London Marathon Report
Many thanks to David Chalfen for writing his report on yesterday's marathon.
It becomes harder for special things to happen in Serpie Marathoning given the high bar the guys have set but a big band of men and women cracked out some fantastic races on Sunday.
We'll start with the barrier-breaking Nick Torry; 2.16.22 at age 42, in the top handful of V40 runs EVER by British runners. If you wonder why it wasn't faster (no, I hadn't either but Mr T himself, after a 66.40 halfway split, was not in fully joyous mood post race) Nick had late race cramps and was passed late doors by a couple of Brits including the current Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. Three months ago Nick just made Top 30 at the Southern Cross. Four months ago he was closer to Couch to 5k mileage. These people don't grow on trees!
The men's team, who should shortly be confirmed as retaining their England and UK gold medals, was completed by Will Green with another PB of 2.24.18 as he heads towards his 45th birthday, and ever solid Andy Greenleaf 2.24.34 which for whatever reason was some way shy of all current fitness indicators. Let's hope he can join the sub 2.20 brigade next time out.
The back up was dazzling with a host of swift PB's, mostly by substantial margins. Nic Besson 2.25.20 - 10 seconds ahead of his own FB-stated goal; Chris Oddy 2.26.03 (allegedly some clueless old guy told him 2.28 would be top end of doable today); Scott O Connor a super 2.27.39; Xavier Gruot proving to himself that he is a proper marathoner with 2.27.55; and major advance by long term Serpie Max Bontoft to 2.27.57. The sub 2.30 posse was rounded off by Martin O Connell 2.29.13.
With times that in 98 per cent of clubs would be the headline grabbers we had Patrick Tongue 2.33.28; a big step forward by V40 James Hartop 2.34.00, Georgy Dzhgarkava 2.37.23; and further strong V40 runs by David Mohring 2.38.55 and Jeremy Agnew 2.42.03.
Some major leaps forward by numerous women too; Anna Lawson led them home in 2.55.52, a great performance off an 84 half PB; Catie Meyer clocked 2.56.18 just 13 days after a big 2.53 PB in Boston. Ahlem Ben Gueblia hacked into her own PB with 3.02.47, so the women's team time was the quickest for several years though as UK standards move forwards not yet in the medal frame. Next year though....Also piling on the PB's were Lauren Roe 3.04.01 and first v40 Jacqueline O Connor 3.04.16.
If you are looking for inspiration in your own running, hopefully you can find it here.
David Chalfen
Update: our men's team have been confirmed as team champions:
https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/news/england-marathon-team-results-announced/
Tom Poynton
running@serpentine.org.uk
Submitted: 29 April 2019