The main event of the weekend was the return of the Virgin London Marathon after an absence of almost two and a half years, with 40,000 lucky runners pounding the streets of London and a similar number running the virtual marathon.
Mark Harriott completed his 26.2 miles around London in a strong 3:19 hrs. Kathryn Adams completed the event in a time of 3:54.27 hrs, just ahead of Judith Matthews who finished in a time of 4:05.30. Martyn Candy came home in a time of 5:37.10.
Friend of the club Ashley Baldwin made it round the streets of London in a superb time of 2:40.09 hrs.
Closer to Wayne King ran the virtual London marathon along the roads of Staffordshire and Warwickshire completing in a strong 3:21.43 hrs. Bob Donovan also completed the virtual marathon in a time of 5:29.37.
The Chester marathon also took place on Sunday with Malcolm Bembridge finishing in a time of 3:54.51 hours and picking up not one but two medals in the process, one for his marathon and the other for completing the Chester Triple series, having already completed the Chester 10k and Chester Half Marathon in recent weeks.
On Saturday morning Parkrun was as usual well supported. Kingsbury Water parkrun was as usual the best supported event with Lawrence Williamson was first home for the club in a very respectable time of 18.51 mins. Mike Shelton was next home in a decent 21.37 mins. He was followed by Darren O’Leary (24.17 mins) and Ashley Goodman (25.00), who finished just ahead of Stuart Hatton (25.01). Stella Martin was the first lady Peeler home in 26.22 ahead of Marcus Fairburn (26.49), Claire Guffick (29.09), Clara Walton (29.36), Jackie Tierney (30.18), Ann Hill (32.24), Lee Guffick (37.06), Christine Norris and Alison Dolphin (both 45.38). Thanks also go to George Hope and Mike Shelton for volunteering to support the running of the event.
Several Peelers were on their travels, with Tim Mudd finishing in 29.38 at Congleton parkrun, Andrew Pickard finishing the Concord Sheffield event in 22.33 mins and Garth Cox recording 23.23 mins at the Chasewater event. Tanya Murphy completed the Oaklands parkrun in 29.24 mins while Sophie Galloway ran the Beacon Park Lichfield event in 27.22 mins and Michael Stevenson cantered home at Warwick Racecourse in a time of 30.25 mins.
