Sarah Marzaioli of Hastings Runners only started to run in her early 50s. In 2001 Sarah ran her first London Marathon.
Slowly but surely she began to tot up the Marathons and the idea of achieving the unthinkable became a real possibility.
Since that first appearance in the capital nearly 20 years ago, Sarah has completed 15 London Marathons. 2020 was set to be a special year.
Not only would it have been her 16th time of crossing that famous finish line down The Mall, but it would have seen Sarah join the 100 Marathon Club.
Sadly the race was postponed, but Sarah already had a backup race planned. So whilst she didn’t have the experience of the fans cheering her home, she did reach the milestone of 100 Marathons in The Moyleman, a memorial race over the South Downs and around Lewes.
Why stop there? Even with races cancelled Sarah is keen to continue her passion for running. On the 4th October, she will take part in the Virtual London Marathon. Sarah has plotted a route from Eastbourne to Rye to cover the 26.2 miles.
The course passes by the RNLI Lifeboat stations at Eastbourne, Hastings and Rye Harbour. Sarah is raising money for this great charity by taking on this latest challenge.
So if you are inspired by Sarah continuing to run Marathons in her 70s, then please find it in your hearts to make a small donation and help this wonderful cause.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RNLI AND HELP SARAH REACH HER TARGET.
RYE SUMMER CLASSIC SERIES 5kms, September 4th
A tremendous club turnout for Friday’s evening 5kms in the picturesque setting of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, with 33 HRs taking part out of the field of 172.
Only the recently formed Hy Running Club, with 29 representatives, came anywhere near matching this.
First club member home was Dan Snellgrove, putting his Zoom Vaporflys through their paces in an impressive time of 18.09 (an 8secs pb); whilst there were age category wins for Darren Barzee (MV50), Neil Jeffries (MV60) and Irene Kitson (FV65).
Despite a slight headwind all the way out to the turnaround point at Winchelsea Beach, there were also pbs for all three Simons (Newstead, Linklater & Weatherley!), Ruth Spiller, Krista Barzee and a very promising 5kms debut for Elora Wadham.
Also notable runs, showing a welcome return to form, for Neil Jeffries, Marie Appleton, Sue Palmer and Marie Crawford.
The event was excellently organised by Nice Work, with race numbers sent out in advance; temperature checked on arrival in the nature reserve; social distancing observed at all times; runners sent off in 19 waves of 9 – 10 runners every 5 minutes.
Great to see some familiar club faces helping out with the organisation, including Lee & Steph Miller, Andy Bashford, Corrina Skinner and Gary Lancaster.
Chip times were: Dan Snellgrove 18.09 (pb); Darren Barzee 18.38; Simon Newstead 19.30 (pb); Andrew Watson 19.40; Danny Firth 19.46; Simon Linklater 19.49 (pb); Neil Jeffries 20.27; Kevin Blowers 21.28; Ben Sallows 21.55; Elora Wadham 23.09 (pb); Piers Brunning 23.11; Nicola Steed 23.35; Nick Brown 23.36; Simon Weatherley 24.11 (pb); Ruth Spiller 24.14 (pb); Marie Appleton 25.17; Paul Wadham 25.21; Sharon Wadham 26.24; Susan Wilkinson 26.56; Sue Palmer 26.58; Marie Crawford 27.10; Debra Van Aalst 27.33; Krista Barzee 27.43 (pb); Louise Cavill 28.28; Leigh Yates 28.57; Alison Campbell 30.31; Susan Mann 30.43; Hayley Ranson 31.04; Terry Kitson 31.11; Jo Edwards 31.32; Irene Kitson 31.47; Jenny Hudson 33.14; Alison Leonard 33.23.
Many congrats to Dan’s Destroyers whose winning time was 1.06.41; followed in by Darren’s Dynamos 1.09.13; Matt’s Marauders 1.09.41; Finlay’s Flyers 1.11.00. So the Destroyers, Flyers & Marauders all have 2 wins apiece now.
Relay no.7 will run Wednesday to Sunday evening. We have several new runners who would like to join in, but we need another couple of runners to balance up the numbers. Please email [email protected] Best wishes, Nick Brown
Dear Club Members
With the Government recently relaxing some of the rules around lockdown, the Committee want to update you on the current status of group training and whether the Club is in a position to re-introduce any officially organised club runs or training sessions.
