth 6 last year albeit on a flatter course, but to achieve this time in less than favourable weather and while running alone deserves special credit. Big Dave Jackson has run himself back into form and here the plucky purveyor of plastic tat and car-boot connoisseur weighed in with a stunning 35:56 to take the prestigious V40 award. Judy Parkes was first lady back in the race in just under the hour but while she wasn’t first back in her household as husband Adrian ran a terrific 49:40 to take the V50 prize, edging out Rob Crow who battled hard for his time of 51:45.

A number of runners took part in the EED January challenge (Exercise Every Day), raising some much needed cash for local charity Simon’s Heroes. Carl Savage finished the task in style by completing a marathon distance run at the very end while Glyn Broadhurst covered some significant distances on both bike and foot. Carla Boardman and Chris Horton also managed to complete their mission with great focus and determination. Emma Masser is another who has been hard at it as she trains up for the 100K Lone Wolf Challenge at the end of February, knocking out a 50K run in training over the weekend as part of her preparations.

In other news, four Badgers were awarded their Leicestershire County Standard Times for 2020 after completing a minimum of five different distances at predetermined set standards according to age and gender. Veteran Andy Smith bagged himself a copper standard with some excellent efforts over the middle distances. His 25:25 for the 5K was a quality turn and his achievement was almost matched by his partner Holly McClay who managed Pewter standard overall, just two distances shy of Copper. Normally associated with the longer length races, McClay’s one mile time in particular stood out as she ran 7:57 over the distance, suggesting she may be speedier than she gives herself credit for.

Pip Weston achieved a magnificent gold standard for her efforts which began 12 months ago in one of the few league races to happen before lockdown. Her 60:08 at the Stilton 7 was a V50 club record, made all the more impressive by the fact that she was just months away from entering a new age category. In addition, she ran a 51:51 10K and a seven-minute mile amongst others, a fabulous effort from her as it enabled her to achieve a rare Rhodium level at the mark.

Chris Horton helped himself to a diamond standard, the V45 star running an 81 minute half marathon in addition to his 28:36 five mile time. However, like Weston, his standout run was the mile where his 4:49 made Rhodium level, the highest achievable overall. The duo first met many years ago when Weston worked at the school where Horton was studying his A-levels. Fast forward several decades later and they both ended up at the same running club (and yoga classes) with both achieving outstanding one mile times in their respective age categories.