Congratulations to Tracey, on the basis of her run at Melbourne, she has been selected for the European Championships in August. Liz Yelling has also been selected. For more details and the rest of the team, read http://www.ukathletics.net/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4854-130891-19728-20273-252617-13435-5150-layout126-132199-news-item,00.html

   72 Tim Crossland      150.26 100   PB
133 Brian Hanley       156.13 100   PB
551 Drew Taylor        170.13 99
1403 John Uttley        182.33 98   PB
1570 Jules Barltrop     185.03 97
1759 Alan Hutchinson    187.11 96
1996 Alison Bogie       189.30 95   PB
2098 Kirsten Jackson    190.30 95
2603 Eric Green         194.41 94   PB
8456 Natalie Crossland 228.34 93   PB

Unfortunately Simon Redshaw failed to finish, he had low blood sugar level (he is diabetic) at somewhere between 24 and 25 miles and finished in hospital on a drip, but was well enough to catch the train home on Sunday night and to fly out to America on Monday lunchtime.

Before anyone else phones or emails me to congratulate me on my time on the London Marathon website I have to say that it is not a coincidence that my time on the website is identical to Eric's listed above. If you want to read the 13 reasons why you shouldn't swap numbers, then click on http://www.valleystriders.org.uk/borrow.htm

For tips on how to run a controlled marathon, the person to contact is Natalie Crossland. Before the race, I supplied Paul White with a pace sheet at 8:45's which showed when she would be at various points on the route for Paul to see her 5 or 6 times. And she ran each 10k in 54 minutes, exactly even pace for the two halves, which was 8:44 miling!!

Tim and Natalie's times are the best aggregate by a Striders pair for some years, beating the Grants in 2005 and the Morris's in 2004, but I suspect the Kaisers have a better aggregate a few years ago. But I don't think we can ratify the Crosslands as Natalie was running for Lagan Valley (she had one of their club entries) and Tim was running, not for The Army, not for his N.Ireland club Willowfield but ... hiss ... for Leeds City. Tim, remember, white is a better colour to run in for marathon running, that's one of the reasons why Valley Striders have so much better marathon performances than Leeds.

Any Other Marathon

Congratulations to Carmel who recorded 3:25:24 at Hamburg also last Sunday. She says she ran a PB for the first half and a PW for the second. Her marathon time was a PB by nearly half an hour. This also gives her 98 grand prix points in the Any Other Marathon category (subject to other Striders competing in the next 8 months)

I saw Sheila Grant last Tuesday, she had dropped out of Rotterdam with stomach pains at 12 miles but is back in training for the Leeds Half (I'm expecting a PB from her with all the mileage she's been doing, but don't tell her)

Ran 5k at St Andrews on Wednesday. Course round University playing fields and about 1 minute long. Won over 60s but very hard race as the first 3 over 60 finished within 4 seconds of each other. Only got to the front in final 150 meters.Time 22 08 and 47th of 186 finishers.

Today took part in a duathlon at Ayr which was the selection race for the Scottish Team in next month's British Champs. Won over 60 and actually second over 50. Again made it very hard as I only got in to the lead in last mile and the second over 60 was once again just one place behind me. I was over 1 1/2 minutes behind the first over 60 at the end of the first 5k run but I managed to run the second 5k,over the same course, almost 2 minutes faster. As I am now 67 in triathlon age groups I suppose I had better make the most of it while I am still competitive. 41st overall but if I ever learn how to change my shoes quickly I might do better. Enclose a picture of all the winners to let you see the Striders top being proudly displayed.

As I was first over 60 (vintage) at the Aboyne Duathlon 2 weeks ago this means that I have won the first 2 of the 5 ranking races for the Scottish Duathlon Champs. I will just have to watch out for the 'slippy stanes' ( I could not walk downstairs after the race as my knee was stiff and sore so lets hope it clears up and does not upset my training).

Leeds Half Marathon

Paul Hunter is back in training again but unable to run 13 miles. If you want to run the Leeds Half but were too late to enter then first read http://www.valleystriders.org.uk/borrow.htm and then email me, I have his race pack including number and chip.

And I've just had an email from Lisa White and Lisa Hodgson. She's the same person, having just got married, but has a spare entry for Leeds having entered under both names (she has obviously had other things to think about than how many times she'd entered the race!). So again, if you want to run, the same rules apply.

Leeds Half Marathon Marshals

Colin Morath of Abbey Runners has asked whether anyone is available to help with marshalling for the Leeds Half. Please email me if you are free. If you would like to marshal in a particular area of the route, let me know and I'm sure Colin can accommodate this. Thanks

Lineham Farm is open Sunday 7th May from 11:00 to 15:00, so after you've run Leeds, drop in at Lineham on your way home, I'm sure there'll be some good food laid on, and you can ease your pain with a very gentle stroll round the woodland and wetlands walk. See you there!

This date is now confirmed, this will be the Spring 10k, i.e. from the Res (bottom of hill), across the dam, along the back road to Eccup, a figure of 8 in Eccup and the reverse journey back. I hope to arrange pie and peas. NB don't think you're going to miss "Mivvy's Hills" in May, there is a 5th Tuesday so we can manage to fit them in.

So far, Tim Towler and Mick Wrench are running leg 5, Jerry Watson is running leg 1 on his own and I am running the other 3 legs. 26 more runners required. Details were in the previous V S Update.

Valley Striders provide the finish recorders, marshals and race admin for this race, we need 12 marshals, if you are available to help, please contact Mick Tinker on [email protected] or 269-3159. All profits to the British Heart Foundation, a good cause!

This race is for teams of three each running 2.5 miles round the paths in Golden Acre Park (yes there are 2.5 miles of paths in G.A.Park!) We have one team so far - myself, Mark Hunter and Erica Hiorns. Please get together in threes and let me know. If you are one or two and looking to complete a team, let me know and I'll try to match teams (ladies, vets etc). Entry is only available on the night but it would probably be better to decide teams at least a week before the race.