By Dan Webb

 

A magnificent 1, 2, 3 for LBAC. Well 1, 2, 3 bib numbers anyway, which shows how keen we were to have the first 3 entries! Fiona Towell was the first to enter but due to injury gave her place to Julia Hilton, who I think liked having number one on her vest. Kelly Paine was second keenest with number two and the keenest man, Gary Stratford, was number three.

 

It was the Fun Runners annual 10k race. It was a lovely sunny morning, not too hot, but got warmer throughout the race. It is a course that could accurately be described as undulating – not too bad until you get to 8k and encounter Shenley Hill just like our Tough 10. It seems the Fun Runners are as evil as we are!

 

In the men’s corner we had; Stuart Blofeld, (who just wanted to get some miles under his belt after having a week of rest and only running 100 miles the previous weekend – yes in one go!), Chris Norman (uninjured), Gary Stratford (back on form), Daniel Webb (looking for 45mins), Fred Watt (who got back from Portugal at 11pm the previous evening, having not trained whilst on holiday as intended as he couldn't be bothered – at least he had the comfort of knowing he had the best tan of all the race competitors) and Peter Watkins (who was taking this one seriously and limited himself to just 2 bottles of wine and 6 ciders the night before).

 

In the ladies corner we had; Jane Sauer, Jo Breslin, Julia Hilton was Bell, Kelly Paine, Amelia Wallace, Theresa Heep and Helen Crossland. With the club creeping ever closer to matriarchal dominance, the women yet again outnumbered the men.

 

First over the line for the club, and 5^th overall was Stuart Blofeld in 37:49. Proving he can go fast as well as long. Next was Chris Norman in 38:42 a PB and 11^th overall. Not far behind was Gary Stratford in 39:37 7^th of the MV40s. Next and first lady home and 2^nd lady overall was Jo Breslin in 41:43, who thought she might have a PB but isn't sure as she's not too good with numbers. Next was Daniel Webb in 45:01 missing his target by one second. This was the fault of the gun to chip timing system, had they used the more sensible chip to chip system, he would have been at least three seconds quicker. He's not bitter as it was still a PB due to the fact that it was his first 10k. Not far behind was Jane Sauer in 45:36 also a PB and 3^rd FV35.

 

First of the old boys was a tanned Fred Watt in 48:18, after him Peter Watkins who finally sobered up to finish in 55:27. Julia Hilton and Kelly Paine ran most of the race together nattering like a pair of old fishwives. When it was suggested that they could have ran faster if they used less oxygen chatting and more running, they had the pathetic excuse of having run a measly 16 miles the day before in marathon training. Both are rapidly improving though and finished 61:17 and 61:33 respectively. Amelia Wallace ran with a friend who was new to running and finished in 64:21. Theresa Keefe and Helen Crossland finished in 1:10:08 and 1:10:58 to end a good day for LBAC.

 

As mentioned before, Fiona could not run but came to support, and was roped into manning the drinks station with her son, Scott. Chris Dimmock was also supporting with his dog. There may have been others but I didn't see you because I was running too fast or had sweat in my eyes or something!

 

Additionally former (and hopefully future) club member Rob Elmore also managed to get around the course. He has been claiming that he is unfit and so came to the club last Wednesday for the first time in ten years. His 35:07 to take 3^rd place was pretty pleasing and reminded him he can run fast. – ed.

 

Leighton Fun Runners did a fine job and put on a great event – not bad for the second best running club in town! We may not have got a 1, 2, 3 but we all had a good time. We did get a female second place and a FV35 first and third place, so kind of did get our 1, 2, 3.