[Not a valid template][Not a valid template]Julie Balmer was at the Elite Womens’ start on Sunday at the Great North Run and finished 20th woman and 5th F35. Julie went throgh 5K in 19:15 min, 10K in 39:06 and 15K in 58:51, finishing in South Shields in a new pb (and club record) of 83:21 min. Nick Irvine also had a Half maraton pb (a huge one) at the Great North Run with 88:57 min and was 749th out of many thousands. Still on half marathons, the Dublin event took place in Phoenix Park on Sunday with Ali Robinson the pick of the North Down entry. Ali was 17th woman and 3rd F35 in a chip time of 90:42 min, just outside her pb from Omagh in 2010. Husband Simon Robinson ran 92:32 min with Simon Cummings running 91:13, Michael Jenkins 96:47 and Jonathan McGrath 102:05 min.
Nick’s 88:57 was over 6 minutes faster than his previous best over the distance and was appropriate reward for the hard efforts he has put in this year at the Tuesday and Thursday sessions.
Likewise with Ali who also has been putting in the work. There was a real festival feel to the Phoenix Park event and Ali was ahead of the 90 minute pacers for most of the race but they got her on the hill at the 12 mile mark. To add to the North Down on Tour feeling, Sharon and Michelle (michael and Jonny’s wives) also jogged the half marathon.
Result link – Great North Run
Result link – Dublin Half Marathon