Three Counties Running Club members race in USA and at army base
Three Counties Running Club Members travelled far and wide to take part in some fantastic races.
TCRC member David Hammond took part in the Franklin Lakes Scenic Half Marathon in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey in the USA.
The Wyckoff Family YMCA and the Franklin Lakes Mayor’s Wellness Campaign hosted the event to raise money and awareness. Both the 5k and half marathon routes wind their way throughout Franklin Lakes, beginning and ending at the recreation centre.
David said the run was a lot hillier than what he is used to in Wisbech, but he had a great run – finishing in a time of 2:20:37 and third in his 60-64 age category.
Elsewhere, Kersten Muller took part in The Barrows & Downs Half Marathon. This was a new event for 2023 in Mid Wiltshire.
The race was set in the historic southern area of the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, and participants had to run among the ancient barrows dating back to 3500 BC – with Stonehenge not too far away.
The actual run was on byways and military training ground, although Kersten said he would struggle to call all of them paths. At times he appeared to be navigating across fields, up and down steep hills and some very rutted scenery.
Along the route, the runners had the unpleasant choice of running along tracks churned up by tanks and other tracked vehicles, wading through mud and puddles, or running along the embankment through knee-deep vegetation of nettles and grass.
It was a very tough but rewarding run, even though Kersten went up the wrong hill and ended up running 13.6 miles. He finished in a great time of two hours and seven minutes, and he placed 25th out of 92 runners.
The fastest runner completed it in a time of one hour and 43 minutes.
Steve Clarke took part in his 100th parkrun on Saturday, a fantastic achievement. He ran his landmark event at Wisbech parkrun with the support of family, friends and TCRC members.
First home for club was Craig Freestone 21:19 11th/150, followed by Richard Goodley 21:26PB 12th overall and 3rd in age, Sarah Johnson 24:34, Colin Apps 25:42, Philip Cooper26:29, Dawn Goodley 27:10 3rd in age, Victoria May 27:10, Claire Smithee 27:47, Naomi Smith 27:52, Debbie Agger 27:54, Matt Hunter 27:55, Kim Coultard 28:09, Tracey Else 28:18, Melvin Green 28:25CPB, Fay Gratton 28:43, Laura Vincent 28:54, Donna Johnson 28:54, AJ Harris 28:16, Sarah Melton-Whitelam 30:58, Alice Ingman 31:08, Steve Clarke 32:43, Steve Whitelam 32:44, Lou Mayer 34:33, Rachel Cooper, 35:06, Ewa Szczygielska 35:07 and Jennie Ambrose 35:46.
Other parkrun results:
Ferry Meadows: Joely Apps 32:42, Jesmond Dene, Steve Rhodes 27:31, Sandra Rhodes 40:24
King’s Lynn: Sally Fawkes 53:13
