St Valentine Stamford 30k

On a lovely sunny crisp morning 14 Long Eaton Running club members made their way over to take part in the 20th Stamford St Valentines 30k, that’s 18.64 miles!
A recognised tough event providing good training for those runners training for spring marathons and with entries of 750 it fills up fast bringing a vast variety of runners travelling some distance to this event.
12 of our runners are training for the following marathons and some of them their first. The only runners not training for a marathon were Leanne Smith and Mark Harrison, unless Mark has booked one for them both!

The course is like a large frying pan, running out and back the handle and a big loop through various small villages.
Starting at Queen Eleanor School, heading out towards Little Casterton, Tolethorpe, Ryhall, Careby, Pickworth and Great Casterton on a challenging rural undulating route.
Excellent facilities at the school for changing, refreshments and even masseurs for a pre / post race recovery.
As everyone registered, it was odd to get the finishing t-shirt before the race but a great long sleeved top nevertheless

As LERC took to the start line, only 3 runners had done this race before and everyone else was taking on the Stamford 30k for the first time.
With chip timing runners all crossed the start line and the sun was out as they headed out on the course.
The event was well marshalled, with drinks stations every 5k and plenty of jelly babies, Welcome to Scotland, Welcome to Wales and Welcome back into England with runners not realising they’d crossed countries but perhaps feeling they had!
Along the way were also 1k markers with funny anecdotes to motivate or make you laugh then at 15k, half way some cheers and a clock to spur you on.
One of the 1st marshal teams were playing Mr Blue Sky and the music followed throughout the marshal points with great encouragement and cheers

The overall 1st male runner in was from Stuart Spencer of Notts AC in a time of 1:43:58 and 1st Lady Phillipa Taylor of Stamford Striders in at 2:00.06 with a total of 603 finishers on the day.

Natalie Teece completed the course in 2:03:50 was 1st in for Long Eaton Running club and 2nd lady and in the top 50 overall (position 42), having ran this before she also smashed her course best and pb by over 23 minutes. Natalie exceeded her own expectations of around 2:07 mentioned before the start of the race. Well done Natalie who is training for London Marathon.

Rob Allen 2nd overall and 1st male for Long Eaton running club with a debut of 2:14:23, Phil Abbott back onto form after injury 2nd LERC male 2:18:34 and Mark Hudson 2:22:11 with a course best and pb by 6 minutes. Michael Lockwood made his debut and longest run to date in 2:29:07 and Mark Harrison with a debut of 2:32:14. Rachel Argent, 2nd lady in for LERC with a debut of 2:40:12 and Aaran Kirk also a debut in 2:47:42 and his longest run to date with a kiss on his way to the finish to celebrate!

Here comes the girls all with a debut, Vicky Mycroft 2:52:32 with her longest run to date after picking herself up after a fall and Carrie Chan 2:56:30 who didn’t let a foot issue get in her way. Jane Newbold 2:57:50 and then for their longest runs to date Sarah Priestley 2:58:38, Leanne Smith 3:03:22 and Laura Froggatt 3:12:33. Well done to Laura who around mile 7/8 nearly had to pull out because of a knee issue.

With a big finish and the only downside being the loop of the sports field, all were rewarded with a goody bag, love hearts, bananas and drinks.
Post race refreshments were available but our Jane made delicious cakes as a reward for all to enjoy

Congratulations to all, fantastic results and for everyone’s determination on the day
Good luck ahead for those who are marathon training, with this race under their belt for confidence going forward.



This report was brought to you by woolly

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