Cirencester Athletics and Triathlon Club

London Marathon, 26.2 miles road.

ROB FORBES crossed the iconic London Marathon finishing line in an impressive 211st place demonstrating his talent for running on roads as well as on trails.

After a fast start Rob (2:37.36) settled into consistent running to complete the 26.2 miles more than two minutes ahead of his target. Hopefully the club record of 2:26.23, set by Mike Smith in 2000, will provide him with a target for the future.

Nick Wall’s marathon started with equally consistent running, putting him well-placed to achieve his sub-four-hour target but around mile 22 an old calf injury forced him to seek treatment from a physio.

He then hobbled the last four painful miles which took real courage to come in under four and half hours.

Our two club places went to Andy Fellows, who had to stay home nursing a cold and ear infection, and Barbara Thomas who slowed steadily but finished with some 5000 behind her.

RESULTS: 1, Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya) 2:05.49; 211, Rob Forbes (Cirencester AC) 2:37.36; 20,438, Nick Wall 4:29.18; 34,129; Barbara Thomas 5:38.52. 39,343 finished.

Wonderland Caucus Run, Samphire Hoe, Kent, 37.5 miles trail.

ALL other club members were clearly too glued to their television sets to find any other races making Sunday a one-race day.

But on Saturday, Martin Croucher’s search for long distance training events in his build-up to the 56-mile Comrades race took him to Kent where he ran a confidence-building 37.5 miles in just over six hours.

Martin, looking comically over-dressed in order to simulate the likely African temperatures, was one of only two runners able to squeeze 10 laps in before the cut-off time, in an event where runners can choose to run any multiple of a 3.75-mile lap.

RESULTS: 1, Anthony Moore (unattached) 5:55.13; 2, Martin Croucher 6:07.04. Two finished.

Parkruns

IAN BARRETT (17.23) won an increasingly popular Stonehouse Parkrun, Steve Yates(19.03) was seventh in Swindon where Rachel Ranger (23.15), Sharon O’Keeffe(29.16) and Nina Lawrence(33.38) all set new PBs.

Nina proved her training progress by knocking more than two minutes from her previous best.

Also at Swindon a tardy Simon Campbell(24.01) started his race with the double buggy in the car park and Dave Moss (26.33) took it easy.

Ruth Fulford (28.25) gained her usual age-group win trying out the Chipping Sodbury Parkrun and Denise Ewbank (28.29) held her time at Cheltenham. It is worth noting that Rob Forbes' time for the first 5k of the London Marathon (17.36) would have earned him first place at both Chipping Sodbury and Cheltenham.

Stonehouse Parkrun, 5km trail.

1, Ian Barrett (17.23). 119 finished.

Chipping Sodbury Parkrun, 5km trail.

1, Sam Cotterell (unattached) 17.53; 211, Ruth Fulford 28.25 (first FV65). 398 finished.

Cheltenham Parkrun, 5km trail.

1, George Watson (Cheltenham Harriers) 18.07; 259, Denise Ewbank 28.29. 458 finished.

Swindon Parkrun, 5km trail.

1, Matt Raymond (Warwick University AC) 16.57; 7, Steve Yates 19.03 (first MV45); 101, Rachel Ranger 23.15; 131, Simon Campbell 24.01; 208, David Moss 26.33; 282, Sharon O'Keeffe 29.16; 401, Nina Lawrence 33.38. 506 finished.