Race report by Jo Holl
Several traccies turned out to the 39th Wingham 5/10k race, a club champs race. The weather forecast was absolutely horrible, with wellies rather than race shoes seeming appropriate, but as it happened we were very lucky.
Nothing about this race is flat, but the start and finish being at the same place helped manage expectations. Just as a guide Garmin watches were showing 37 sets of stairs were climbed! There were some very slippery downhills, where rollerblades would have been handy!
As usual there were some great performances. Oliver Regan was second home, with an amazing time of 36:25
Janice believes this was her fastest race for a while.
Jo Holl, now in her 60s came in 4th lady and 1st V60 but didn’t get a trophy because the race timer thought a woman in her 60s couldn’t have a 10km time like that and assumed she had dropped down to the 5k!
Tim Kerr deserves mention. He’s not 100% at the moment and his positivity and determination are inspiring.
Results listed below.
Oliver Regan – 36:25 (2nd overall)
Jay Bailey – 40:17 (10th overall)
Jamie Hipgrave – 40:33
Mark Croucher – 43:52
Mark Skelton – 46:17
Jo Holl – 47:03 (1st V60, 4th lady)
Dean Dunk – 47:04
Steve Forshaw – 47:09
Dave Davey – 47:16
Craig Thake – 48:49
Pete Heath – 55:24
Jon Holl – 56:39
Tim McLellan – 56:50
Janice Lee-Miller – 58:42
Andy Whitnell – 59:20
Sarah Bailey – 59:56
Anna Harrison – 1:00:42
Aleksandra Pilchta – 1:02:10
Tim Kerr – 1:13:01
From Jamie Hipgrave –
“First Wingham 10k for me, and first race since the relays ended, good to join the start line again, great course and well organised as always for Sporting Events. Hills were short, but a fair few of um for the distance! DOM’s were in full force from Thursdays track session! Great day and happy with the result!
Jamie
From Craig Thake – After finishing Mt Ephrahim unable to walk I was a bit unsure whether I would even make this event but a test 5k at Margate suggest I would be fine. However, all the dead skin came off on Thursday so foot was so tender. Nonetheless I lined up and felt good for the first 6k – then Dave Davey and Jo Hull flew past me and the pain in the foot increased (psychological I suspect) looking forlornly at the light blue dots in the distance. I made it to the finish and can still walk so thumbs-up. I do like this course and unlike Pete (not sure on surname) didn’t look like I had been fighting on the Somme.
From Pete Heath – He slipped on the mud and fell over (heavily edited)
Officially, yes was a pretty good race, same as it was when I did it last in the pre covid years. The course is always a ‘first half challenge ‘ that gets easier towards the end. There was a good selection of traccies there, and the highlight was Ollie Regan finishing second, and Jo Holl finishing 4th lady, which at 60 is something she and we as a club should celebrate.
From Janice Lee-Miller – Wingham 10k… first time I’ve run this race. Expected rain and hills…… no rain landed on my head and the hills were sooo much better than my last race Mount Ephraim. Gorgeous countryside, horses and an amazing hot chocolate at the finish….. would do this one again for sure! Also hit my best ever 10K time!
From Andy Whitnell – It was tough very hilly – more ups than downs. Was glad when the end came. Weather conditions were ideal – cloudy and neither hot or cool. Just lots of hillls!
From Tim Kerr – I’ve done the Wingham 10K many times – it’s one of my favourite races, but this year, due to lack of fitness and training, I didn’t think I would be able to run the whole route. However, I was inspired a few days ago, by a Parkrun runner to give Jeffing a go. On the Saturday before the race I tried a lap of Pegwell Bay using a 1 minute on, 1 minute off, Jeffing routine. This allowed me to get my breath back during the walking phase before each short burst of running. I wasn’t sure if I could sustain this routine for the entire Wingham 10K so I felt quite anxious as I stood at the back of the pack waiting for the race to start. I didn’t want to be the last person to cross the finish line, keeping all the marshals away from their Sunday lunches. Despite my concerns the Jeffing routine worked very well for me, with just a few adjustments to the timing on the hills. I finished the race in 1:13:01, 17 minutes faster than I had anticipated! I will definitely consider Jeffing as a way forward for me, and would recommend anyone struggling with fitness, or returning to running from an injury, to give it a go.
XC deadline (28th Sept) is fast approaching. Don’t forget to sign up! Details on the website.
Next Club Champ race is the Maidstone Half Marathon on October 18th.
Club Champ points have been updated so please take a look.
All the best. Phil and Claire
