The Bassingham Bash is a Lincolnshire 5 mile road run and saw Boston Community Runners Clare Teesdale put in one of her best runs of the year. Finishing the course in a time of 48.06 gave her a new personal best time at this distance and on the way to achieving that goal Clare also broke her 5k record as well passing this distance in a time of 29.28. Showers were predicted for the race but the black clouds that started to build managed to hold off for a while until many of the runners had finished, including Clare. The heavens opened then but with tea and cake on offer to all competitors most were enjoying their rewards in the dry.
Meanwhile over in Louth the latest Triathlon was taking part. Claire Tunnard and Carmen Clark took part. Clare took part in the longer event which consisted of a 400mtr swim, a 22k bike ride and a 5.35k run with Carmen in the Supersprint which was a 200mtr swim, an 11k bike ride and a 2.9k run. Claire had a good event finishing 19th in her age category and beating her times from last year. Carmen was going well in her event and had a great transition swapping from the swim to the bike but a puncture just over half way round her 11k course saw her having to run with the bike several kilometres to get back to the changeover point where she then had to go out for the run section of nearly 3k but showing true determination she put in a great time of 23.27 for the run and finally crossed the line to claim her much deserved medal.
The black and yellow stripes of Boston Community Runners were in action the length of the country over the weekend. With varying distances available from a woodland walk through to a marathon saw thousands of runners descend on the New Forest in Hampshire including Bostons Tanya Knight who took part in the marathon. The Multi terrain course offered runners one of the most scenic running experiences in the country. A stunning blend of forest enclosures, New Forest villages, open roads, far reaching views and of course the famous New Forest Ponies. The first half of the course was relatively flat which was quite surprising with the second half rather more undulating. Despite not being 100% fit Tanya was very pleased to complete the course in a time of 4hrs 15mins which has set her up nicely for her 24hr challenge in a couple of weeks time.
Moving up the country saw Jayne Wallis and Clare Teesdale tackle the Newtons Fraction Half Marathon. Blue skies and warm sun made for a warm race but the Northerly head wind at varying turns reminded the runners that Autumn was upon them. The runners headed out of Grantham into the Lincolnshire countryside and onto the Grantham to Nottingham Canal towpath for nearly 3 miles to Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, taking in a couple of long testing hills along the way before returning back into the stadium for a ‘grandstand’ finish. Both Jayne and Clare had superb runs and both finished inside their target times with Jayne crossing the line in 2.15.34 and Clare coming home in 2.24.05
Further up the country it was the famous Great North Run with over 50 thousand competitors taking part. This half marathon draws people from all over the world to both take part and to watch. Beth Lines and Lesley Buswell were in the starting field along with Britains Mo Farah albeit a little further back in the pack! The Boston runners had an amazing time and both were saying it was something that you really had to experience. A spectator lined dual carriageway was a little surreal and the support from the crowds never faltered from start to finish. Beth and Lesley both ran together for almost all the race and at the finish line Beth stopped the clock on 2.20.34 with Lesley getting a finish time of 2.21.47. Both were thrilled to have taken part on one of the biggest half marathons in the world.
The East Coast Classic 10k that took place on the 8th of September is a flat, fast, seafront 10k, which was traffic free and definitely a PB course. The race started outside the lifeboat station on Mablethorpes prom and followed a route along the seafront past Sutton-on-sea and reached as far as Sandilands before turning and following the same route back to the spectator lined finish. The weather was bright and breezy on the coast although the back wind that helped the runners on the outward journey turned into a headwind on the way back that made the runners dig deep.
Boston Community Runners had a very successful turnout with 27 runners taking part. It was Rob Cross who was the first club runner back and he took 10th place overall in a PB time of 39.40. Trevor Byng was just two minutes behind him in 41.34. Beckie Dawson was next, her first attempt at this race and a time of 42.12 was enough to secure her the 1st Lady home prize. Steven Roberts came next (45.29) followed by Katie Cooper (49.15) with Adrian Carder having a super run crossing the line in 50.15. Karen Hindle had a strong run finishing in 52.37 just seconds ahead of Nicolas Turner (52.42). Kimberley Pittam stopped the clock at 56.00 and Diane Houghton finished in 56.08. Steve Hubbard was back below the hour after having some time off and finished in 59.27. Dawn Cobb continues to improve and had a great run with a time of 1.02.44 getting her nearer to that sub hour time. Jackie Hallett finished in 1.04.53 and retained her trophy she won last year for the 1st Vet 65. Jessica Bland ran strongly and finished in 1.05.24 followed by Tracy MacDonald (1.06.47) Sarah Burton (1.07.42) Carole Page (1.08.06) Janet Edwards (1.08.27) Debbie Petley (1.09.39) Samantha Cross (1.09.53) Tim Burrell (1.10.04) Mary Turner (1.15.05) Carmen Clark (1.20.08) Fiona Wrisberg (1.24.13) and Diane Burrell (1.24.14). The final club runners back and getting new personal best times using the runwalkrun method was Maria Baker (1.30.38) and Angela Wilson (1.31.57) who were thrilled with their times. With seaside treats of icecream, fish 'n chips or doughnuts on offer afterwards, many runners enjoyed the rewards and stayed behind at the coast for a few hours confirming this race a firm favourite with the Boston Community Runners.
On the 15th September the Coastal Half Marathon took place and saw Clare Teesdale and Jessica Bland take part. Starting and finishing on the seafront in Cleethorpes the race wends its way inland on a route that keeps the mind occupied with twists and turns and a small amount off road! Both Boston Runners had super runs with Clare finishing in 2.19.24 and Jessica, fresh from running at Mablethorpe the previous week, finishing in a great time of 2.32.54. There was also a 5k option too and Michelle Dingwall ran with her friend Kirsty Coulson finishing in 41.56 and thoroughly enjoying the occasion. Also on the 15th was the BoX events at Belchford. A choice of cycling or running over varying distances and courses sees local landowners allowing the event to take place which raises funds for the villages around Belchford. Steven Roberts took the colours of BCR out to the hilly off-road 10K route and was pleased to finish in a time of 52.17.