While most Striders were showing the club colours at the Sheffield 10k, and a few were jet-setting off to Berlin or enjoying running the Sheffield Way Relay & Ultra, one Strider was disloyal enough to shun Sheffield for something less than a World Marathon Major, and go PB-hunting at the Anna Verrico Isle of Axholme Half Marathon based around Epworth, North Lincolnshire.

It was a friendly event, with pockets of enthusiastic support dotted around the rural course, and pastries at the finish instead of medals (no complaints here). The sun came out, along with a stiffish breeze, but conditions were decent on a course with few enough undulations that everyone else calls it flat even though it isn’t.

Out of the 206 finishers, the winner was Dan Garbutt of Durham City Harriers & AC in 1:14:53. First female was Scunthorpe & District AC’s Gill Hoole in 1:32:50. The Strider was Tim Holt, and the PB attempt failed as he matched his previous time to the second. Serves him (me) right.