Gade Valley Harriers put in the hard miles as marathon season approaches

Meanwhile, Dylan Wendleken travelled to Maidenhead on Good Friday to compete in the Maidenhead 10 Race. The fast and flat 10-mile road race saw Wendleken storm home with a new PB of 1:04:23, claiming 93rd place out of 803 athletes.

Father-and-daughter team Peter and Sam Tucker represented the club in the Hillingdon Half Marathon on Easter Monday, with Sam completing the 13.1 mile road race in 2:05:53. Dad Peter clocked in with a time of 2:38:05.

At the ever popular parkruns, eight athletes flew the GVH colours in six of the timed 5km events.

At the Gadebridge run, Phil Robbins pushed hard to take second overall place in 20:32, setting a new PB. Team-mate Paul Reilly, returning from injury, clocked a respectable time of 28:54.

Carol Skates travelled to her home town of Aberdeen and took on their parkrun, clocking a time of 32:07.

There was more parkrun glory for Mark Crabtree this week, when he took first place in the Panshanger event in Welwyn Garden City. Crabtree stormed over the line in 17:08, a full 33 seconds ahead of the next competitor.

Another first place for the Harriers, this time in Hastings, went to Anthony James who took the honours with a speedy time of 17:30.

Watford’s Cassiobury Park parkrun saw Anthony Willcox setting a new PB of 19:36, taking 12th place out of 251 competitors.

In the hills of Tring parkrun, Tom North finished first for the Harriers in 23:03, with Tracey Cotton crossing the line in 38:20.