Benidorm trip is no holiday for runner Little

TONE ZONE Runners normally send a good contingent to the Benidorm half marathon, but this year Robert Little was the only entrant flying the club's colours this year.
Tone Zone runners gather for the Hayling ten-milerTone Zone runners gather for the Hayling ten-miler
Tone Zone runners gather for the Hayling ten-miler

Travelling to Spain with organisers Running Crazy for the second year, Little put on a good show in typical warm Spanish conditions.

He completed the race in 1hr 52min, a personal best. Clearly pleased with this time, Little is already planning ahead and researching his flight details for next year’s race.

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The Hayling Island ten-mile race is the last fast flat contest of the year for most of the club’s runners. With cold temperatures and very little wind, this route offered competitors a final chance in 2013 to accomplish some personal bests.

Tone Zone are swelling with a record number of nearly 200 members and produced another good attendance - 22 of the club’s runners providing one of the largest club entries on the day.

First for the club and 23rd overall was Peter Lee, finishing in 1hr 3min. Normal service resumed for Colin Hiscock - he was second for the club in 1.10.

Hiscock had a point to prove after a slower start at Gosport, and ran a strong consistent race from start to finish to be rewarded with a personal best.

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The first lady to complete the race and third for Tone Zone was Karen Harrison in 1.12. Harrison, also running a personal best, was eighth lady overall and third in category.

Only seconds behind, having recently recovered from a long-term injury, was Luke Simmonds - suggesting there is much more to come in the next year.

Second and third ladies for the club were Lisa Robinson and Debbie Patching, running 1.31 and 1.32. Both were in excellent shape knocking several minutes off previous bests.

Other PBs were gained by Sam Miles, Joan Woolley, Jude Bazeley, Sarah Baker and Stuart Thompson. Joan Woolley was fifth in category and Sarah Spurr sixth in category.

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Veteran runners Roy Webb, Peter Chittenden and Derek Winslow showed age was no barrier as all three put in good performances.

Three of the clubs ladies - Michelle Maxim, Benita Milton and Sam Yates - took part in the Greenwich Park 10k in aid of Movember. More than 1,500 runners attended this popular event and the tone Zone trio all ran together.

At the Downland Devil nine-mile off-road race, Joan Woolley represented the club. Worthing Striders staged the event for the second year in succession as a replacement to the annual Duck Pond Waddle.

Breathtaking scenery on paths the public are not normally allowed to use was a treat for the 232 competitors. Woolley, in her 18th race of the year, finished in 1.35.

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The next big race in the south is the Portsmouth Marathon just before Christmas. Several Tone Zone runners have been training for it.

TONE ZONE TIMES (Hayling ten-mile): Peter Lee 1.03, Colin Hiscock 1.10, Karen Harrison 1.12, Like Simmonds 1.12, Ian Bayley 1.13, Paul Coe 1.14, Chris Gallagher 1.18, Stuart Thomson 1.19, Dan Hughes 1.25, Paul Stevenson 1.28, Lisa Robinson 1.31, Debbie Patching 1.32, Sam Miles 1.33, Joan Woolley 1.34, Laura Simmonds 1.35, Jude Bazeley 1.35, Sarah Spurr 1.36, Sarah Baker 1.36, Roy Webb 1.38, Jo Langrish 1.44, Peter Chittenden 1.47, Derek Winslow 2.11.

IAN BAYLEY