Jones is unable to beat target
JUST as no athlete can be judged negatively for aiming too high, then also no criticism should be readily handed out when failing to live up to those ambitions.
Team Bath AC’S Dan Jones had hoped to finally break the two hours 30 minutes barrier in the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday and after a good build-up both he and coach Paul King were cautiously optimistic.
Sadly on the day Jones’ wellgrounded hopes failed to materialise and the former Running Bath/chron performance of the month winner had to settle for 2:36.15.
Nonetheless, that is still Jones’ third fastest marathon of 12 completed in eight years behind his 2017 personal best of 2:30.17 and the 2:34.44 he ran six years ago – all on the same London course.
And with seven of those times all under 2hrs 40mins – two further impressive performances were recorded in the gruelling Snowdonia marathon, which he won with 2:35.54 in 2017 in arguably his best marathon yet – that represents impressive consistency.
Clearly Jones really wants to dip inside 2:30 and he comes away from London with that ambition still very much burning.
“Dan made a brave attempt at his sub 2:30 goal but he felt a bit ‘ring rusty’ having not competed in a marathon for two-and-a-half years due to injury and Covid,” said King. “Still, a brave attempt.” One can sense there is another big performance in Jones and maybe, after racing London seven times since that 2013 debut, it could be time to find that fast time on another quick course like Berlin and give himself a fresh challenge?
That will be something for Jones and King to ponder going into the winter and plot their targets for 2022.
While Jones spearheaded the Team Bath challenge in the capital there were plenty of other fine efforts from the club including a big personal best from Ben Holding.
Holding went into the race with a lifetime best of 3:10.38 from the London event three years ago.
The veteran over-45 runner came home having not just smashed his PB but also dipped inside three hours for the first time with 2:58.06, an excellent effort.
Also inside three hours were Tom Dudden and James Donald, though both men were well outside their best times.
Leading woman Lizzi Pitt had plenty to celebrate as well as she also recorded a PB as she carved almost three minutes off her debut in Frankfurt two years ago with 3:15.14.
“I was also pleased with Georgie Wells’ effort in her first marathon 93:54.45) and also having to shake off a chest infection the week before,” added King.
REPRESENTING the South West in the London Mini Marathon, Team Bath’s Harry Maxwell finished eighth in the under-15 boys’ race and brother Joshua was 49th.
COMPETING in the Salisbury half marathon, Steve Rose (7th) 1:25:04 and Phil King (11th) 1:26:09, both earned podium places in the veterans
40-49 age group. Team Bath clubmate Owen Davies (25th) 1:30:03 also finished.
IN the final Bristol & South West PB 5K series around the Odd Down cycle track, Team Bath’s Heather Fell finished first veteran over-45 in a swift time of 18mins 35secs while Jo Thompson was top veteran over-60 in an equally impressive 19:36.
TEAM Bath’s Marianne Carpenter was crowned British Champion for age group (F45-50) duathlon held at Oulton Park, Cheshire.
WARMING up for her London debut, Georgie Wells won the 10km event and son Jack the 5km event at the Badminton Trail races.
The athletics coverage in the Chron is sponsored by Running Bath