Enjoying some warmer temperatures, 8 Striders completed the Valencia Marathon with fantastic performances all round. Steve Buckle was the first Strider home in 2:40:04, while Ian Hirth (2:58:07), Gareth Parker (2:58:14), Sebastian Rowe and Mike Martin (both 2:58:26) all beat the three hour mark within 20 seconds of each other. Gareth, Seb and Mike all ran PBs; as did Ruth Kent who, with the pacing assistance of Richard Evans, finished the course in 3:40:14. James Harrison completed the Strider’s contingent, finishing in 3:50:31; an excellent effort just a few weeks after finishing the Dublin marathon.

Part of the Striders support band in Valencia, Wendy Walsh was the first female finisher in the previous day’s international 5km breakfast run.

Closer to home, some 40 Striders competed in the second meeting of the Herts Sunday XC League at Trent Park this weekend. Jonathan Scott, Oliver Knight, Steve Cockrell, Stephen Hosty, Nigel Aston, Derek Fowler, John Reilly and Luke Firmin all scored points for the men, while Kathryn Penfold, Helen Cartlidge, Deirdre Heydecker, Kate Tettmar and Rose McGinness all point scored for the women.

Jonathan Scott was Striders’ first finisher, completing the muddy 4.9 mile course in 28:54 to place 9^th. This next race in the series takes place on 22 December in Stevenage.

Finally, Ruth Martin battled over mountains, slid down volcanoes and pushed through jungle to complete the Tribe Foundation Freedom challenge in the Azores. Completing the course over 6 gruelling days, Ruth covered 253km and climbed the equivalent of one and a half Everests. This herculean effort was in support of the Tribe Foundation’s aim to raise £250,000 to combat modern slavery.