A weekend of running took over Ferry Meadows in Peterborough with racing promoter Sublime putting on a 24 hr race, a 12 hr night run, a 5k race and a 10k race. Boston Community Runners were once again represented in all the events. The 24hr race was the first to get underway and saw John Burton, Tanya Knight and Gary Beck-Sykes taking part. Once they had left the start/finish area on the Saturday lunchtime the 5k race gathered and set off on their multi-terrain course. Maria Baker and Clare Teesdale took part running together. Maria is part of the RunWalkRun group and used this method. The route took in tracks and trails with some tarmac and the ladies were thrilled to finish in 43.33. As the 24 hr runners clocked up laps of the 10k route they were cheered through the start/finish area. They were allowed to take breaks whenever they wanted as it was the total distance covered that was adding up. As the evening arrived runners for the 12 hr night run started to arrive. Michael Corney and Steven Roberts took on the event as a pair taking it in turns to do laps of the course. With head torches on, both runners put in a great performance and after running through the night the distances were all added up and the Boston pair were delighted to find they had finished in fourth place overall covering 96.3K between them. As they finished the daytime 10k run was getting ready to start. Three runners donned the black, white and yellow stripes over tracks and trails, even crossing the Nene Valley Railway at one point. Georgina Lidgard was the first club runner home in 1.10.06 giving her 3rd in her age category with Paul Maddison just behind in 1.12.55 and just behind Paul was Clare Teesdale, fresh from doing the 5K the day before, finishing in 1.13.16. Once they had finished they were able to watch the finishing stages of the 24hr race. Tanya Knight covered a massive 107k and finished as 4th lady – a fantastic achievement and one more endurance event ticked off in her fundraising year for Meningitis Now and the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. John Burton covered 85.6k and again achieved his goal in his fundraising year for the Royle Eye Clinic at Boston Pilgrim Hospital and Guide Dogs UK. Gary Beck-Sykes was thrilled to cover a super distance of 53.5k raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
There was two main races at the weekend and Boston Community Runners were flying the flag for the town at both events. Friday evening saw the Scredington 10K take place. Better known as the Cake Run, the event put on by the Sleaford Striders sells out within days of opening and is renowned for it's amazing array of cakes at the finish! This year saw a 3K fun run take place as well for younger runners and Bostons Emma Cook and Beth Lines accompanied their young future BCR runners around the village course.
As for the main event, fourteen club runners lines up for the race through the country lanes. The course had a few long gradual inclines and was a good test for those more used to the flat roads around Boston. First club runner back was Dan Clark who enjoyed his run, finishing in 39.44. He was followed by Kelvin Clements in 42.51 with John Burton crossing the line in 44.04 taking his weekly miles run to 79.5 miles in one week! Andy Butler had another strong run finishing in 47.40. Karen Hindle came in next with a big smile as she ran along the finish straight and crossed the line in 53.58 just ahead of Kimberley Pittam in 54.16. Katie Cooper put in a good finish and came home in 56.23. Jayne Clements was the next club runner back looking stronger with every run. Jayne crossed the line in 58.13 and just behind was came Lesley Buswell with a new PB time of 58.48. Sarah Clarke was pleased with her run finishing in 58.56 with no niggles from a leg injury that had curtailed her running quite a bit this year. Dianne Houghton finished in 59.01. With a few minutes gap the cheering began again as Claire Tunnard raced up the hill to the finish line, stopping the clock at 1.07.10 and just behind her came the final two club runners. Kerry McCrainor finished in 1.10.04 and Steve Langford in 1.10.05 as they continue their long slow runs building up to the Equinox 24hr event. The cake and hot drinks afterwards went down well with all the runners and Katie Cooper was awarded a spot prize of a bottle of wine which bought a cheer from the crowd.
Sunday was the next event on the calendar for BCR. The Newark Half Marathon was another local event and six Boston runners took part. Trevor Byng ran a super race and finished in 1.35.55 then came Martin Tebbs who was thrilled to be just seconds off a sub 1.40 as he crossed the line in 1.40.10. Megan Jones had a great run and finished in 1.52.19 just ahead of Karen Hindle, fresh from her run Friday evening, crossing the line in 1.56.43 giving her a weekend double of racing. Debbie Petley was the next club runner back putting in a solid performance in 2.36 and Samantha Cross got the miles back in her legs finishing in 2.48.04.
A short distance down the A16 to Thorney, near Peterborough saw the running of the Thorney 5 mile race. Not the most common of distances to find in the racing calendar but it does offer the runner the chance to push themselves a little bit harder possibly than they would on the more 10K race which equates to 6.2 miles. Six members took the black and yellow stripes of Boston Community Runners to the pretty fenland village to compete. The weather was overcast but still warm and a strong westerly wind was an added handicap for about half of the race. Steven Roberts was the first club runner home, putting in a solid performance that got him 5th in his age category, finishing in 35.15 with Michael Corney having a great run just behind him crossing the line in 38.24 knocking 25 seconds off last years time. Beth Lines was the third club runner back. Fresh from taking part in the fun run with family an hour earlier she clocked a super time of 47.24. Clare Teesdale came into view next and a fast finish saw her almost break the 50 minutes by coming over the finish line in 50.01. Sarah Burton was next club runner back. Her first race and attempt at this distance since a fractured leg gave her an enforced 3 months off and she was thrilled with her time of 54.18 Sam Cross was just 18 seconds away having run most of the race with Sarah and she too was pleased to finish inside her target time. Sam finished in 54.36. There was tea, cakes and sandwiches available for the runners after the event and a prize giving ceremony too before everyone headed home. Another great performance by all the Boston runners.
