Commercial Property Solicitor Heather Brown continued her fine form and progress with a super time of 3 hrs 13 mins to make her first Bolton Harrier back in the Manchester Marathon. Heather is a fairly new recruit to Coach Dave Shaw’s group but has quickly established herself as an enthusiastic regular attendee to training. After being first lady back in the Rochdale 10k in August this legal eagle proved she can soar to new heights over the much longer iconic distance of a marathon.
Nigel Brodrick and Thomas Gore, both members of Aidie Costello’s Endurance Group at Harriers, also impressed coming home in 3 hrs 28 mins. This was a pb for new member Nigel who has looked good in his initial training sessions at the Bolton club.
Rachel Bailey showed how immensely versatile she is with an exemplary 3 hrs 45 mins. This talented young lady has been running all distances for the team this year from 400 metres upwards and is a club rising star.
Scott Bracey was making his marathon debut and had the misfortune to suffer calf pain at the 10 mile mark. Undeterred this gutsy club member gritted his teeth and battled on home in just under 4 hours. He said “it was my first run at anything like this distance, the crowds were amazing and kept me going despite my injury. It was also nice to see some fellow club members cheering me at the finish line. Overall a great event and a memory I will always cherish”.
Mark Garner is another recent recruit to the ‘Blue Vests’ and has been wearing the colours with pride in all sorts of events this year from road running to fell running. He has enthusiasm in spades but let it get the better of him and set off as if he was in a 10k! He inevitably ran out of steam early on but battled through gamely in 4 hrs 42 mins. He will come back all the wiser.
Hannah Edwards has not been able to do the required training for an event like this but showed how courageous she is by taking her position at the start line. She has proved in the past she can break the 4 hour marathon mark but had to settle for 4 hours 49mins this time. This likeable young tri-athlete will come back all the stronger for it.
In the Half Marathon the club had a single entrant In 2021 Ironman Ryan Kirkman. Another member of the Endurance Group at Harriers, he has been absolutely flying in training recently and came up with a mighty pb of 1 hour 24 mins. He commented “I am feeling so good at the moment and really enjoying my running. I am in a great place and of the mindset now that I can improve with every single training session and race I take part in”.
