Colchester Harriers endurance athletes were spread here, there, and everywhere this weekend, as Spring racing season got into full swing. Spain is the place to start, where Paul Mingay ran a phenomenal 2:47:52 at the Zurich Marató Marathon in Barcelona. This is a new V65 British record and under six minutes behind New Zealand’s, Derek Turnball’s World record! This run comes off the back of Paul’s hattrick of medals at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sweden last August. Inspiring stuff! Simon Miller also ran strongly in Barcelona, clocking 3:57:12.

Coming back closer to home, the first round of the Essex County Road Running Championships was held at Carver Barracks with a strong Harriers presence in the twenty mile race. Heidi-Hogan Steele and Victoria Primmer topped off Essex selection by both running impressive personal bests (2:09:01 and 2:14:12 respectively) helping to lead Team Essex to second place in the Inter County Invitational Event. With the inform Kate Creak running a personal best of 2:11:39 and securing the female V40 prize to seal the team victory for Colchester Harriers in the Essex team event. In the men’s race, there were strong runs from Allen Smalls (2:13:23), as he topped the V55 category and Colin Ridley (2:15:37) finishing third in the V60 age group. Other Harriers runners participating were Ben Whyte running an impressive 2:00:29 personal best as he builds towards London marathon. Chris Goad (2:10:51). Matt Davey (2:19:50) and Muriel Lovering (3:10:46).

Even closer to home it was our hometown (city) Colchester Half Marathon, with a record-breaking entry of three thousand five hundred runners, including forty-six Colchester Harriers. The race both starting and finishing at promotion chasing Colchester United’s stadium. With pleasant spring conditions and a north-easterly wind blowing the runners home down Boxted Straight Road, there were some impressive performances. In his debut for the club, Mohammed Elbayan had a strong run in the lead pack for much of the race to finish in fifth position in 70:10. Other Harriers at the sharp end of the race were James Morley in sixth (71:02), Andy Risk in eighth (74:37) and Cameron Humphries in twelfth (77:06). On the women’s side, Holly Weir took a podium place finishing in third position in a fantastic time of 87:37. Emily Worboys and Daisy Hilson also finished in the top twenty clocking 95:25 and 96:28, respectively. A notable mention to the ‘Banana Splits’ – Finley Greenleaf, Jake Phillips and Sean Eales who ran the race dressed as bananas to raise over £800 for The Brain Tumor charity. Splendid work, chaps.

Moving onto another half marathon and this time the Fleet Half, where Dean Williamson, building towards the London marathon, ran 67:41 to take a commanding victory. Kim Bowling also had a strong run finishing in sixth in a time of 69:02. The rapidly improving Chris Ryan running a four-minute PB to take twentieth place in 72:22.

Finally, across the other side of the world, Roanna Vickers took top spot in the 3,000 metres Steeplechase at the Queensland Athletics Championship, Australia in a time of 12.05.39. Also, running the 1,500 metres the previous day clocking 4.57.