Harriers of the Month and Chair’s Blog – April 2026

An incredible month of running – so many marathons in April! Read on below, but firstly congratulations to our…

HARRIERS OF THE MONTH – APRIL 2026

  • Adam Lomas (multiple nominations):
    • After seven years, the men’s marathon club record has fallen. Many have tried, none have succeeded until London 2026 – at which point Adam took just shy of nine minutes off it…
    • Phenomenal performance at London Marathon!
    • Does much need to be said about Adams marathon performance? I know he hates the attention but he put in the work and got amazing results. Well done Adam
  • Sarah Underwood (multiple nominations):
    • Smashing her first marathon back 18 months postpartum!
    • Sarah absolutely smashed the Boston Marathon, her first since becoming a mum. Balancing marathon training with motherhood is no small feat, and she nailed it! 
    • Finally getting her day out in Boston and running the whole thing with a big grin – so good to see!!!

Well done to all our nominees, copied below:

  • Amaia Imaz Blanco – Well done Amaia on a great run at the London Landmarks Half Marathon – a ten minute PB and raising lots of money for charity too!
  • Andrew Rolland and Alex Bradley – At any other marathon since April 2019, Andrew or Alex’s times at London would have been new club records – that’s incredible, and they both deserve huge credit for brilliant running!
  • Ben Douglas – Ben was the winner of the Burnsall Trail 12K; finishing first despite a last minute altercation with a fence… Well done sir!
  • Charlotte Corner (multiple nominations):
    • Overall winner of Delamere Trail marathon – Charlotte’s on fire and it’s so great to see!
    • Outright winning a big old trail marathon!
    • An amazing performance at Delamere Forest half marathon!
  • Chris Harris – A nine-minute PB at Manchester Marathon – brilliant!
  • Chris Jones – Completing a clean sweep of VM65 club records at the Boston (Lincolnshire) marathon this month
  • Clare Evans – Clare has done another sterling job as membership secretary; sorting the club registrations for c.200 people is a big job and as ever Clare has dealt with it with amazing efficiency. Thank you Clare!
  • Daisy Wales – Daisy absolutely smashed the Sheffield Half marathon – a sub90 on that course is no joke!
  • Everyone who ran the London/Blackpool/Y3P/Manchester & other marathon – Too many to honor, so honour them all!
  • Gordon Crawford – Due to run the Bethlehem half marathon, political issues curtailed that plan and he planned to run it locally instead in honour… but was then floored with illness. Undeterred – he persevered and ran a pseudo Bethlehem half! Awe inspiring.
  • Lucy McKerrell – An eight minute PB at London marathon – nice one Lucy!
  • Mike Vargas – Congratulations to Mike on winning the Bramham Trail half!
  • Paul Farmery – Paul has battled through injury the last 2 years and more. It would have been easy for him to miss London but he still got out there and completed the course. Well done Paul
  • Pip Piperdy – Being live reporter and cheering in London, loved the updates to the group!
  • Sam Hadfield – A brill day out at London after waiting so long for his race day
  • Sam Townson – A podium finish at Blackpool marathon, storming back after some unlucky injuries – Mr Townson is such a scarily good runner!

THANK YOU!

A huge thank you to all our leaders this month – Adam L, Andy B, Ben H, Ben R, Bethan M, Chris W, Clare E, Daisy W, Eliza T-F, George A, Hannah L, Helen N, Honor B, Jonathan S, Jonathan S, Josh S, Laura G, Lisa B, Lucy B, Lucy R, Naomi A, Olly H, Pablo D, Richard C, Richard G, Samantha T and Will D!

If you’d like to give leading a go, speak to any of our existing leaders or committee members and we’ll give you all the support and help you need.

HIGHLIGHTS OF APRIL 2026

  • As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, we’re undertaking a club-wide year long relay! As of the end of this month, the baton has travelled 1,140km and has been carried by Joseph W, Richard G, Laura G, Helen N, Amaia I-B, Caite B, Lou G, Sarah U, Chris C, the Y3P relay team, Sam H, James U and your humble scribe! If you’d like to get involved, there’s a specific chat in the club’s WhatsApp community to co-ordinate handovers.
  • George F took on the Rivington Pike Fell Race – 250m of climbing in 5K, all on the wrong side of the Pennines… Great work George!
  • We had several Harriers in Roundhay park for the RunThrough running festival – well done folks!
  • Amaia and Izzy both had great runs at the London Landmarks half – great to see lots of training paying off!
  • There were two Boston marathons this month – the big one (and we’ll get to that…) but also the hipster’s favourite Lincolnshire version! Chris J represented the club at the latter and set a new VM65 club record, which completed his clean sweep of VM65 club records!
  • It’s very much marathon season – well done Rob B, who completed the Brighton marathon this month!
  • Mike V smashed the Bramham Trail half marathon, finishing first!
  • HPH ventured into the Dales several times this month, with several taking on the Burnsall trail races organised by Due North. Claire H completed the half, whilst Lou G tailwalked the 12K, which was won by Ben D!
  • Nine Harriers took part in the Manchester marathon, with some seriously impressive performances, including Rob M going sub3 and Chris H taking nine minutes off his PB! Well done everyone; brilliant to see so much hard work paying off!
  • Coralie, Abdu and Gordon completed virtual Palestine half-marathons, raising funds in support of Al-Shmoh, a community organisation working near Bethlehem.
  • Sarah U represented HPH in the world-famous Boston Marathon and had a lovely time (someone tell her marathons are all about suffering…?) – great to see!
  • April’s 5K series race at the Brownlee track saw Daisy W and John B take on the three laps, with Daisy smashing out another sub19! Well done both!
  • The Yorkshire Three Peaks fell race was hot this year – very, very hot! Kudos to everyone who attempted it – the conditions were brutal! Three of us made it round (your humble scribe by the skin of his teeth – a part of my soul will forever by climbing Whernside…) and the HPH relay team smashed it!
  • Seventeen (yes, 17!) Harriers took on the London Marathon. Brilliant running everyone – great to see lots of PBs, course bests and, of course, a new club record for Adam! If you’re feeling inspired, remember that we will be holding a club ballot for places in 2027 later this year…
  • Congratulations to Sam T, who finished third at Blackpool marathon! Matt B also got  a shiny new PB at the same race – massive kudos to both of you!
  • Charlotte C smashed the Delamere Trail Marathon, finishing as overall winner – incredible stuff, well done Charlotte!
  • It’s been brilliant to see so many people complete a marathon this month, but special mention to Phil H, who completed one every weekend and is steadily closing in on his 300th marathon…
  • Lee T took his annual trip to Oslo, taking part in not just the 10K but also the 5K and a parkrun to boot! Gratulerer Lee!

As ever, I’m sure I’ve missed some great achievements – sincere apologies if so! May will see loads of Harriers take on the Leeds Marathon and Half, plus the old favourite Apperley Bridge Canter and the return of Around the Park, Around the Clock!