Showing posts with label FRECKLETON HALF MARATHON RESULTS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FRECKLETON HALF MARATHON RESULTS. Show all posts
Monday, 18 June 2012
Freckleton Half Marathon
I crossed the finish line with a lady marshal saying; I was the first person to finish with a smile on my face!
I finished in 22nd place out of almost 600 runners.
The race is the oldest Half Marathon in the UK and amazingly Ron Hill still holds the record of 1 hour 4 mins set back in the early 1960's.
It's not the fastest course for sure, a combination of a 2pm start in mid June and the deceptive gradual long uphills, makes for a challenging event.
My best time here was 81 mins a couple of years ago, so I was pleased to achieve 83 mins on a hot sunny day.
my fitness has really improved in the last couple of weeks and I'm 100% sure there is more to come!
The Freckleton Half is part of a weekend of village celebrations and as a result there is always an amazing enthusiastic local crowd out on the route to give encouragement and add to the character of the ancient event.
I set off fast on the short one mile loop of the village before heading out across the picturesque English countryside.
By 4 miles I was starting to regret my fast start as first team mate Rob McGrath then Stevie Lewis caught and passed me!
I eased up a bit to recovery then got onto the back of two guys who passed me.
By 7 miles I felt strong again and could see I was closing in on Stevie ahead.
I focused in on his back and bit by bit slowly caught him up by ten and a half miles.
We were now on the dual carriage way gradually climbing upwards.
I decided to give it everything, the heat was starting to make me feel slightly dizzy but I ignored it !
Robs back was coming into veiw, so I pushed even harder.
I was right on my limit of blowing up, but I was feeling stronger as the race went on.
Into the final half mile and I could see Rob speed up to pass a guy.
With no chance of catching my team mate I just focused on finishing strongly.
I crossed the line spot on the time I'd had in my head!
It had been a great race and a real challenge and most importantly I finished in one piece!
The progress continues!
I think now for me, real racing is more important than times!
Freckleton Half Marathon Race Results
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Southport Runners At Freckleton Half Marathon
5 SWAC runners took part in the second oldest 1/2 marathon in the country.
The course record is still held by living legend Ron Hill at 1hour 4 mins.
Rob McGrath made a welcome return to long distance running after a 2 year layoff due to a knee operation caused by a DIY accident!
Rob finished with a very good 01:30:32 in very windy conditions.
First back for the club was Stevie Lewis with 01:25:35
Paul Cane ran with a heavy cold and burned on the run[as he told me]!
Keith Lunt had a shocker, finishing well down on his hoped for time, it seems the London Marathon came back to haunt him!
I had hoped to run myself but my calf muscle is still playing up and I am now looking at a 2 - 4 week recovery!
RESULTS IN FULL CLICK HERE
The course record is still held by living legend Ron Hill at 1hour 4 mins.
Rob McGrath made a welcome return to long distance running after a 2 year layoff due to a knee operation caused by a DIY accident!
Rob finished with a very good 01:30:32 in very windy conditions.
First back for the club was Stevie Lewis with 01:25:35
Paul Cane ran with a heavy cold and burned on the run[as he told me]!
Keith Lunt had a shocker, finishing well down on his hoped for time, it seems the London Marathon came back to haunt him!
I had hoped to run myself but my calf muscle is still playing up and I am now looking at a 2 - 4 week recovery!
RESULTS IN FULL CLICK HERE
| Pos | Num | Forename | Surname | Cat | Club | ChipTime | GunTime |
| 29 | 695 | Steve | LEWIS | M35 to 39 | Southport Waterloo AC | 01:25:32 | 01:25:35 |
| 56 | 747 | Matthew | NELSON | M50 to 54 | Southport Waterloo AC | 01:30:22 | 01:30:25 |
| 57 | 238 | Robert | McGRATH | M45 to 49 | Southport Waterloo AC | 01:30:28 | 01:30:32 |
| 107 | 574 | Paul | CAIN | M40 to 44 | Southport Waterloo AC | 01:36:17 | 01:36:21 |
| 213 | 129 | Keith | LUNT | M40 to 44 | Southport Waterloo AC | 01:47:05 | 01:47:09 |
Sunday, 21 June 2009
FRECKLETON HALF MARATHON RESULTS, 13th and 1st Vet 45
Five of us made the trip to the oldest half marathon in the country, RON HILL still holds the course record of 1 hour 4 mins set back in 1964, he was here today to run his last ever half marathon [ at 70 even legends have to ease up a bit!].
Setting off from the playing fields we sprinted off on a 1 mile hilly circuit of the village, I was in for a shock as I came up to the first mile marker, 5.39 on the watch! way to fast for my current fitness level, I would pay the price latter on!
The route heads out over the rolling countryside and by 5 miles I started to blow, dropping back from the group I was in, I had to back off recover and slowly re find my rhythm.
Up to 9 miles I was running on my own until A guy came alongside me, this was enough to spur me on and I went to the front and pushed on harder, he stayed with me until 12 miles when I put the boot in and charged for home!
I finished with my fastest time in 5 years and my thanks must go out to Barry Magee, I think there is still a lot of improvement still to come!
A week last Sunday I caught a virus off my wife and felt very ill at work, Monday I ran 3 x 1 mile but my legs felt empty and the fastest I could manage was 5.38, Wed I had a great 5 k and Friday was a session of short hill sprints on the steep sandhills which I really enjoyed!
Things are progressing nicely!
p.s. just remembered I went off course [ my own fault] just before 9 miles and got called back by the marshal, losing the few precious seconds that would have given me a 80 min half and explains why the Garmin shows 13.18 miles!
photo RON HILL IN ACTION!
RESULTS
RACE DAY PHOTO'S
RON HILL on running training and life at 70
Sunday, 22 June 2008
HOPES DASHED BY 50 MPH WINDS
Freckleton half marathon/ Riders on the storm
Gale force winds reaching 50mph dashed the hopes of Rob Mcgrath and me running good times, which was a shame as the rolling course was enjoyable and the race one of the best organized and marshaled that I have run in, so a big thanks go out to Brian Porter race organizer.
Now the nasty bit! the WIND, strong enough to pull trees down, and bring runners to there knees. three times during the race i almost fell as the gusting wind pushed my legs from under me.
Inform Rob set off like a scolded cat and it took me Almost 5 miles to catch him, soon after rob got a second wind! and shot off again, not to been seen till the finish.
i found myself in a small group and we worked the best we could into the gale. It seemed to be a head wind or side on all the way to 9 miles after which we got a welcome tail wind for 3 miles, unfortunately by then my legs were well gone!
with half a mile to go we turned right straight into the teeth off the storm, this really was the final straw to break the camels back! It made you want to cry or even stop and rip your number off in disgust! some how, like every one else I soldiered on to finish in a not very respectable 1.23.04.15TH PLACE rob on the other hand put in a fine display of power to finish in a very credible 11TH 1.21.09 taking into account the dreadful conditions.
I am not sure what conclusions I can make from this race as I have never run in such atrocious conditions before, but feel disappointed with my performance! RESULTS
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