As of 1st June, you can exercise or play sport in groups of up to six people from other households, but should only do so where it is possible to maintain a two-metre gap from those you do not live with. However this is not a sufficient easing of restrictions to allow us to reinstate any official training sessions, and current guidance from UK Athletics is that any club-sanctioned group activity should not take place.
A group larger than 6 people broken into a number of smaller groups of 6 people, training together in the same place at the same time, would, for example, be against the new rules as the gathering exceeds 6 people.
However there is no reason why individuals shouldn’t make their own arrangements to meet in groups of 6 to train together provided that they maintain the current two-metre distancing rule. We would just respectfully request that you don’t wear club vests or mention Hastings Runners when arranging training, to minimise the chances of any adverse publicity for our club in the current situation.
We will continue to keep the situation under review, taking into account any new rules and guidance from Government and England Athletics, with a view to re-instating Club sessions of some kind as soon as it is permitted and safe to do so.
In the meantime, keep safe and well.
Best wishes, Nick Brown (club chairman)
Try as it might, the weather failed to put pay to another Club Championship race and the 2020 season got underway, 19 miles along the coast in nearby Eastbourne.
Combine the wind speed of over 20 mph and one of the toughest hills you’ll find and the Eastbourne Half Marathon provided a stern challenge for the 35 Hastings Runners that competed on Sunday. It didn’t stop as many as 6 Half Marathon PB’s.
The first of those was recorded by Jethro Atherall who smashed his previous best time by 7 minutes. He came home in 1 hour 21 minutes and 37 seconds, good enough for 5th place in a remarkable effort.
Above: Paul Lambert enjoying a day out at Fort Fun.
Dale Saxby also produced a PB of 1:25:53 and came 11th place overall. Dan Snellgrove (1:26:23) and Colin White (1:27:56) both finished inside the Top 20.
The first female Hastings Runner across the line was Debbie Humbles in 1:49:20. Sarah Bendle was less than a minute behind in 1:50:08, whilst Marie Crawford produced her Half Marathon PB and was the third female home in 2:04:49.
There were also PBs for Paul Lambert (1:34:13), Simon Weatherley (2:15:35) and Louise Cavill (2:19:09).
Also worthy of a mention is Darren Owen who completed the course dressed as Mr.Potato Head in a time of 2:08:41. An easy choice for “Photo of the Week”.
We had two representatives taking part in the London Vitality Big Half. Jamie Webb produced a PB of 1:37:12 and Nathan Gooden finished in 1:42:32.
Above: Jamie Webb celebrating his PB in the Vitality Half and looking a tad scary in the process.
Jane Hughes, Ken Hughes, Julia James and Rick Burne all ran in the Cartagena 11km in Southern Spain. Jane and Julia finished 1st and 3rd in their age categories.
It was just another normal week for Marathon Queen Sarah Marzaioli who notched up marathon number 98 and 99 in the space of 4 days. London next month will be her 100th, despite only taking up running in her 50s. Please, if you haven’t already done so, celebrate this amazing achievement by making a small donation to Sarah’s worthy charity, the RNLI. CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Thanks and well done Sarah!!
CLICK HERE FOR EASTBOURNE HALF MARATHON RESULTS
If I’ve missed you off the race report or you had a PB and would like a special mention, then drop me an email at [email protected].
Simon Linklater
If there is one thing we love at Hastings Runners it’s a weekend storm!! This week it was the turn of Storm Ellen with gusts up to 50 mph in exposed parts of the region.
But once again our members put on a brave face, donned their green and black vests and did the club proud.
On Saturday morning Finlay made the long trip up to Nottingham (not on his own I should add) to run in the National Cross Country Championship at Wollaton Park. If you’ve not seen the videos on the HR Facebook group then I suggest checking them out. To suggest conditions were tough and the standard was high would be the biggest understatements of the year.
Despite competing against boys a year older, Finlay finished an excellent 11th place in a race with several hundred runners. He made up 10 places on the 2nd lap.
