VICTORIA PARK WOMEN'S RACE (April 2013)
60 Women ran in the 47th Victoria Park '5' in brilliant sunshine and the surprise winner was Sarah McDougall of Serpentine RC, in what must be considered one of, easily, her best results, despite stopping at one point for a short while with arch trouble. McDougall, now 31, decided to continue because she felt it would hold up well. The first mile she felt was fast at 5.12.
First Six were:- Sandra McDougall 28:15; Elaine Murty 28:52; Clare Elms 29:01 (First Over 40 and 45);
Ruth Clifton 29:20; Sarah Swinhoe 29:41 (40-49); Jad El-Houssami 29:41 and the First Over 50 and 55 for that matter was Ealing's Fiona Kennedy in 30:59.
Sandra McDougall explained " This was my first 5 miles so definitely a PB and the other result of note was when I did 35:50 over 10k at Bushy Park three weeks ago" .
McDougall, who works in advertising research with SKYE started running when she was 11 or 12 but by the age of 15 she stopped running for 12 to 13 years but started again three years ago. " I only started training properly again in the last year. I got married last November and my husband just runs to keep fit"
"To-day I was really genuinely surprised I ran like I did. I really enjoyed it but it was hard.I made myself get back out into the race.'
'I have been careful with injury and do spinning 4 times a week and 3 running sessions . I run about 20-30 miles a week but make sure I rest my foot."
"I did not run very well. I went off too fast and died in the middle but came back quite strong. This is not the way to run it"
However she pointed out "I had a good Winter season. It was the best I ever had. I have not started track work yet" (Something her Blackheath coach on 'Power of 10' Ray Daniel was good at, racing was the track).
" I have been working really hard, getting the miles in and hopefully, touch wood, I would like to make the England cross country team next season as, I had my first English Vest in the Home International (12th on 2/3/13).
Elaine came second for her second claim club, Highgate Harriers in the Metropolitan League at Perivale behind the ATW Met League Overall Champion, Rachel Felton of Shaftesbury Barnet.
" I am hoping to do more of them next Winter." said Elaine Murty. "The spirit is so good at Highgate Harriers with Ben Noad and Ben Pochee encouraging everyone so much and that is somehow lost a bit at Blackheath these days but I still hope to compete for them as a Higher Claim athlete and maybe join Highgate Harriers first claim." However a friend who often trains with the Ben's is Andrew Rayner of Blackheath who Elaine is getting married to in November.
It would be difficult to describe Clare Elms as anything but a brilliant Master/Veteran athlete, as she continuously wins her category in nearly every race she runs, with countless Masters' British records in recent times. She was third overall in the Victoria Park '5'
She remarked "The season has been OK. However, I have had trouble with my foot since the marathon actually nearly 2 years ago! I seem to get bye, swimming and cycling as well. It keeps me from running really. I am doing loads of swimming and I have entered quite a few Tri-athlons , qualifying events for the World Age Groups this Summer.I am quite a good swimmer and I cycle as well. Instead of doing a long runs I have been doing a bike ride--25 miles tomorrow and I won't run. It probably means I am not quite so sharp because I am doing a bit of everything.
Would she like to do veteran completions running-wise. "Yes I like to do Masters competitions especially next year because I turn 50 so I will concentrate on all the records indoors and on the track.'
' This year I am concentrating more on the tri-athlons and next year track."
All her three children are representing their areas in the Mini-Marathon. Two sons and a daughter. Her son Alex has run 2:20 for the 800 last year..He is 12 now!.