RUNNING: THOSE cold winter months of training paid off for Spa Strider runner Paul Edwards after he recorded a new personal best time at the London Marathon event on Sunday.
Edwards led a strong contingent of Striders to the capital along with an equally impressive support crew and the mixture of sunshine and cloud made conditions ideal for runners who had become accustomed to training through the British winter months.
Edwards was the first Strider home in a new PB time of 2:56.37 and he was closely followed by Chris McKeown who despite picking up an injury in the build up to the race, he ran an impressive time of 2:59.01.
Rob Thompson (3:04.15), Dan Stannard (3:09.53), Steve Hession (3:23.53) and David Chantrey (3:26.32) all ran times under three hours and 30 minutes.
For the ladies, Mel Venables ran an excellent and controlled race to lead the team home in a time of 3:01.56 which was a new PB time.
Carolyn Wilkinson rang alongside her team mate to share and soak in the atmosphere, and she finished well within her target in a time of 3:11.15.
Sue Cox (3:26.09) was next Strider to cross the line, followed by Clare Hinton (3:30.45) and Bethan Gwynn (3:34.55).
There was also a new PB time for Jude Baum who finished seventh in her age category by crossing the finish line in 3:43.00 which was a new V55 club record.
The women’s contingent was completed by (4:04.29) and debutants Emma Bish (4:07.12) and Maria Mirgkizoudi (5:13.02).
Elsewhere, Doug Rattray ran a strong debut marathon in Vienna where he finished in 4:07.43, while Adam Notley (2:53.04), Steve Taylor (2:57.30) and Ruth Tennant (3:46.04) all competed in the Hamburg Marathon event.
Finally, locally, Spa Striders were well-represented at the Southam Triathlon, where Lorraine Parsons, Amanda Wiggins, Gethyn Friswell and James Hartwright took part in the pool-based event where Andrew Bonjour finished as the third fastest senior female.
