Many of you will know already that our Club Captain is participating in the Windermere 10 marathons in 10 days. It's taken a huge amount of training, preparation and injury prevention. And running the marathons is far from just a physical effort, it must take a huge amount of mental resolve to keep getting out there each day and fight through the pain barrier once again. In fact, it's pretty hard for me to imagine quite what kind of all-round effort is required to complete such an undertaking, but I know it must be bloody tough. So massive respect to Matt for his 10 in 10 progress. You can catch up with his exploits (and his daily food pic) via his blog:

http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/blog/matt-dunn.aspx

And Matt's daily marathon times:

Day 1: 3:44:21
Day 2: 3:52
Day 3: 3:30:36
Day 4: 3:33
Day 5: 3:33:04

If you think this marvellous effort is worthy of a charitable donation, please visit Matt's Just Giving page. Donations go to the Brathay Trust who work with many of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in the UK to help them develop the skills, confidence and motivation to make positive choices in their lives

It may have been raining almost non-stop for the past 6 weeks, but the sun came out at the weekend as a handful of UKnetrunners headed to Oxford for the club handicap at the Town & Gown 10k. It was the closest handicap result ever, with just one second separating the top two, and third place just 9 seconds further back.

And it was Roger Gill who took the honours with Baljit Chohan runner-up. Roger joined the club this year and is already making an impact, adding to the ever-growing contingent of UKnetrunner men at the front of races. A trophy awaits at the club AGM in January.

Congratulations Roger and well done to all those that took part, full results can be found HERE.

1st: Roger Gill (35:06)
2nd: Baljit Chohan (35:07)
3rd: Peter O'Grady (35:16)

Next up, the New Forest 10m on 8th July. If you're planning on entering, don't delay as entries close on 24th June, although it'll probably be full by then. It costs just £11, and is set in fantastic scenery.

April, the start of spring, the resurrection of marathon dreams, the running on water! What a month it was. It seemed that the only day without rain was London Marathon day. Rumour has it that the rain clouds were disbersed by Ann Hood as she stormed to a 3:09:00 finish.

Over the channel, in Rotterdam, Baljit Chohan was another whose improving form yielded yet another PB, sneaking under 2:50. Back in Blighty, the terrible weather at the end of the month didn't completely destroy hopes of PB's as Jonathan Channell set a new PB at the Manchester Marathon and it was a literal baptism for Will Shippin and Tristan Barndon at the Milton Keynes Marathon, where Matt Dunn selflessly and brilliantly, paced runners to a sub-4.

Craig Simpson continues to lead the way in the Grand Prix with the closest challenges looking to come from Ann Hood and Richard Beetlestone.

New Club Records
5 mile: Lisa Gittins (FV40) - 41:24, Bill Preston (MV60) - 43:39
10km: Bill Preston (MV60) - 54:13
Half Marathon: Colin Hewes (MV55) - 1:39:41
Marathon: Nicholas Houlton (MV40) - 2:48:09, Ann Hood (FS) - 3:09:00

Personal Bests
5km: Jon Hullis (18:40), Peter O'Grady (22:01)
5 mile: Tony Follett (37:06), Simon Hibbert (39:06), Paul Arrowsmith (40:13), Lisa Gittins (41:24), Bill Preston (43:39), Alison Fryatt (47:13)
10km: Baljit Chohan (38:57), Jonathan Channell (43:31), Craig Simpson (49:34), Andy Earp (52:32), Bill Preston (54:13), Graeme McTait (54:22)
Half Marathon: Matthew Dunn (1:29:22), Cliff Richards (1:30:56), Cliff Richards (1:31:27), Andy Riding (1:32:38), Michael Connor (1:50:32), John Bide (1:54:01), Gavin Crickett (2:02:41), Lee Simpson (2:13:46)
Marathon: Baljit Chohan (2:49:34), Ann Hood (3:09:00), Ivan Jeary (3:22:28), Jonathan Channell (3:43:43), David Mullaney (3:50:31), Lisa Gittins (4:13:33), Brigitte Groves (4:14:22), Dominic Stevens (4:22:07), Andy Earp (4:39:57), Dean Ward (4:42:50)

Debuts
5km: Gavin Crickett (27:21)
Half Marathon: Roger Gill (1:18:36)
20 mile: William Shippin (2:23:45)
Marathon: Jon Hullis (3:17:11), William Shippin (3:27:17), Tristan Barndon (5:04:26)

What a month March was. There was obviously something in the UKnetrunner water last month as PBs were shattered all over the country. I don't think I've ever seen a list as long as the one below so something's obviously going right.

