Goc stars at half marathon

I am not sure what the collective noun is for half marathons, but there was certainly a glut of them last weekend.

Closest to home was the Dartmoor Vale and that attracted Virginia Bell, Jane Hemsworth and Mick Allen. According to Jane, it is a lovely course with just the right amount of hills to make it interesting. An early start of 9.15am made it a bitterly cold three degrees at the beginning but, with a bright sun breaking through later, they were able to enjoy the stunning views. Mountains of cake at the end made for a welcome bonus.

Virginia finished in 1 hour 55 with Jane a minute later and Mick missing the two hour mark by seconds.

Neil Rutter went for the Cardiff Half and should have been pleased with his 1.48 which was a PB for him on that course. The gloss was taken of that when he learnt that his son, Adam, who is at University there, had beaten him by 12 minutes with very little training. Hard luck Neil, age conquers all eventually!

Milan Goc was again the star turn as he flew round the same distance in the City of Salisbury Half in 1.19.50 and picked third place overall in a strong field of over 400 runners.

?The Cranmore Chase, just outside Shepton Mallet, claims to be a re-enactment of a race in 1874. At the start, runners got a stirring, if modified, version of the St Crispin Day Speech given by Henry V before the Battle of Agincourt. Prizes were determined by consensus of those present, rather than on the actual results. In between, there was a glorious run interrupted only by a freezing, knee deep, 30 yard ford crossing and a long, uphill slog.