Roding Valley Half Marathon: Sunday, 3 March 2013
The alchemy of the Roding Valley Half Marathon transformed the atmosphere at Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies clubhouse from one of quiet bustle and apprehension in the build up to the 9.00 a.m. start time to one of cheerful and leisurely celebration as the 679 runners who completed the race stopped by to swap stories and gather their belongings before wending their way home. All had had to cope with starting in chilly, but thankfully still, conditions before warming up, and continuing to warm up, along the 13.1 miles of the undulating course.
It was John Franklin (Met Police AC), though, who made the lightest work of the strength-sapping hills. He had established a clear lead in completing a small circuit around Woodford before lapping many runners on the two long loops through Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill. His time of 70 mins 16 secs was a personal best according to British Athletics' records. The women's title went to Victoria Carter (V40, Serpentine RC) in a time of 88 mins 13 secs. with Harold Wyber being the first WGEL man home in an excellent 2nd. place.
As usual, the participants in the race came from far and wide, with many looking for a testing warm up for the Virgin London Marathon next month. In particular, though, the home club's marshals were impressed by the number of men and women competing for both East London Runners and Ware Joggers. There will doubtless be much comparing of notes in those clubhouses this week. A number of those notes may include details of the free jelly baby feeding station that was being run by two tiny girls at their garden gate in Buckhurst Hill.
Harold Wyber, like John Franklin, had little company in racing to second place. However, Bertie Powell was only narrowly beaten to third place by Sam Pictor (unattached), with just 5 seconds separating them at the finish line. Lorcan Murphy (U20) soon followed and will be encouraged by his time of 76 mins 11 secs on stepping up to the half marathon distance. Gareth Cavell won the men's V40 category by finishing in eighth place (77 mins 4 secs). Metropolitan League regular, Alun Evans (V50), also had an age group win.
Nicola Froud (V40, Barnet & District AC) was second in the women's race with a time of 91 mins 23 secs. Lucy Owen (Trent Park RC) came in third a little more than a minute later. Clare Leckie was the 29th woman home in a time of 1hr 45 mins 46 secs.
The Club was also represented by Neil Millington, Steve Lambert, Simon Seigar, Tom Spanyol, Stuart Phillips, James Wright and Kevin Diedrick. According to our on-course reporter, Spanyol, although in cracking form, is clearly understudying Lambert when it comes to hamming it up on hills.