Without exaggerating the significance of self-policed time trials we have been a force to be reckoned with in the National Endurance Virtual Series. For my part I’ve worked hard on the knees with photos to prove it but that feels a self-centred form of special pleading. Clearly I’ve been pretty fit and trying to rediscover a sense of how I used to walk, which puts aside the modern stress on getting the front foot down as quickly as possible – the 30/70% stride equation in favour of a classic 50/50 differential. Sadly there is little chance of my action being put to the test in the near future. A special vote of thanks is due to Tony Malone, Guy Goodair, Stephen Walker and Tony Bell for flying the club’s colours.

Certainly there is no doubt that the Virtual Series has been a success, attracting the involvment of as many as 120 athletes each week. Hence Helen Elleker and John Constandinou, who deserve our sincere thanks, are going to keep alive the 2 kilometres challenge every week until normal service is resumed. On whether normal is possible see a future post on England Athletics proposals for recommencing live racing. It’s never too late to join this weekly 2 kilometres series and if you wish to, get in touch with me about sending in your times etc. The more the merrier and committing yoursel to a fast session of 2 kilometres each week acoss the summer will pay rich dividends on the roads of Simister or Sutton. Promise!

Look out for the results of our very first Club Virtual series in the next few days. Meanwhile the June challenge is 5 kilometres and I’ve already received a couple of times to get things going.

Virtual League Racing Series – National Centre for Race Walking – Race 8  

2 KILOMETRES

Mens Team

1 Surrey Walking Club (60)
2 Manx Harriers (68)
3 Lancashire Walking Club (75)
4 Scotia Race Walking Club (86)
5 Sarnia Walking Club (94)
6 Quickstep Fitness (147)
7 Birchfield Harriers (157)
– AUSTRALIA (169)
– RUSSIA (175)
– NEW ZEALAND (195)
8 Enfield & Haringey AC (213)
9 Cardiff AC (213)
10 Winchester AC (241)
– GERMANY (250)
– USA (259)
11 Ilford AC (288)

Mens Age Graded Team

1 Lancashire Walking Club (85.10%)
2 Surrey Walking Club (82.00%)
3 Manx Harriers (75.59%)
4 Scotia Race Walking Club (75.32%)
5 Sarnia Walking Club (73.31%)
6 Quickstep Fitness (71.26%)
7 Birchfield Harriers (62.08%)
– RUSSIA (59.26%)
– AUSTRALIA (52.87%)
– NEW ZEALAND (52.56%)
8 Enfield & Haringey AC (51.42%)
9 Winchester AC (47.19%)
– GERMANY (44.09%)
10 Cardiff AC (41.52%)
– USA (40.89%)
11 Ilford AC (36.72%)

Team members:

Tony Taylor M70 95.46% Lancs WC 00:10:23.0 Tony Malone M65 82.59% Lancs WC 00:11:26.6 Tony Bell M55 64.19% Lancs WC 00:13:07.0 Guy Goodair M80 77.25% Lancs WC 00:15:01.0

Virtual League Racing Series – National Centre for Race Walking – Race 8

5 KILOMETRES: LAST OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE SERIES  

Mens Team

1 Surrey Walking Club (56)
2 Scotia Race Walking Club (87)
3 Lancashire Walking Club (94)
4 Birchfield Harriers (131)
5 Manx Harriers (167)
– RUSSIA (177)
– NEW ZEALAND (188)
6 Sarnia Walking Club (196)
7 Winchester AC (202)
8 Enfield & Haringey AC (203)
9 Quickstep Fitness (217)
– GERMANY (231)

Team Members:

Tony Taylor M70 97.11% Lancs WC 00:26:27.5 Stephen Walker M60 79.48% Lancs WC 00:28:48.0 Guy Goodair M80 76.47% Lancs WC 00:39:29.0

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