Colin Poole (Marathon)                   4hrs 24mins
Shirley Poole (Half marathon)          2hrs 27mins

On a nice bright day, the weather just right and a good crowd of 300/400 runners we set off on a one lap for the half marathon and two for the marathon. The first part is flatish and leading out into countryside with Marshals, and traffic kept under to a contra flow arrangement.

The first water station was well provided for but from this point on with the half marathon runners using large quantities this diminished the amount for the Marathon runners later.

Young people who did not appear to exercise any issuing discipline manned the water stations in the main. So for the Old Phart water was taken on at 5/18/25km and that was it, so then had to rely on the hand bottle. Even the sponge stations didn’t have sufficient water so it became a dry, sweaty day.

However overall with the run through the villages, the mountain views, the run around the harbour, the few not too difficult hills and the final 3-4 miles through Magaluff to the finish, it was a nice experience.

The marathon crowd who stopped in the hotel and drank the White Horse dry made the weeks visit to Majorca quite enjoyable.

Beachy Head Marathon - 23 October 9.00am

The Beachy Head Marathon (formerly Seven Sisters Marathon) saw a huge contingent of Bromley Vets decamp to the seaside. Most stayed over for one or two nights to make a real festival occasion.

This is not so much a Marathon as a fell run! It included the Seven Sisters - the coastal cliffs between Beachy Head and Seaford as well as some truly picturesque countryside. The winner can home in a staggering 2hours 58mins - amazing! For most it was well nigh impossible to clamber up some of the cliffs, with the rain lashing down and the wind gusting.

BVAC runners/joggers were timed at:

Dave King - 4.27.00
Bridgit Weekes - 4.54.00
Adrian Walters - 5.15.00
Phil Greenfield - 5.22.00
Alison Jelly - 5.43.00

Full results (up to 6 hours anyway): click here

Others who changed their running shoes for walking boots:

Barbara Pope with Joan Burns, Shirley & Colin Poole (+blisters), Terri Shotton, Chris Young accompanied by her husband Charlie and Ann Leverett, Jane Greenfield and Sue Searing who had time to pose for photos!

Abingdon Marathon - 17 October 9.00am

Chris Young and Bridgit Weekes ran in the Abingdon Marathon round the Oxfordshire countryside. As you will see from the pictures Chris ran under 4 hours for the first time and Bridgit, in her first Marathon, came home in a splendim 3hrs 45mins.

Cardiff marathon - 3 October 9.00am

Colin Poole - 4.05.29
Dave King - 3.39.00
Brian Smith - 3.44.00

Report from Colin:
59 seconds to get to the start and a ‘pit stop’ at 11 miles for 1.25 minutes so not too bad. Weather was awful from 15 miles to the end with strong winds and lashing rain. Half marathon set off 30 minutes before marathon and followed same course for both.

Cranfield University marathon - 25 September 8.00am

Colin Poole - 3.51.00

Course was short - 15 laps around the campus. Real time with extra distance 3.59.30. Oldest person in the race of 50 people and of course FIRST in age group.

Several marathons in Berlin - 25 September

Phil Greenfield - 4.11.00
Jane Greenfield - 4.58.00
Dave King - 3.29.00
Brian Smith - 3.34.00

Report from Phil and Jane:
A strike by refuelling workers at Heathrow resulted in a short delay in flying to Berlin but we arrived full of enthusiasm.

We spent what was left of Friday settling into our hotel and looking around. We had chosen a central location, so the Hotel Berlin was not the cheapest, but it meant a 20minute walk to the main shops and a 25minute walk to the start/finish of the marathon. A pasta restaurant for dinner, of course, though they went a bit OTT on the garlic in Phil’s meal! The Antica Roma’s Roman tunic-clad waiters didn’t interest Jane, it goes without saying.

Early Saturday morning we took a bus out to Schloss Charlottenburg for the Fun Run. Adidas handed out all manner of goodies to the couple of thousand participants – hats, balloons, rattles, etc. So it was a noisy as well as an excited throng that made its way the 4 miles or so to the Olympic Stadium. We did one lap of the excellent stadium before going up into the stands for a few bites to eat and stealing a peak at what is left of the original and adjacent 1936 stadium.

Trying not to tire ourselves, we decided to take a bus tour on Saturday afternoon. As it happened, it largely followed the marathon course, taking in all the key tourist sites of the former East and West Berlin. The fact that it took 2½ hours by bus was perhaps worrying! The start/finish area was out-of-bounds, not least because it had also been used by 10,000 inline skaters doing essentially the same marathon course that morning.

