Making Waves at Gosport Half Marathon
On Sunday 17th November, the Gosport Half Marathon, organised by the Gosport Road Runners, served as a vibrant venue for the Hampshire Road Race League. This event marked the fourth race of the season in the Hampshire Road Race League (HRRL), attracting over 1,400 participants, including a spirited team of 20 from Alton Runners.
Alton Runner of the day was Kathryn Powell. Just 13-weeks after undergoing major surgery that saved her life, Kathryn's determination and resilience were truly inspiring. Reflecting on her achievement, she said, "I had my doubts I’d even finish this race let alone get my third fastest half, ever. I loved the support, the course, the sunshine (eventually) and all the encouragement from the faster ones. I didn’t swear and I didn’t die!"
 |
Leading the Alton Runners home was Alex Hall, who impressively finished 39th overall. Laura De Lisle was the first female Alton Runner to cross the finish line, securing 11th place among the women with a new PB.
 |
 |
Alex said “I achieved a personal best in the half marathon and proudly finished as the first Alton Runner for the first time since my daughter, Alice, was born last summer!”
Every finisher was rewarded with a medal and a ‘goody bag’, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. The running conditions were favourable, with many participants achieving personal bests over the flat out and back (twice) sea-front course, which featured the lively beats of a samba band. “If you want to know anything about the conditions, you just need to see how many of the club set half marathon personal bests (PB) - it was a fantastic team effort”, remarked James Kidwell, Alton Runners Committee Member.
Looking ahead, the next HRRL fixture is the 78th Victory 5 Mile race in Portsmouth on 1st December, with 24 Alton Runners already signed up to represent the club. But before that, Alton Runners will be fielding a team in the 2nd Southern Cross Country League (SCCL) fixture of the season at Alice Holt Forest, Farnham.
The Gosport Half Marathon was a testament to the strength and spirit of the running community, with Alton Runners making their mark in style.
Article by Lydia Andrews
Photos by Richard Scrase
24/11/2024