The London Marathon took centre stage in the sporting calendar on Sunday, as tens of thousands of runners and supporters descended on the capital. Amongst them were Tonbridge Athletic Club members, ranging from experienced athletes to some making their marathon debuts.
Jay Smith (photo) was first home for the club running 2.30.51 to improve his personal best by more than four minutes. He passed halfway in a fraction under 74 minutes and was on target for a sub 2.30 clocking for most of the distance. However, like many of the runners the last few miles along the Embankment slowed him, being into a headwind. Smith only joined the club earlier this year, but has shown that he is a prolific trainer and had already produced a series of impressive races over shorter distances for the club. Smith will join the veteran age group category early in the new year when he turns 40.
Ben Cole, despite having missed a few weeks of training preparation, due to injury, decided to race and recorded 2.40.10, as he looks to get back to his best form. Luke Reeves was making his marathon debut at 22 years of age and paced the marathon superbly, running 83.19 for the first half and 83.06 for the second, for an overall time of 2.46.25. Adam Tibbals ran a new personal best of 2.51.37.
Julian Rendall, who is a regular at the London Marathon, decided to set himself the new challenge of obtaining a Guinness Book of Records mark. The aim was to break the record for the fastest ever marathon wearing pyjamas, which he achieved by running 2.51.45, improving the previous best by sixteen minutes.
Ben Hepden was next home, setting a personal best of 2.53.51, with Tom Woolley recording 2.56.30, whilst the latest recruit to Tonbridge AC, Philippa Robinson ran 3.29.32. Penny Pilbeam recorded 3.32.02 and Elise Rendall 3.56.54, whilst Pearl Pearce set a new pb of 4.04.23. The final club member home was Clare Moses, who made her marathon debut in 4.22.56.
The only other competitive action came from the USA, where George Duggan won the men’s race at the Charles Bowles Willamette Cross Country Meeting, at Salem, Oregon. Duggan showed that he is returning to full fitness, after a track season thwarted by injury, as he won the 8km race by 10 seconds in 24.39.
This coming weekend Tonbridge AC teams are due to take part in the National Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield.