Garden City Runners pretty much had one thing circled on their calendar this week - the 2024 London Marathon.
The annual pilgrimage to the streets of the capital for 50,000 runners had plenty from Welwyn either taking part or volunteering.
Lee Mansfield, who won the draw for the club’s England Athletics affiliated place and finished in three hours 34 minutes 57 seconds, said: "It was a cracking day, thanks to GCR for the place and all the help and support."
Barbara Kubis-Labiak, who came home in 4:22:38, added: "All of my friends know I love trails and I stick to trails and I keep on saying no to road marathons.
"But the London Marathon is an entirely different experience and has to be considered on a different merit.
"When I got the place in the ballot, I had to do it and I loved it. Having all my friends supporting at mile 13 and 22 made it all even more special."
There were plenty others from the club including Benj Carr (2:35:29), Rob Casserley (2:48:10) and Chris Jones (2:52:35) who dipped under the three-hour mark.
Chris Eland (3:05:48), Jason Pike (3:24:34), Rebecca Barden (3:44:28), Helen Stafford (3:48:49) and Stuart Mann (3:58:19) finished within the next hour while among the others were Huw Waeland (4:18:11), Mathew Lutkin (4:25:46), Ann Hayden (5:02:51), Vikki Rogers (5:37:09), Caroline O’Dwyer (6:03:27), Hiran Rana (6:19:29) and Louise O’Donnell (6:29:00).
And there was an even bigger GCR squad volunteering.
Baggage team leader Michael Scutt said: "It was hard work but great fun and really satisfying to get the bags into order.
"Lovely to see all the GCRs who'd finished as well."
Nadine Dwyer didn't get a place at London but instead entered the NOT the London Marathon Run instead, which ran laps along the Thames towpath.
Others went for even longer distances/
Martin Mitchell and Gareth Askey, travelled to the Isle of Arran for the Rat Race Ultra Tour of Arran’.
Consisting of a two-day off-road adventure over 60 miles, Mitchell finished with an overall time of 16:16:25 while Askey managed 16:40:08.
Matt Baker took on the South Downs Way 50-mile race between Worthing and Eastbourne along trails.
He was happy to finish in 9:39 and 129th overall.
Peter Jasko meanwhile completed the epic Chester Ultra 100 Miles with an official time of 30:57:28.
He said: "I ran the first 45 miles but the remaining 55 was a walk with the occasional run shuffle.
"My nutrition was all good and the weather was almost all dry but it got cold at night, too cold when walking.
"My feet got wet mid-way and a change of socks was not enough to dry them out.
"But I met some lovely folk along the way and Richard Taylor, who crewed me, was a real pal in times of need.”
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