A Weekend of 10ks
10k was the distance of choice for any LERC runners this weekend, with the Heanor 10k “Pudding Run” taking place right on our doorstep and, for the more adventurous, the Leeds Abbey Dash also being held.
4 athletes made the trip to Leeds, where they joined a mass participation run along a very flat and notoriously fast course. The Abbey Dash attracts some of the best runners in the country on an annual basis such is the PB potential of the route, and this year was no exception, with a winning time a superb 29:29 and a further 5 runners under the magical 30 minute barrier. Our very own Andy Peat produced an astonishing personal best of 31:41 to place a brilliant 47th, really put himself among some top class opposition and move further up the LERC all-time list. PBs are becoming commonplace for Andy in 2012, but to knock over a minute off an already impressive time recorded at the Wilne 10k really takes some doing. Paul Lewis also made the trip to Leeds and showed an encouraging return to race fitness, recording a solid 33:17, which hints that his best days are still ahead of him, while Andy McNeill, who was targeting the race, managed to win the M45 age group with a season’s best of 33:23, his best time in the M45 age group. The sole women’s representative was the indefatigable Jackie Mather, who was 3rd W50 in a time of 42:06, a season’s best of her own.
Not surprisingly, given the location, the number of LERCers undertaking the pudding run was somewhat larger, with 24 runners and an even split of men and women. Despite the challenging nature of the course, there was an encouraging number of personal bests, which suggests that there is even more to come when flat races are undertaken providing everyone eats their Christmas puds in sensible fashion.
Adam White, having ran well at the recent English Cross Relays, was first back for LERC in 7th with a PB of 35:32 and it can’t be too long before he threatens the 35 minute barrier. Ian Chant, undertaking the pudding run for the first time, also ran strongly to claim a top 20 finish, while Pete Webb was agonisingly close to breaking 40 minutes, missing out by a mere second. There were also course bests for Dave Riley, Mark Hudson and Tim Peverett, while Bob Warburton celebrated his birthday with a run round Shipley Park.
For the women there was another glut of CBs and PBs. Jodie Smith led the charge, placing 137th in a time of 44:27, more than 5 minutes quicker than last year, while Cath Rowe also produced her best run over the course, running well under the 50 minute mark. Nina Iacovitti and Carrie Chan were rewarded with new 10k personal bests, while Jane Newbold, Laura Froggatt and Karen Preston all recorded their best outings for this particular route.
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