Week Ending - 2025/04/20

MARKS BOSTIN AT BOSTON

Mark Repton, the only BADGER member ever to have completed the full set of the World Marathon Majors, returned to the USA and the scene of the second of his six triumphs, hoping to go one better than his time of 3:15:01 three years ago. The jet-setting Dosthill Dad set off with determined intentions and covered his first half in 1:28, which was just about PB pace. However, the second half was a more challenging affair, tiring legs and the infamous Heartbreak Hill at 21 miles put paid to his hopes of another sub-3 time, but his long-distance experience stood him in great stead as he powered on to the finish to clock a superb time of 3:06:39, significantly quicker than his previous attempt.

Repton’s travails aside, the rest of the weekly action focussed around parkrun and there were a number of notable achievements. At Kingsbury, Eamon Thawley celebrated a milestone 85th appearance at the Water Parkrun with a chatty trot alongside Mark Cordiner-Barton. Matt Green finished tenth male on his 250th outing at the same venue. Martin Graham produced his best time since turning 50 late last year (25:56).

Yvonne Faulkner-Grant continued her upward curve at Clumber Park while Megan Griffiths was ninth lady at Uckfield. At Market Bosworth, Terry Taylor made it round without injury, the star of his own YouTube channel hopefully now able to produce some more entertaining content, much of which is aimed specifically at helping novices to become more like the one-time sub-16 minute 5K athlete.

Rachael Browne took first female with a fine run of 23:23 at Chasewater, a course PB for her. Browne wasn’t the only Badger getting herself a course best over the weekend as Dave Purvis followed suit, possibly on account of it being his first run at the Greendale Farm parkrun course. Mark Repton was first Badger back at Jamaica Pond in Boston, USA ahead of his big race and Dave Jackson set the fastest time ever recorded by a Badger at Town Moor parkrun near Newcastle with his classic 20:40.

Mark Coggan finished a fine third at Oaklands a second over the 20-minute mark and Mark Cox took tenth male at Beacon in Lichfield where Chris Horton won his 13th consecutive parkrun in a time of 16:43.