London Marathon Results Harborough AC

Amongst the more than 40,000 runners taking part in this years London Marathon last Sunday were five members of Harborough AC who were taking on the gruelling challenge of completing 26.2 miles in one of the world’s most iconic races.

All five acquitted themselves proudly finishing the course with some impressive times. Keith Matthews dipped under the 3.20.00 mark running a well judged 3.19.45 in the M40-44 race. Hazel O’Connell in the W45-49 group sped through the course in a PB 3.25.47 which placed her 136^th in her category. Rich Hudson (M50-54) recorded a time of 3.33.08 with club colleague Maisie Ogier, who competed in the senior female category, clocking 4.01.21.

The club’s final competitor on the day, Carmel Perrin, had been successful in securing a place in the event by being first out of the hat in the club ballot for entries which took place earlier in the summer. She took full advantage of that stroke of luck though her time of 4.59.44 had nothing to do with luck but, as with her fellow club colleagues, was a result of months of intense training leading up to the 26-mile challenge.

After the race Carmel shared her own personal strategy for dealing with the huge demands the marathon places on mind and body saying, “when it hurt I tried to smile a bit more!”

Heading off to the opposite end of the country on the same day Kevin Dinsdale recorded a fine performance in the Loch Ness Marathon finishing in 3.49.29. His time placed him 50^th in the M50 category. Also in action over the shorter 10k distance Gary Hodgkins’ run of fine form continued as he finished first male masters in the West Pinchbeck 10k setting a new PB of 39.05 for the distance.