Unfortunately for the nine brave Viking Striders who contested the 20 mile road race at Spenborough in West Yorkshire, the race wasn’t last Sunday, when conditions were positively pleasant for running, but the Sunday before, when gales blew and snow, hail and sleet lashed anybody daft enough to be out in it. 

So far as most of the Striders were concerned, the race was supposed to be a relatively gentle training run in preparation for the big one next month, the London Marathon.  The undulating Spen course is never easy at the best of times, but throw in the weather conditions and it becomes an ordeal of gigantic proportions.  On a day when everyone was a hero for just surviving it, it seems unfair to pick out individual performances, but Simon Griffin’s 5^th place in a field of nearly 200 was simply exceptional, as was Julie Masterman’s victory in her age group by over eight minutes. 

Everyone else ran so well it points to the best overall London performance for years, none of it achieved without a great deal of hard work, especially when you consider that many of the Striders have had to battle through injury problems to get here.  Sandy Midgley and Richard Anness deserve a special mention in this regard, Richard in particular celebrating his return to form with an excellent personal best at the very tough Ackworth Half Marathon last Sunday. 

Striders times: Simon Griffin 2.10.24, Martin Midgley 2.22.49, Julie Masterman 2.32.51, Dave Pullman 3.05.27, Richard Anness 3.07.09, Sandy Midgley 3.10.00, Alison Hoggarth 3.11.08, Karen Mitchell and Dot Pullman both 3.19.34.