So where do we start?

Well as we normally start in the winter months, with the Cyclopark 10k.

This time the January 5th addition. David Sancto was the first home in a time of 43:02, followed by Janet Murray in 52.04, Lee Marsh 54:21, Jason Beaney 55:07 and last in, in just under the hour was Fay Oram in 59:01. Kevin Denny opted for the 5k finishing in 26:59.

We then had a big break until the 23rd Jan when it was the Canterbury 10, David Sancto was once again our first finisher in 1:09:09 which is 32 second improvement on his Thanet 10 result 6 weeks earlier. Helen Fooks & Jason Beaney were also down at Canterbury both finishing in a time of 1:33:48, not sure who was pacing who, or was it just a training run?

Then on the 29 Jan Jan Giles (Allan) was down at the Romsey 5 finishing in a time of 58:27 and winning her age category once again.

And that’s it for January.

However February was a bit busier.

Once again we started with Cyclopark Jane Copeman & Francesca Lear completed the 5k finishing in times of 28:13 & 33:28 respectively.

Once again David Sancto was the 1st Istead finisher, this month in a time of 43:48, followed by Jaks King (Paul Bunch) in 45:46, Janet Murray 51:37 (improving by about 20 seconds on her Jan time) Lee Marsh 51:42, Helen Fooks57:07 & Fay Oram 58:40.

Then on the Sunday 5th it was the London Winter Run, don’t know too much about it, but seemed to involve Penguins and Polar Bears, our 3 finishers were Amanda Graham 55:53, Jane Copeman 57:42 & Fay Oram 1:11:42 (running with a friend). Maybe one of them can tell us a bit more about the race, the Polar Bears and what it was in aid of?

Anyone noticing the same names cropping up over and over again

The following weekend saw one of Dan’s favourite races of the year, the Vigo Valentine Run, we packed well at the front with 5 finishers in the top 15. Allowing us to scope the Men’s team prize.

Finishers were Ross Chapman 3, Dan Walsh 8, Mark Simmonds 9, Andrew Archer 12, Carl Gardner 13 (running 2nd claim for Istead), Nick Claydon 42, John Gillis 65 and our sole women racer Amanda Graham in 96th. (unless I’ve missed you Louise Chapman?).

Sunday the 19th had Richard Storr running 43:35 at the Tenterden 5 and Chris Gregory running 1:48:21 at the Tunbridge Wells Half.

Which takes us up to the final weekend of the GP for this year, and we have athletes at 5 different races.

We had 4 runners at the Headcorn Half. First in was Paul Jones in 1:18:50 a good time and he’s looking good for the London Marathon again. Next in was Janet Murray who bagged herself a big PB posting 1:55:38, Kevin Denny 1:58:19 (Janet & Kevin are also both building up to the London Marathon) & then Jan Giles (Allan) in 2:47:20.

Sarah Dand ran a solid 1:42 at the Thorpe Park Half Marathon, Paul Simmons ran 1:54:37 at the Brighton Half, and Ali Bell ran 3:37:57 at the Tokyo Marathon (is Ali Bell on the way to become the 3rd Istead lady to run all the Marathon Majors?)

Then leaving the best until last Trevor Edgley won a British Masters Silver Medal @ the Masters 10 Mile Road Champs up in Cumbria during pretty filthy weather, Well Done Trevor !!!

So what does this mean for the Grand Prix?

Well if you come to the AGM in March, with your Subs in hand, all will be revealed….