Jones ready for marathon
Dan Jones will line up for his first marathon in two years on Sunday confident that his preparations have been exceptional and that a personal best could be within reach.
Of course, Jones knows from experience that the 26.2 miles distance hides numerous pitfalls and traps which can undo even the best-prepared runner, whether a top class international or ambitious club man like himself.
But as he returns to London for the first since April 2019, when he recorded 2hrs 37:46mins, all the signs are that Jones is in terrific shape.
“Dan has fully recovered from his injury problems and since returning we have worked very hard on his strength and conditioning,” said coach Paul King.
“We have also worked on his running style to make it more economical and efficient and I think we have seen the results of that this year.”
A personal best of 15:50 on the Odd Down cycle circuit for the South West PB 5k series was a confidence booster as was Jones’ victory in the Natasha Lewis Foundation half marathon.
Jones also looked sharp running a swift leg of 19:19, his PB for that event, for Team Bath at the Midland Counties Road Relays at Sutton Park last weekend helping the club to 19th overall and an automatic qualification for the National Championships on October 9.
It is those results plus his form in training that leaves King quietly confident that Jones is in shape to run inside 2:30 for the first time and eclipse his four-year-old best of 2:30:17, which he also set in London.
BACK to those relays and Team Bath’s star man on the day was former Running Bath/chron athlete of the month Alex Parsons.
Running the opening stage of six, 18-year-old Parsons brought Team Bath home in third as he scorched around the tricky 5.8k course in a time of 17:77, the eighth fastest overall on the day – and fastest junior.
“In all the years I have been taking teams to Sutton Park, Saturday was the first time I witnessed one of our athletes go sub 18,” said delighted team manager Dave Coales.
“Rob Eaton ran well on debut and there were also good performances on legs 4 and 5 by Elliott Avis and Matt Wells respectively as we sat in 10th place with one leg to go.
“Unfortunately, we were one short, therefore I ran the final leg, which cost us seven places. However, needing to finish in the top 25 to qualify for the National Road Relays on 9th October we still managed 17th. I was almost as relieved at not costing us qualification as I was at finding a garage with fuel for the minibus at 6.30am on Saturday morning.”
TEAM Bath runners enjoyed a clean sweep at the postponed Corsham 10k 2020 run on Sunday with Aidan Daniel running a smart race to win overall in a time of 34:11.
There were also age group wins for Laura Backhouse (senior women), Ella Treby (first under 18 woman), Gary Dunstone (M40) and Jo Thompson (W60). James Woosnam was second M50. Team Bath also won both the men’s and women’s team titles.
NO official results yet but it seems that the Team Bath AC squad of Heather Fell, Sevim Sangwell, Amy Britton, Claire Forster and Lisa Bennett won the Uphill to Wells Relays on Saturday.
TEAM Bath twins Harry and Josh Maxwell have been selected to represent the South West in the under 15 boys’ race at the London Mini Marathon on Sunday.
“I’m really looking forward to the mini marathon experience,” said Harry, while Josh added: “I’m really excited to be racing on the marathon course after watching our parents race the marathon a few times.”
The athletics coverage in the Chron is sponsored by Running Bath