Oxford Half 2016

by Jo Sharples

The 2016 Vitality Oxford half marathon was to be my first 13.1 this year, having raced nearly every other distance. It is also my second time at this event, but my first time running this course as they’d revised the course last year. My previous experience in 2014 had the race starting in the Kassam Stadium and also included the Iffley Road running track where Sir Roger Bannister ran his famous sub-4min mile. I had loved everything about that race, so this year’s had a lot to live up to. read more

By Kas Gardner

I was a bit nervous going into the Silverstone Half Marathon as this was the first, and probably only, real test of how my marathon training for the Boston Marathon was going. I suffered a bit from overtraining syndrome earlier on in the week which had meant I really backed off the training this week in order to be fit to go for it at Silverstone. I would love to have gone sub-1:45 for the first time but I honestly didn’t know if I could do it.

The race magazine had said that you should be parked up in the car park by 10:30 am, and I’d heard reports that it was a nightmare to get into Silverstone. My friend Karen and I decided to volunteer at Milton Keynes junior parkrun and then leave straight from there. But because we travelled to Silverstone via Buckingham and the Stowe road we were in the car park less than half an hour after we left Milton Keynes – while others were queuing from the Towcester direction we just breezed straight in. read more

By Elliot Hind I’ve entered the ballot for the London marathon for the past few years and been unsuccessful; it is something I’ve really wanted for longer than I can remember.

I’ve only run one marathon (Brighton 2014 in 3.28) and had made it my 2015 goal to qualify for London on a ‘Good For Age’ time of under 3.05.  I entered the MK Marathon and the Kent Roadrunner marathon and was feeling confident that with training I could get under that time.  Unfortunately, disaster struck in December 2014 as a tackle on the football pitch destroyed my ankle ligaments and put an end to my marathon dream; I was crushed.  I was at a real low for a long time and in all honesty I wasn’t nice to be around. read more

by Adam Haylock

• Rubbish week training
• Stayed up all night watching boxing.
• Got up late
• Drove to MK in a cold car that was overheating.
• It was, rainy, muddy, cold, miserable
• Good 5 miles, running with Tom I in 30.30
• Legs turned to Jelly, ran the rest at training pace
• Got outsprinted by a girl
• Cost me £60
• I am now retired and going to grow a mullet.

Highlights:

IG is on fire

Jordan can still run fast with little training

Tom is strong

Tim is now faster than Adam

Sam is set to have a record breaking 2016

Katie did well with no training

Lynn & Jo did amazing.

Richard Inchley was first70 (I think)

I had beers in the evening

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