After the excitement of Team Blizard’s Kristie Edwards’ silver medal winning performance at the national indoor championships in Sheffield yesterday, there was more success for our athletes in two very different half marathons in Liversedge and Saltburn, as well as in one of the toughest pre-marathon season events in Stamford!

Team Blizard elite Fiona Davies defied the odds once again after suffering with injury for a number of weeks by bouncing back at the Liversedge half marathon and taking second place in a superb 86:43! Fiona covered the notoriously tough course - which included 861 feet of elevation - and was able to enjoy the countryside views as well!



Fiona’s PB of 81 minutes was never in danger , as she hasn’t been able to train to her maximum due to an unlucky run of illness and injury, but the fact that she was still able to be competitive on a tough course proves what a talent she is.

Also in half marathon action was our own Liz Jackson, who climbed an astounding 1730 feet of elevation at the Saltburn trail race. Her time of 2:41.42 would have earned her second place last year, but at the time of going to ‘press’ the results weren’t yet out, so we wait with baited breath to discover her overall position!

Liz described the course and her approach to the conditions: “I walked, climbed, slipped, skidded, jogged, and even ran a bit too! It was awesome scenery, with sunshine and snow blizzards, but was definitely the most challenging one I've done.”



The course measured significantly long, as trail races often do, meaning Liz had to run 14.2m in total on the gruelling North Yorkshire terrain.

Finally, Scunthorpe’s top class athlete, Matty Smith, did well to conquer the huge hills of the Valentines Stamford 30km, placing 10th in 1:53.17.

The race is always a competitive one, drawing elite runners from across the country keen to test their pre-marathon fitness and strength on the 18.6m course in Lincolnshire, putting Matty’s performance further into context!



Team Blizard - you did it again!