The West Pinchbeck 10K Road race is renowned for being flat, fast and very warm!! Sundays run was no exception with the sun beating down as over 150 runners set off on this local jaunt through the Fenlands.
Boston Community Runners were well represented, the group who are steadily growing in numbers had six members set off on this 6.2mile run. Daniel Clark was the first club runner back in 42:25 and 13th position, having paced fellow clubmate Rob Cross round the course. Rob crossed the line in 17th position in 42:47 just outside his personal best time. Not far behind Rob came Ian Ruddock in 44:33 taking 24th place and in 26th was Jake Fountain just three seconds behind in 44:36 The lads were able to partake in the refreshments of tea, coffee and BBQ provided by Spalding Tri Club who hosted the event whilst they waited for Sarah Burton and Samantha Cross to finish in just over the hour in 1:03:53
This is always a very friendly event which grows in popularity every year and being a local event is one that the Boston runners like to support.
With Halloween week upon us there were ghostly going ons for Bostons runners this week. On Sunday John Burton and Tania Knight travelled to Worksop for the aptly named Halloween Half Marathon that encourages dressing up for the event! Established in 1982, The Worksop Halloween Half Marathon (also known as ‘the scenic one’) takes place on the last Sunday in October every year. The course runs largely through Clumber Park, which provides beautiful scenery and is perfect for spectators to support their family and friends along the route. With over 2000 runners taking part, John and Tanya ran together on the course in their spooky costumes which got cheers from the crowds. Crossing the line in 1.56.33 together they both reported a thoroughly enjoyable run which was rounded off with hot drinks and bacon rolls.
On Saturday an early inspection for the aptly named Gruesome Twosome saw the cancellation of the half marathon cross country due to the route going through three woodland areas and with the gale force winds forecast safety came first. So runners that were going to run that distance now joined the other runners to tackle the 10k option. It made for a very colourful, somewhat crowded start line in the Lincolnshire Wolds just outside Swallow. The runners soon spread out as they traversed the tracks, trails and country lanes. The cross-wind was very strong in places and whipped the topsoil off the fields into a sandstorm covering some of the tracks with fine sand like soil, almost as deep as the sand at the beach! John Burton and Peter Mittertreiner were the first pair back for the club in this unusual race where the runners have to start together as a pair and cross the finish line side by side! Coming home in 56.43 they were just ahead of Tanya Knight and Rachel Conway clocking 1.02.08. Lesley Buswell was next back with friend Chrissy Craven in a super time of 1.09.58. Husband and wife team Graham and Sharon English were three minutes later in 1.12.15 followed by Sarah Burton and Jamie Stanton in 1.15.58 and finally Samantha Cross and Jayne Clements in 1.18.16.
Sunday dawned to greet the hardy Boston runners with a different challenge. The temperature had dropped by 10 degrees and heavy rain had now descended across the county. At Peterborough one of the most popular half marathons on the racing calendar was taking place and saw five members taking part. Soaked before they started everyone recorded superb times with Beckie Dawson forst back for the club in 1.35.22 taking 7th in her age category in a field of nearly 3000 runners. Kimberley Pittam, Nathan Saw had a very constant run and recorded a super time of 1.55.20 along with running buddy Katie Cooper. Michael Corney bagged himself another PB time of 2.03.51 and can feel that sub 2hr half marathon getting closer. Jackie Hallett again ran a super race and was pleased with her time of 2.29.35 in such wet conditions. The rain blanketed most of Lincolnshire and the same fate awaited the runners taking part in the annual Spires and Steeples challenge. Martin Tebbs took on the full 26 mile run from Lincoln Cathedral to Sleaford. The route again was over tracks, trails and through fields! Martin had a storming run in such muddy wet conditions and finished in only 3.59.04 a time that a lot of people would crave in a normal road marathon! John Burton and Simon Pickwell ran the 13 mile option from Metheringham to Sleaford. John, who was battered by the wind at the Gruesome on the Saturday ran in the rain with Simon as part of a training schedule and both finished together in the top 5 for the half.
