In recent weeks Romsey Road Runners competed in various races with some runners challenging themselves to new distances. On the 25th March Cranleigh 21 provided a good training run for several runners who are preparing for Spring marathons. Dave Gardner was very happy with his new personal best, finishing in a great time of 2hr 45mins closely followed by Jo McKenzie and Becky Tovey in 3hr
5mins. Meanwhile, over in Wickham, Mark Stileman came 2nd overall in the inaugural Hundred Acres half marathon in a time of 1hr 23mins whilst his wife Sue completed the 5km race in 25mins.
During the Easter weekend David Nixon showed he hadn’t lost his touch in an orienteering trail event at the Cannock Chase Festival, David finished 2nd place overall. Whilst the majority of us ate Easter eggs, Alice Lane, Julie Shanker and Becky Tovey made the journey to Devon for a 4-day Coast to Coast challenge covering 117miles over 4 days. Starting in South Dartmoor and finishing in Exmoor the girls braved every element and terrain possible to successfully complete what they had started together with much relief and a massive sense of achievement. Over in the Isle of Wight, Sue Sleath had a good run in the West Wight 3 hills race, a rather muddy 8 miler finishing in 1hr 4mins and 2nd lady overall.
Romsey’s Abigail Cooke had to wait a long time to achieve her goal of completing the SDW50 (South Downs Way 50) having pulled out last year due to injury. Abi was extremely happy to lay the ghost to rest this year, her patience and training paid off, when on the 8th April she flew round the tough “50mile” course from Worthing to Eastbourne in a fantastic time of 9hr 50mins. Keeping up the long-distance theme Francesca Hough completed her first Ultra, the Test Way Ultra, a 44mile route from Coombs Gibbet along the rather muddy Test Way to Totton. Francesca finished in a great time of 10hr 47mins.
Romsey wrapped the results up with some personal bests in the ever-popular Salisbury 10miler. First home for the club was Mark Stileman in 1hr 1min, closely followed by Alex Prinsep in 1hr 5mins and Ian Winkworth taking 5 minutes off his PB to finish in 1hr 7mins. It was Keith Morris’ first attempt at this distance he was pleased with his time finishing in 1hr 19min. Liz Prinsep also gained a new personal best in 1hr 24mins, Katy Winkworth debuted at the distance finishing in 1hr 26mins, followed by Sue Stileman returning from injury in 1hr 33mins.
At the Bournemouth 10k, Mary Nixon made it round in a fantastic 1h 3mins.