A more unusual race takes place at Belton House during the Horse Trials. The 6 mile course immediately takes the runners uphill towards the tree lined edge of Belton Park, across fields and woodland beyond before starting downhill back towards the stunning setting. When the runners just think the uphill sections are done the course then took them straight up a very steep climb towards and through the Folly that overlooks the estate before wending its way back to the finish area. Although the skies were bright there was a bitter easterly wind that came straight off the hills and through the park. It made for a head wind start for everyone including the Canicross Runners. These are runners who have a dog running with them. The noise at the start was almost deafening as the hounds were baying to get started! Always a great challenge the Boston Community Runners put on a great display of running with Kelvin Clements being the first club runner back in a great time of 47.40 with John Burton chasing him back in 48.05. Matt Tunnard got under the hour in 57.40 and Tony Tomlin had a great first run in the Boston colours crossing the line in 59.30. Andy Leates ran strongly and clocked a well deserved 1.02.00. Jayne Clements had a great off road run picking the pace up well in the last 2K to a finish time of 1.09.00 just ahead of Sarah Burton who finished in 1.10.00 only a minute and a half off her best time at this testing course. All the finishers received a medal at the end and a bottle of Trail Ale.
Another busy weekend for the Boston Community Runners saw members heading to Lincoln, Manchester and Grantham.
The Lincoln 10k took place this year without any delays having been cancelled and rearranged last year due to the Beast from the East! Neil Goodwin and Dianne Houghton made the short journey for the flat race that takes place around the uphill area of the city finishing near the Cathedral. There was over 5000 runners taking part this year and although a bottleneck at the first roundabout caused a delay for a lot of the runners both Neil and Dianne got great times with Dianne finishing in 56.22 and Neil just a few seconds later in 56.30.
The Manchester Marathon was run on Sunday too and is one of the most popular marathons to run after London. Four runners were flying the flag for Boston this year and all four recorded personal best times with superb displays of running. Dan Clark was the first Boston runner home and looked very fresh still at the finish in a time of 3.18.00 just ahead of Beckie Dawson who ran an amazing PB of 3.22.37 knocking over 12 minutes off her previous best. Training partners Kim Pittam and Katie Cooper also ran PB times finishing in 4.02.00 and both were thrilled to get so close to a sub 4 hour marathon. All the runners had put hours of dedicated running in during the winter months to build up to their marathons and their hard work paid off.
Over in Grantham it was Triathlon time with the first of the Lincolnshire Triathlon series taking place. Claire Tunnard took part in her first event of the season. The discipline consists of a swim, bicycle and a run. Claire had a good event and the transitions, changing from swim to bicycle and then bicycle to run went well. Finishing in 1.32.40 Claire was 20th in her age category, a result she was very pleased with.
It was cooler than previous years for the Boston Marathon event on Sunday and the weather had whipped up a strong Easterly wind but luckily for the 1600+ runners who took part in the Full, Half and Fun Run races the showers mostly stayed out into the North Sea.
Boston Community Runners were once again out in force to support the event which gathered runners from around the globe and the town showed its support for this ever growing race as they came out to support and cheer the runners on in even the most rural of spots! The Personal Best targets were attained by many as twenty nine members took part across the distances with 7 taking on the Full Marathon. Rob Cross was the first back for the club in a great PB time of 3.23.15 in his first ever marathon. John Burton followed him home in 3.35.24 looking very fresh still in his second marathon of the year as he continues to raise funds for Boston Pilgrim Hospitals Royle Eye Clinic and Guide Dogs. John is running 3x marathons and 3x Ultra Marathons this year. Dan Clark was next back. After running Manchester Marathon last weekend his time at Boston of 3.46.40 was a great result. Nathan Saw had a solid run and crossed the line in 3.46.37 with Simon Pickwell next back in a PB time of 4.11.26 in his first time at this distance. Tanya Knight was pleased her calf injury cleared in time to compete and finishing in 4.22.44 she reported no ill effects afterwards. Jayne Wallis was tackling her 21st marathon and in a relaxed run in her home town she was very pleased with her time of 4.38.14 whilst raising funds for Marie Curie.
In the Half Marathon the PB times kept coming! Kelvin Clements was the first club runner to finish in his first half marathon. A super time of 1.33.05 gave him 19th place in his age category. The miles and training paid off for Andy Butler as he knocked three minutes off his time from last year, crossing the line in 1.44.43 just ahead of Steve Roberts having his first run in BCR colours. Steve finished in 1.44.54. Next home was Matt Tunnard who was just six seconds away from a sub 2 hour finish. A super PB time of 2.00.06. Bret Bretton was just behind in 2.00.28. Next home was Michael Corney (2.07.00) and Neil Goodwin with another PB time of 2.08.20. Emma Cook was the first BCR lady back as she now tapers ready for the London Marathon and still managed a PB time of 2.10.02. More personal best times followed for both Dianne Houghton and Lesley Buswell who both clocked 2.12.46 just ahead of Fran Mills who had a lovely relaxed run finishing in 2.14.54. Sharon English produced a strong run and continues to improve with a new PB time of 2.19.06. Jon Carpenter had a solid run, again tapering for London finishing with Jayne Clements and getting her a PB time of 2.19.12. Graham English ran a very even race and finished in a PB time of 2.24.34 having shaken off a slight foot strain. Jackie Hallett ran superbly to get 6th in her age category in a time of 2.24.36 and less than a minute later came Claire Teesdale in 2.25.10. Sarah Burton (2.27.17) paced Debbie Petley round to get her a PB time of 2.21.21. They were followed by Samantha Cross having her final long run before London who still managed a PB time of 2.31.31. Kerry McCrainor was nursing a bit of an injury so used a Run / Walk method known as “jeffing” to great effect finishing in 2.38.51 whilst raising funds for youngster Alex who is just six and has an aggressive brain tumour. She was diagnosed in April 2018, and has a cancer called medulloblastoma which has spread to her spine. The final BCR runner back to a great cheer was Carmen Clark who, at her first attempt at this distance broke her target time of 3 hours by finishing in 2.59.25 giving her a very proud personal best time and a target for future runs.
Bostons Martin Tebbs travelled down to Brighton to take part in the Brighton Marathon Festival to take part in the big race with his sister Hayley Bostock. Although Hayley was struggling with her breathing she wanted to conquer the race that she had to pull out of last year due to illness. The pair started slow and steady to get into a good running routine and gently started knocking off the milestones, the first mile, the 10k point, then the big one, the 10mile point where Hayley was forced to retire last year due to ill health. Now anything was possible. Half way through the race the pair were going very well indeed and at the 16mile point the pace was still rock solid. At 19 miles a bit of a breather was needed and the brother and sister team had a piece of orange and a 10second walk break before getting back into their stride and they were on our way again! Negotiating the power station area and digging deep the pair knew they'd got this in the bag. At 22 miles they hit a strong head wind along the sea front, but at least they knew it was the home straight. The headwind made it tough to catch their breath and keep a pace going but knowing the finish line was nearing Hayley wasn't about to falter! Then came the awesome crowds cheering the runners home and the finish line. They did it! 26.2 miles, a real challenge for Hayley but with Martin by her side the duo finished in a highly impressive time of 4.18.16. The pair were able to celebrate afterwards having conquered one of the most popular marathons in the UK.
