Gade Valley Harriers isn’t just a running club, it also has a triathlon sector, and on Sunday two multi-sport enthusiasts took part in the Pitsford Standard Distance Tri in Northamptonshire. Both Harriers started strongly with Dylan Wendleken being the first entrant from his start wave to complete the 1500 metres swim in the beautiful Pitsford Reservoir, and Sian Shaw made a splash by being the first female to rise from the water.
That geared up both athletes for the 40km cycle ride that took place on the country roads that surround the lake, although Shaw lost a few positions because of tired legs.
The club mates both put in great 10k runs – which went around the whole reservoir – and both crossed the line fourth in their respective age categories, Wendleken as a Male Vet 40 + (MV40) with a time of 2:31:40, and Shaw as a WV30 with a time of 2:35:34, which was also good enough to finish as fifth overall lady.
A handful of Harriers kept to running races on Sunday, with Trevor Normoyle making the short journey across Hertfordshire for the Ware 10’s – an event which gives competitors a choice of running 10km or 10miles along a multi-terrain route which uses farm tracks, parkland and the canal tow path. Normoyle opted for the longer distance and surprised himself with a course personal best (PB), despite recently working night shifts, completing the 10 mile course in a time of around 1 hour 19 minutes.
Sam Raffety returned to Regent’s Park for the latest in the 10k series, which partly follows some of the boundary of London Zoo. She bearly put a foot wrong as she matched her last time on the three-lap course on the roads around the park, finishing in 49:39.
Phil Mercer was also in London, as he took part in the Ickenham 5 – a flat, two-lap, five-mile course around suburban roads. He collected a PB, with a time of 33:19.
Earlier in the week David Goodman picked up a PB at the Chase the Sun Victoria Park 5k. He was second MV40 and fifth overall finisher as he completed the Wednesday evening race around the East London park in 19:30.
Holly Beckett was in impressive form at Rickmansworth ParkRun on Saturday, picking up a PB of 26:17.
Well done everyone!
