Asics Reading Half Marathon, 9th April 2006
NICK Kimber is bidding to complete his fifth successive London Marathon in less than two weeks' time, and the Stubbington runner rounded off his race preparations at the Reading Half last Sunday.
Nick was pleased with his time of 1hr 35min 04sec which was run with energy to spare. He finished 1,023rd in the race, which started outside the Madjeski Stadium, and took in a route around Reading city centre, by the university, with a finish inside the home of newly-promoted Reading Football Club.
The race has been dogged in previous years by organisational problems, particularly with parking, and though there were a few gremlins along the way, most runners reported this was the best Reading Marathon yet. A flat course, well marshalled, with enthusiastic support on the way, and a wonderful finish.
Nick is now planning a gentle 10-miler this Sunday, before heading to the capital on April 23rd to add another London Marathon medal to his collection.
Nick was overtaken around nine miles by Stubbington team-mate, Paul Hammond, who ran strongly at the end for a finish time of 1:30.11, which earned him 541st place.
Also taking part at the Reading Half was Stubbington's Tom Mellor, competing in the Vet 50 category, who recorded a time of 2:08.17 for 6,728th position.
A total of 8,837 runners finished the race, with interestingly the final runner across the finish line at the Madjeski Stadium taking 4hrs 16mins to complete the distance.
The race itself was a Kenyan one-two, with Simon Kasimili winning in 1:04.51, pipping compatriot Simon Tonui by just two seconds.
Hampshire Road Race League regular, Toby Lambert (Alton Runners), who was second at last week's Totton 10km, was fifth in 1:06.47. The leading woman was another Kenyan, Cathy Mutwa, who finished in an impressive 1:12.09 for 11th overall.
As far as the London Marathon is concerned, it's been a mixed bag of form lately. Lesley Harding has been running well, and she had a gentle 15-mile training run on Sunday before winding down her preparations for a first tilt at London.
Jon Leigh has also been going extremely well. He picked up a slight niggle at the weekend but is resting, and fingers' crossed that Jon is fit for the 23rd.
However, Jane Butler has been forced to abandon her plans for London this year through a hamstring injury, along with Pat Woodward and Amanda Humphry who have had to withdraw.