More pasta that evening with an eat-as-much-as-you-like buffet at our hotel. We might have liked it more if it weren’t a bun fight to get a look in!

A good night’s sleep was interrupted with an early morning alarm call to join the hundreds of other runners enjoying a hearty breakfast in our hotel. At least a short walk followed, but with more runners than in London, it was a bit chaotic. There were plenty of strategically placed loos but, if possible, they were even more ‘basic’ than usual. With start and finish close together at least kit drop-off/collection was straightforward. Unfortunately, it had started to drizzle with rain and proceeded to do so for much of the race.

The start was carried out in stages with 10 minutes or more between each of the three phases from the single but broad gateway. We bumped into a couple of B&B harriers en route, including Dick Griffin. Meanwhile, Brian Smith and Dave King were obviously off at a fair gallop, as we saw nothing of them. We did see a few other Brits but they were few and far between. There were precious few charity, personality or costumed runners either – not quite like London’s traditions. Although the route passed a number of high profile locations it did seem rather drab – perhaps the weather was dampening spirits somewhat too. Neither of us had a particularly good race with troubles of one sort or another, our hoped-for times going out the window at different points.

Phil’s 1hr 47 at half was bang in line with the consistent 5 min per 1000m/2 drinks breaks game plan but things fell apart in more ways than one and he walked over the finish line in 4hrs 11mins. Jane was lulled into a slow start by others around her and confusion in the organisers’ siting of drinks stops (not where they said!) but was running strongly in the second half before her misfortunes meant a tailing off towards the end to finish in 4hrs 58.

Our third marathon of the weekend was a 4½-hour cycling tour on the Monday before we came home. Again over parts of the course, but a fascinating study of the history of the city, and some of its most important and interesting landmarks.

Others did say they posted good times or personal bests in the race and the course is certainly flat. We did have a wonderful time in Berlin overall – shame about the race!

Grunty Fen half marathon - 12 September

Bridgit Weekes - 1.46

This was a mainly flat course across the open land of Cambridgeshire, comprising a small loop and a larger loop of Grunty Fen with bright sunshine and extremely strong winds.

The first loop after 5 miles took us back to the village high street where the race started, giving me the chance to drop off my heavy bottle belt and long sleeved top. (Adding on a minute or so, but I felt a lot lighter for it.) The energy required to carry the sports drink seems to counteract any possible benefits!

I seemed to battle against the almost gale force wind the whole way.

Sevenoaks Triathlon (Swim 400m Bike 27k Run 8k) - 12 September

Les Humphrey - 1.57.58
Helen James - 2.23.35

(A very demanding course)

Nottingham half marathon - 12 September

Alison Jelly - 2.06

(Not my best said Alison but an enjoyable ½)

London Triathlon - 30 August

Report from Les Humphrey

“In a foolhardy moment at the beginning of the year I submitted my entry for the LT and was accepted. I decided to go the whole way and enter the Olympic distance of Swim 1500m, Bike 40k, and Run 10k. Whilst I had competed in some pool based triathlons, I had no experience of open water swimming. A few weeks prior to the LT I did take part in a sprint tri with a 400m open water swim but even in a wet suit I still found the conditions cold. Given that the swim in the LT was nearly 4 times longer I seriously wondered if I could complete the distance.

Therefore the only way was to acclimatise my aged body to open water swimming. Unfortunately there are no facilities locally. The wardens at Kelsey Park were naturally reluctant to let me try my wetsuit in case I frightened the wild life on the lake. Keston Ponds were also not appealing. I therefore had to contend myself with numerous cold showers, standing in my wet suit for up to 20 minutes duration. I think my wife considered I was going senile (or had gone).

The swim for the LT was held in the Royal Victoria dock, temperature about 16/18. As I jumped in ready for the start I found that my cold water training had obviously helped as I experienced no problems with the cold. In my age group (+45m) there were about 250 competitors waiting to start.

As the hooter sounded and the 250 swimmers moved forward it was a moment I shall never regret as it resembled the wildebeest crossing the Zambesi in Africa - arms and legs everywhere- fortunately no crocodiles.

I soon made some space for myself and got some sort of rhythm, I emerged from the water in just over 35mins, far quicker than the times achieved in West Wickham baths.

Transition No.1 was somewhat lengthy - out of wet suit - place in plastic bag - run up some 20 steps carrying wet suit - run all round the Excel Centre back to bike rack. Not easy to find bike as one of the more mature competitors who relies on glasses. These wouldn’t fit under my swimming goggles! The bike leg consisted of 2 laps out to Tower Bridge and back to Beckton roundabout and then into the Excel Centre for the run.

