Personal Bests in Purple Vests

Wolverton 5 Mile Club Championships

(Willen Lake Milton Keynes)

by Nick Clay

 

Personal bests in purple vests were in abundance during the Clubs 5 mile road race championships around Willen Lake. Held on a perfect morning for running, comments all-around of where’s the wind and out on the course expecting to turn and be hit by a headwind but nothing to write home about for once! The conditions and a fast flat course made for great running and a good days work by the 15 club members out on the day.

 

Not quite in the class of the Burgin siblings from Bedford and County that took the honors in their respective gender race. But a fantastic 3rd place, and the first female purple and goldd vest and personal best by Jo Sharples (30.56). Do we still give 2nd and 3rd club places? if so then (watch less) Laura Brine and Ruth Mitchell (PB) took those places in the championship.

The Men were led home by Chris George who self-confessed in a purple vest before the rest that a personal best in his second 5 mile test was inevitable, (28.24 Tick) 2nd and 3rd were taken impressively by Stuart Read (PB) and James Bell. (PB)

 

But the best of the rest personal bests in purple vests were those of Alison Bell, Mandy Clay and Susan Johnson, showing that the Tuesday night’s beginners and improvers group running is paying off. Having smashed couch to 5 km some time ago they are now venturing into longer distance events and smashing previous times taking minutes not seconds of their last runs of this distance… Running with Mandy on this occasion it was nice to start nearer the back and hear all the chat and excitement before the race reminding me that running is and should be fun.

 

For beginners joining us over the next couple of months we will get to 5 km by the summer and improvers already training on Tuesdays;  the Wolverton 5 mile is a fantastic step up event with its normally wind assisted (somewhere) flat course, it is an event to add to your race calendar as you improve next year.

Well done everyone great effort all round. #PurpleAndGold