Top left - Thunder Run - Simon, Alastair, Matt P.

Top right - Thunder Run - Martin

Bottom left - Thunder Run - Matt, Patrick, Grania

Bottom right - Leicester 5k - Chris, Ruth, Karen H, Karen B, Andy

Ivanhoe Runners ventured into endurance territory this week with several members taking part in the legendary Thunder Run, a 24 hour relay event for individuals or team combinations. Also a tough event on a hilly 10k course, this year the conditions were dreadful with heavy rain making the course extremely muddy and sticky, with most competitors claiming it was the hardest ever conditions.

There was one wholly Ivanhoe team, the Ivanhoe Knights, consisting of Matt Pleass, Matt Brocklehurst, Patrick Horn, Alastair Burgwin and Simon Hill. Several of these athletes completed an amazing six 10k laps across the 24 hours, with Alastair Burgwin doing the final lap after Patrick Horn's penultimate lap. With no results yet available, the team believe they finished a brilliant 8th in the five-man team category. Grania Towle was team captain for a composite Ivanhoe Brewers team including both running club and work colleagues, and led from the front as she completed five laps through the day and night, including the first and penultimate ones. Ivanhoe stalwart Martin Yeomans completed the final leg and his sixth leg to clock up over 36 miles, while fellow Ivanhoe Runner Helen Finn also played a key role in the team. Finally, Mark Parker and Emily Partridge were part of a mixed team, slightly disadvantaged when Mark picked up an injury while running his second leg, but the team completing the event nevertheless.

In the Leicester 5k Midweek evening race series, an Ivanhoe ladies team of Karen Bell, Karen Hartland and Ruth Cousin won the ladies team prize against stiff opposition from Badgers. The team packed well, with male Chris Trzcinski first home for Ivanhoe in 23rd in 22.14, followed by Bell in 26th in 22.30, Hartland 32nd in 23.28, Andy Lindley 39th in 24.25 and Cousin 42nd in 24.37, great running by all.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated on 24/07/2017