Again a lengthy transition out of Excel to commence the run. This consisted of 2 laps round part of the Royal Victoria Docks. Whilst a flat course, by midday when I was running it was very hot with little shelter. Fortunately there were drinks available around the course.

Whilst I had passed a number of competitors in the bike section, the reverse happened in the run. I eventually finished in an overall time 0f 3hrs 7min which included about 9 min in transition. This seemed a long transition but was fairly average for my age group.

The organisation, facilities and support from spectators was excellent, particularly the vocal support from Helen and Derek James who encouraged me through the various disciplines.

Over the 2 days some 8000 competitors took part, on Saturday sprint distances and relays and Sunday the Olympic distance, I strongly recommend anyone having a go at a triathlon, you can start in a pool based short distance event for which there are many locally”.

Would I take part again? YES

Pathfinders XC Marathon - 30 August

Dave King and Colin Poole - 4.47.19

“It was very windy and ‘on the nose’ most of the time which slowed us down by some 5/10 min”.

The Battle of Sedgemoor 10k, Langport Somerset - 29 August

Bridgit Weekes - 0.49

Conditions: overcast, cool and breezy. The course: up, along then down possible PB?

No, seriously being fairly flat there was a chance of a good time, but I only reflected on this after the race.

The start was in the narrow thoroughfare of Langport 'High Street’ Runners packed the street wall to wall. The first 2k saw a gradual rise in the terrain and a little slow for me with the usual heart palpitations. As I felt more comfortable though my confidence grew.

The course crossed the pastures of the Somerset Levels with only the occasional sharp bridge crossing the winding rivers Parrett and Yeo.

With a downhill finish it was nice to see another small part of the English countryside - next stop Cambridgeshire!

Leek half marathon - 29 August

Michael Young - 1.55.07
Christine Young - 1.56.28

A great run/climb. Over 2200 ft of uphill climbing to reach the Roaches in the Peak District before heading back down. Trouble was it was so steep in places coming down that I had to hold myself back

Enduroman Marathon - 21 August

Colin Poole - 4.22.43

“The title says it ALL it was an ENDURO event with some very arduous hills at the start and lot of some parts having LONG mind bending straight sections - the never ending type!

The first mile took 9.35, second mile 11.45, which sets the scene for the event as a whole.

At 1200 ready to start a runner came through the start line to commence his SECOND lap which follows the previous day of 127 K bike ride and the next day 10 K swim.

This sums up the mentality of the organisers who set out this Enduroman Marathon for the FIRST time.

With 80 runners on route of which 20 were from the 100 club ALL said how difficult the course was so MAY give it a MISS for 2005

This was my 143 Marathon and glad to finish it!”

Burnham Beeches Half - 15 August

Chris Young - 1.57.47

“This was my slowest 1/2 marathon for well over a year but didn't spoil my enjoyment of it. It was a challenging course with a killer of a hill at the very end, but I think it was the humidity that slowed me down. I can certainly sympathise with Paula Radcliffe! Very well organised with a free swim for competitors and their families in an outdoor pool. Also a great medal with date engraved on it to celebrate their 25th anniversary”.

West Down Devon 10k - 8 August

Bridgit Weekes - 56min

“Set in a lovely valley, West Devon was another beautiful setting for a race. Held with their annual summer fair, Morris dancing and folk music filled the air. Thankfully for me a lot cooler than the previous day, with light rain. Race start time was 2pm, plenty of time to build up pre-race nerves, especially as the course was described as scenic but tough! Just getting out of the car set off me heart problem. The start of the race therefore proved very difficult, with my heart crashing and a very long climb for 1k or so. Then a very long downhill stretch, but for every down there’s an up and the ups seemed to go on forever. Thankfully by3k my heart dropped back into normal rhythm so for the next fairly undulating stretch I felt I was flying! And at last started overtaking people.

A tough hill finish slowed everyone’ pace and for me a disappointing time of 56mins (Made a little better by the cream tea in the village hall!)”

Indian Queens half marathon - 1 August

Bridgit Weekes - 1.54

“Our campsite was on the outskirts of the village, so ironically was the closest run I’ve taken part in! Just a short warm-up trot away, but even at 9.30am blisteringly hot! (And camping does nothing for my pre-race preparation)

I started fairly slowly, so as not to ‘spark off’ the tachicardia I sometimes get but was fine.

This course was very scenic, using quiet Cornish country lanes, but hilly! Some of the hills and the heat bringing me to a walk.

Finishing in 1hr 54, I was a bit disappointed and left before the prize giving.

