News from South London Harriers
March 18th, 2007: Finchley 20 Report
Posted by Chris Phelan at 5:00 pmRead Pippa’s report below on the Finchley 20 and the outstanding performance of Ruth Hutton in winning her category in an amazing time:
Since I knew Ruth was planning to do the Finchley 20, I decided to join her. We had both been (mis)informed that this was a nice flat route, of 4 laps of 5 miles. But I must admit I was a bit dubious when I drove to the start, as I had seen seen “caution runners” signs on a stretch of very undulating road, so I wasn’t expecting a good time.
Ruth told me she was hoping to do about 2:18 or just under, as would squeeze under 3 hour marathon pace, and to be honest, I was just hoping to get round in one piece.
The course proved to be very challenging - it was both hilly,and extremely windy. My only other experience of racing 20 miles has been in Worthing, and to be honest this was a much tougher course. (And that’s not just me saying that, I heard a number of other runners saying the same).
Ruth went off in her usual speedy fashion, but I felt pretty confident I would catch her as I was convinced she had gone off far too fast.
I was pretty pleased as I felt OK the whole way round, and even managed to run even splits, so considering I had been unwell, I was happy with my 2:17:51.
Unfortunately Ruth didn’t get her 2:18, because she had an absolutely fantastic run, and finished in 2:13:40 ish, which should comfortably give her a sub 3 hr marathon. I don’t think she could quite believe how well she had done. She was 3rd W overall, and 1st Vet, and I was 2nd Vet.
Also running from SLH were Andrew Aitken and Richard Davis in times of 2:07 and 2:19.
Pippa
Posted in Road Running
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