Star lady Ann Hood broke three of her club records and notched her first victory in the process at the Lasswade 10 mile race. Colin Hewes continues to re-write the MV55 record and Lisa Gittins got in on the action too.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Pete Stockdale was flying the UKnetrunner flag as he finished in the prizes (5th spot) with a new PB at the Woodlands Marathon.

Of course we also had the two handicap races in Milton Keynes and Wilmslow. Brigitte Groves and Peter Mickelburgh were triumphant at those races and are currently getting quotes to have their trophy cabinets installed. Don't forget, we've got another handicap race next month with the Oxford Town & Gowns 10k - see the handicap events section for more info.

With all the great performances below, I'm sure we'll be seeing the marathon PBs tumbling in April. Keep up the great running folks.

New Club Records
5km: Ann Hood (FS) - 18:29
10km: Ann Hood (FS) - 38:59, Colin Hewes (MV55) - 44:00
10 mile: Ann Hood (FS) - 1:02:50
Half Marathon: Colin Hewes (MV55) - 1:42:10
20 mile: Lisa Gittins (FV40) - 3:15:05


Personal Bests
5km: William Shippin (18:09, 18:02), Ann Hood (18:29), Richard Beetlestone (21:27), Peter O'Grady (22:09, 22:06), Tony Follett (22:49, 22:22), Dean Ward (23:07), Paul Arrowsmith (23:18), Michael Connor (23:30)
5 mile: Peter Stockdale (29:47)
10km: William Shippin (38:56), Ann Hood (38:59), Cliff Richards (40:49), Andy Riding (40:57), Mark Hill (41:50), Andrew Smith (45:13), Andy Newham (45:53), Tony Follett (46:37), Paul Arrowsmith (49:47), Dee Hopkins (51:18), Graeme McTait (54:56)
10 mile: Ann Hood (1:02:50), Craig Simpson (1:22:41), Graeme McTait (1:28:54), Keith Kerwin (1:37:11)
Half Marathon: Ian Kitley (1:18:49), Baljit Chohan (1:22:05), David Gilbert (1:23:14), William Shippin (1:27:04), Ivan Jeary (1:30:47), Cliff Richards (1:34:16), Jon Minto (1:36:50), Andy Riding (1:37:55), Jonathan Channell (1:39:17), Richard Beetlestone (1:39:31), David Smedley (1:39:43), Peter O'Grady (1:47:58), Michael Connor (1:50:46), Craig Simpson (1:53:14), Mark Willcocks (1:54:50), Lisa Gittins (1:56:16), Graeme McTait (1:56:52), Andy Earp (1:57:52), Zoe Stockdale (1:58:44), John Bide (1:59:21), Tristan Barndon (2:02:21)
20 mile: Peter Stockdale (2:08:20), Matthew Dunn (2:29:00), Shaun Bonner (2:41:10), David Mullaney (2:50:51), David Greenwell (3:01:20), Lisa Gittins (3:15:05), Dean Ward (3:23:20)
Marathon: Peter Stockdale (2:45:11), Alex Finch (3:41:10)


Debuts
5 mile: Ian Kitley (32:15), Simon Howard (45:17), Gavin Crickett (49:59)
10km: Gavin Crickett (55:34)
Half Marathon: Cliff Richards (1:34:27), Paul Arrowsmith (2:13:20)
20 mile: Jon Hullis (2:15:04), Richard Beetlestone (2:36:38), Laura Foster (3:09:11), Dominic Stevens (3:11:56)

In contrast to the MK Half at the start of the month, Wilmslow was bathed in glorious sunshine for the weekend's half marathon and club handicap. Runners also lost an hours sleep due to the clocks changing, so coupled with the unseasonally warm temperatures, it was a tough morning to be racing.

Peter Mickleburgh emerged victorious from a small gaggle of UKnetrunners with a net time 8 minutes quicker than his nearest rival, Simon Howard.

Well done to all those that took part, full results can be found HERE.