I was completely bowled over to get home and find the trophy for 1st 45F waiting for me. It wasn’t just me affected by the heat”. (See picture opposite)

Bideford 10K - 22 May

Colin Poole  -   49.07 mins     2nd Male over 65
Shirley Poole  -  63.53 mins     2nd lady over 60

Heatherley 6 'n 10 - 16 May 2004

Adrian Walters ran the Heatherley 6 n' 10 and he did the 10 mile part. It starts & finishes at the Leonard Cheshire Home near Smallfields/Gatwick. A quiet run through the country lanes. One tough hill at 4 miles. Well organised although 2 of the mile markers were incorrect. Adrian was impressed with his 5min 38s & 5min 46s, 3rd & 7th miles but not happy with his 8min 47s & 9min 26s, 2nd & 8th miles. The results & photos are already on their web site. He says he will have to change his running expression!! His finish time was a very creditable 73mins 19secs. Well done Adrian.

Bideford 10K - 22nd May

Colin Poole  -   49.07 mins     2nd male over 65
Shirley Poole  -  63.53 mins     2nd lady over 60

Heatherley 6 'n 10 - 16 May 2004

Adrian Walters ran the Heatherley 6 n' 10 and he did the 10 mile part. It starts & finishes at the Leonard Cheshire Home near Smallfields/Gatwick. A quiet run through the country lanes. One tough hill at 4 miles. Well organised although 2 of the mile markers were incorrect. Adrian was impressed with his 5min 38s & 5min 46s, 3rd & 7th miles but not happy with his 8min 47s & 9min 26s, 2nd & 8th miles. The results & photos are already on their web site. He says he will have to change his running expression!! His finish time was a very creditable 73mins 19secs. Well done Adrian.

Sevenoaks 7 - 16 May

Bridgit Weekes - 57.33
Chris Young - 59.26
Jane Greenfield - 69.36
Geoff Hill - 71.58
Helen James - 81.30

Ted Pepper 10k - 3 May

Bridgit Weekes - 48.21
Allan Murrell - 49.55

The Three Forts 'Marathon' - 2 May 2004
or possibly….The Three Pharts Marathon (though 30 miles!)
(Dick Griffin, Dave King and Colin Poole)

Report from Colin Poole

Dave - 5 hrs 30mins
Colin - 5 hrs 48mins
Dick - 6 hrs 30mins

This was NOT a cross-country marathon BUT a cross-country 30 miles as it transpires! If any Bromley Vets want a challenge that makes the Beachyhead Marathon and the Rottingdean Marathon look FLAT have a go next year at the Three Forts Marathon. A lovely course, a well ‘watered’ event but marshalling needs to be tidied up and improved to save straying off course. The South Downs scenery was mind bending on this perfect day, which started at 10.00am. See you next year and hope the numbers are greater than Three Pharts.

London Marathon - 18 April 2004
There were a number of BVAC runnners this year. Check out the website.

Darent Valley 10k - 11 April 2004 (Easter Sunday)
8.30am £6. Check out the website.

Lincoln 10k - 4 April 2004
OK, so maybe not the biggest race of the year but Greenfield family territory! Both [senior] Greenfields took part in a field of 2,240. It was a very cold and windy day - runners were not helped by a half-hour delay at the start requested by police. Although it was flat, there were cobbles in some places in the historic part of the city. The race was won by a Birchfield Harrier, Julian Moorhouse, in 30:48. Check out the website.

Worthing 20[miles] - 28 March 2004
A number of BVAC runners took part. Check out the website.

Hastings Half - 15 March 2004
Awaiting reports. Lots of BVAC runners took part in this the 20th anniversary race.Check out the website.

Tunbridge Wells Half - 15 February 2004
Congratulations to Chris, Ann and Jane for being 5th Ladies team home.

In the bar after Beachy Head

Beachy '04: Phil attempts a jog; Jane strolls

Abingdon Marathon '04

Chris finishes Abingdon in under 4 hrs

Chris & Bridgit prepare for Abingdon

The Brandenburg Gate - near the finish of the Berlin Marathon '04

Jane - Berlin Exhibition and en route

Fun run finishes in the Berlin Olympic Stadium

Adrian at the Heatherley 6 'n 10
(photos with permission of www.AntBliss.com)

Ron at 25 miles!! - London Marathon 2004

Jane, John & Ann - post-Marathon

Pasta party: pre-London 2004

Some of the BVAC runners with
London 2004 medals

Revellers at the post-London 2004 party

Ladies who ...

Bridgit with trophy for Indian Queens Half