The Reading Half Marathon took place last weekend, an important race in the run up to London. It is of course a prestigious event which runs through the City Centre with a great finish in the Madejski Stadium where up to 15,000 people cheering you across the line. The organisers, Sweatshop, said that they had made this year’s course flatter and faster than before. Any of our athletes who took part are welcome to comment on that.
This year over 13,000 athletes finished the race with Amos Kiplogat taking the trophy in 1:03:09. Our athletes were there again with some great performances, particularly Charlotte Steptoe who was first Vale athlete to finish in a new personal best time of 1:25:52 beating her previous time by one second – a fraction of time which was to be repeated by our first two men. Will Tuckett crossed the line in 1:28:09 …. just one second ahead of an in form Richard Bazeley. Two other Vale men took part; Mick O’Connor and Ian Thompson whose times were 1:31:45 and 1:33:31 respectively.