Birthday boy Keith turns 65 running the London Marathon

After records had been smashed at the sharp end of the 2026 London Marathon, the race came alive with club runners and fund-raisers. Foremost among these from Hastings Runners was Keith Goodwell.

Keith, running on his 65th birthday, completed the course in 6hr 13min 9sec – and would have clocked 6:12:something had he not paused to have his photo taken by supporters on The Embankment! The popular club member – one of the club’s band of mental health champions – returned to East Sussex knowing also that he had raised close to £500 to support his efforts to improve mental health.

The club’s fastest time was recorded by Danny Firth who crossed the line in The Mall at 3:28:00 in the Senior (ages 18-39) category. The next quickest were both women: Lindsey Jones (3:50:22) and FV45-49 Sarah Bendle (4:25:39).

MV45-49 Leigh Yates completed the 26.1mile route in 5:02:30, Cale Sinfield and Sarah Sellens ran together to record identical 5:40:20 finishes, and first-timer Ellie Miller brilliantly realised her sub-six hour dream in 5:59:59.

Elsewhere – in front of rather smaller crowds – HR members Pete Heasman, Helen Munday and Natasha Slow were taking part in the LDWA South Downs Marathon; Michael Norris represented the club at the Shakespeare Half Marathon in Stratford-upon-Avon; and there were several wearing the green-and-black at the Icklesham Trails 8k (see elsewhere this issue).

All of them are currently in training for the club’s signature event, the Hastings Five Mile – a seafront race starting outside the Town Hall on Sunday 31st May. It’s a big event for the town and is a run open to all. Anyone considering aiming for the 2027 London Marathon could do worse than run in front of the crowds in Hastings...

Hastings Runners welcomes new members of all abilities aged 12 and over for fun, training and competitive running. Visit https://hastingsrunners.co.uk