By Jane Sauer

First thing on Sunday 13^th March it was cold, damp and overcast, but not raining (yet)!  As I forced down my cereal I felt physically sick, as I was so nervous about running my first ever 20 mile race.  Fred had decided not to run, as he'd unfortunately not been too well during the week, which made me the only LBAC member running the Finchley 20.  As I started to look for excuses as to why I might not be able to go after all, I had to have a little word with myself to remind me that this was actually just another training run (and a very important one to show me how close to, or far from my target of running a four hour marathon in four weeks time I really was).  Training runs had so far convinced me that I was a long way off target and my estimated time to complete this race was 3 hours 10 (or possibly even 15) minutes, although I really wanted to do it in 3 hours. read more

The athletes of LBAC spread themselves around the country this weekend in their search for races for a variety of reasons.

First up on Friday was the start of Joby Hobbs crazy attempt to run the full length of the 89 mile long Ridgeway in 3 days! We shall get a report of his efforts once his body and brain have started working properly again!

On a more sensible note, Gail Duckworth went to Birmingham on saturday for the British Masters national Cross-country at Perry Park. Now those of us that finished our cross-country season wading through the mud of Wing and Alton Towers would not recognise such an event as Gail didn't even wear spikes! This was a nice treat for her as she ran around three 2K laps with all of the other veteran women and the V65 men. read more

Bath Half – By Joby Hobbs (He doesn't want to talk about his own run) 

A cold overcast morning greeted the several thousand competitors in Great Pultney Street, Bath for the start of the 2011 Bath Half Marathon. As always the two lap course was lined with enthusiastic supporters, encouraging the runners around the route. Jill Richardson started the race hopeful of beating her recent P.B. achieved in December at the Bedford Half Marathon. Recent good form in training and around our very own 'Stag' proved to be a good indication of things to come as Jill completed the race in 1.37.18 to beat her previous P.B by 9 seconds! That was Jill's last race before heading off on the bike around Great Britain but Jill now has sights set on a 1.36 half marathon when she gets back from 6 months of solid pedalling!! read more

Four LBAC members went off to Birmingham last weekend to represent Bedfordshire at the UK Inter Counties. In order to be selected to represent the county you can either finish in the first six of the county championships or perform consistently well throughout the season and persuade the team selectors that you are good enough to be picked.

Brian Foulger has had an outstanding season, finishing first home for the club in every one of the U15 boys races and to made the trip to Cofton Park after being selected. With every county selecting their very best runners, it should be noted that even the people who finish last are still of a high standard (Just ask Simon) with an example being that Matt Janes who often wins Chiltern League races finished 34^th in the senior men. Brian finished 184^th his race out of a total of 298 competitors, and was 6^th home for Bedfordshire in a strong team that finished 12^th out of 42 overall. read more

Four laps of Long Marston airfield near Stratford upon Avon was not an inviting prospect, but it was a Saturday which fits with Fred’s wife working so he took it upon himself to go in for a new race. He lined up at the start alongside Lee Riley who was attempting to lower his world record of 1.40.54 for the Half Marathon carrying a 40lb pack. Lee was trying for near 1.35 so Fred thought he would be a good pace guide to hang onto. Fred’s plan had been to run 7.10 miles and the conditions were perfect for it.
read more