On Sunday, in equally challenging muddy conditions, we had 8 runners competing in the 8K Gunpowder Run in Battle. The results were as follows.
Ben Sallows 43:41, Jo Nevett 45:38, Andy Knight 49:39, Emma Stubbs 58:58, Linda Beddis 64:20, Jess Tanner 72:06, Allison Tanner 72:06, Mary Le Pla 73:24.
The wind played a big role in the Brighton Half Marathon, but remarkably 3 of our 6 runners came home with PB’s. Manami Cheves finished the race in 1:48:58. Susan Rae was close behind in 1:52:04, good enough for 3rd in her age category. I just about managed to keep my feet on the ground and get round in a PB of 1:57:25.
Also braving the testing conditions in Brighton were Stuart Woolford 1:57:00, Matthew Beaver 1:59:07 and Sarah Holmes 2:12:22.
Dan Snellgrove ran in the Wokingham Half Marathon, producing a stunning PB of 1 hour and 25 minutes.
For some of our runners, 13.1 miles isn’t nearly enough as Jacqueline Mannering, Pete Heasman and Elly Swaine were back out conquering the world by completing the Lenham Cross Winter Marathon. Wind, mud, hills. They can’t get enough. Their efforts making them a worthy winner of the photo of the week.
Danny Firth ran an excellent time of 41:06 in the Lostock 6 miler. That was good enough for 76th place in a field of 453 runners.
There was more success in Spain for Helen & Nick Brown. Helen scooped first place in the FV50 category in the El Campelio 5k, whilst Nick stood proudly at the summit of the podium by finishing 1st in the MV60 category. Just ahead of his new nemesis Andy Key.
As always, if I’ve missed a race or not given you a mention, drop me an email at [email protected] and I’ll get you added.
Well done everyone. A fantastic effort this weekend in such challenge conditions (in the UK at least).
Simon Linklater – Communications Officer
No sooner had Ciara skipped her way out of town, had her slightly less aggressive cousin Dennis popped in for a weekend visit of his own.
But we Hastings Runners are made of strong stuff and not even howling winds and persistent downpours can prevent us from taking to the streets and putting in the miles.
It was a quiet weekend on the race front with several events falling foul to “The Menace”, including the eagerly awaited Bodiam X-Country.
We did have a few runners in action. The Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon went ahead after a one hour delay. The conditions were far from ideal. On a normal day, the brutal climb up Spring Hill is a tough enough challenge. Add in the gusty winds and ankle-deep waterlogged sections of the route and it was a real slog.
Emma Stubbs gave her ever-growing Instagram following something to smile about as she completed the course in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Jessica Cull was the only other Hastings Runners to brave the conditions and crossed the line in 2:08.
The Wadham’s were back in action on Sunday, this time taking on the Tenterden 5 miler, which also survived the weather. Likewise, Paul and Sharon both completed the course unscathed. Paul in 43 minutes and 11 seconds, Sharon in 44:55, good enough to scoop first prize in her age category. GO SHAZ!!!
If you took part in a race this weekend or any date in fact, get in touch and I’ll add the details to the website. Fingers crossed Ellen doesn’t come out to play just yet.
An ill tempered Ciara put pay to the season opening Brenda Boyle Pier to Pier on Sunday. It meant it was a very quiet weekend on the racing front.
On Saturday morning the Goodman brothers proudly wore their black and white Hastings Runners tops in the Sussex Cross County Finals in Bexhill.
Oliver, racing well above his age in the Under 11s put in a fine performance to finish in the middle of the pack. Finlay continued his excellent recent form by winning the U13s race and will shortly be making an appearance in the National Finals.
Nick and Helen Brown competed in the Torre Pacheco 7km. Over 200 runners took part in temperatures of 18 degrees.
Helen finished 2nd in the FV45 category in a fantastic time of 36:54. Nick also made the podium, finishing 2nd in the MV55 in a very quick time of 30:01.
636 female runners took part in the North Beach parkrun in Durban at the weekend. Why is he telling us this?
Well in 3rd place out of those 636 runners was our very own Susan Rae.
If anyone takes part in a race that I miss, feel free to drop me an email and I will add you to the weekly reports.
Simon Linklater – Communications Officer
