After Lockdown Phase 3, April brought some fine results for coachees.

The performance highlight was the much-awaited Cheshire Elite Marathon, a new and wonderful event in the rural Welsh borders. In a perfect environment 48 men ran under 2.30 and 24 women under 2.45, with Olympic qualifying standards being hit by both men and women. Also a personal spectating thrill on my part, the first such race I’d actually been able to attend in 14 months.

 Leading runcoach1to1.com results were those of Paul Piper, 2.23.23 in 14^th place, a PB and 8^th English runner; Will Green, a slight PB of 2.24.15 at age 46, which places him 6^th All Time on the UK lists for over 45s; and an 11 minute PB of 2.28.33 by George Southon. Just outside his PB with his swift 2.30.08 confirming him as one of the UK’s leading V45s was Martin Green.

 Also over recent weeks Izzy C has been returning towards her better form, with a 35.13 10k in QEOP in late November and a 5 mile Virtual race in 28.13. Whilst in Harrogate Chris Oddy bounced back very nicely from ongoing injury setbacks with a swift 10k road PB of 31.27 at the Pitstop event. The benefits of strategically beasting himself on the watt bike.

 Further down the Welsh borders in Shepherdine Hallam G ran the Half Marathon in a 7 minute PB of 73.49, having made big progress in the last year. Over Easter Isaac L set a 4 minute PB at the Dorney Marathon in 2.39.04, followed by Andy Y, another 2.51 PB and a fine debut of 3.07 by Johnny A.

An ultra highlight was Bob Empson, at 62, wining his age category at the truly gruelling South Downs Way 50 miles, in 9 hours 30, a big improvement on previous attempts. Further down the distances, George S ran a big PB of 32.02 at QEOP 10k, as did Dmitry V in 37.06. In addition to these, numerous others have been making good progress in Time Trials at 5k, 10k and Half Marathon as they await their racing renaissance.