This weekend saw a strong turn out for Ivanhoe Runners at the Leicester full and half marathons. Four members took on the challenge of the full 26.2 mile distance and all finished impressively. Alistair Chambers was first home in an excellent time of 3:09 placing him 33rd overall and 4th in his age group. Next came Tim Sturla and Ian Kirk, both running their 10th marathon of the year and finishing very strongly together in 3:43:48 and 3:43:49 (154th and 155th places). Andy Pawley was next completing his first ever marathon with a fine run to come home in 4:38. There were some equally pleasing results in the half marathon distance with Mike Trott first home in an excellent 17th place in 1:22:43. Next came Osian Flowers, running very well in his first race at this distance for over a year, to cross in 91st place in 1:32:01 just aheadof Kev Wright who was 94th but with a faster chip finishing time of 1:31:46 – a great run for Kev following the Birmingham half last week. Andy Lindley was next shaving 2 seconds off his personal best as he finished 115th in 1:33:39 followed by Nick Lee-Smith with a good run (1:41:38, 303rd).  Fastest Ivanhoe lady was Karen Bell, 75th lady and 532rd overall in 1:48:06. Ruth Green was next, paced to a pleasing new personal best of 1:52:20 (666th) by Julia Blewitt-Jenkins in a great supporting role (667th in 1:52:19). Victoria Smith started well but faded slightly, finishing in 1:54:28 (755th) just ahead of Amanda Bradbury, 762nd in 1:54:37. Next came Rebecca Wilkinson (1:55:45) and Chris Finney (1:53:22) who crossed together in 774th and 775th, with Chris having the faster time as he started further back. Heather Swan was next and the last Ivanhoe Runner to dip under the two hour mark with a brilliant run, 1012thin 1:59:57 just ahead of Teresa Talbott who finished 1014th in 2 hours dead. Andy Wilkinson was next, struggling slightly inn the second half after a fast start, coming home 1315th in 2:07:47. Seran Bradley rounded off the team with a fine new personal best of 2:06:54 in 1466th place.

Written by Ruth Green - last updated on 02/11/2014