07/12/2019
Friday 6th December will surely go down as one of the highlights of the season for 3C Racing at ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Numerous stories of success, grit & determination from the squad and their families & friends to be celebrated.
We would like to express huge thanks to Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the organisers, volunteers, sponsors & supporters who contributed to make this world-class event run to near perfection. Once again, full organisation team including a special mention for timing service; Steven Watson - it was great!
The support on and off the superbly planned route was exceptional on a day when local runners got to enjoy mixing it with the elites & some of the best runners in the UAE across marathon & 10k distances. Total admiration for 3C stalwart Richard Roebuck and the whole medical and emergency support teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes keeping people safe.
Now to the action: Many congratulations to Liam Bek who is running smarter and stronger than ever with a superb 2:46:39 securing 3rd place in the Age Category and once again getting 3C some serious podium time. Huge kudos and respect also to friend & training partner Jc Haramboure with an incedible time of 2:40:39.
When it comes to combining talent with hard work and dedication, no-one does it better than Phil Yates who donned his 3C kit and casually knocked a minute off last year's time at the same event - 2:52:46 for Phil. Amazing things beckon in spring for Phil, who deserves the added respect for pulling out such a strong marathon performance so soon after the birth of son Noah.
Following in their footsteps and not quite nailing it the way he would have hoped for, Daniel Richardson salvaged a respectable 3:05:44 out of a situation that could have ended much worse after some mid-race wobbles. For DR, motivation burns stronger than ever for a solid training block for the European spring season, looming on the horizon.
Jane Harrington came home with mixed feelings which will surely turn positive as the sub-4 goal was missed by a margin narrow enough to be put to rights next time: 4:02.08 for Jane. Congratulations Jane on a 7-minute PB which is a superb performance. The male side of Family Harrington was represented in typically determined fashion, 5-year-old Blake spontaneously deciding to "upgrade" from 2.5k to 5k.
In the 10k PAul Faulkner weaved his way through the darkness for a 36:59, impressive stuff 1 week after his incident-packed trip to Oman. Becky Faulkner also performed as consistently as always, just outside the overall Top 10 with 46:13 in the 10k.
Congrats to Nearida Clark sub-50 again and going from strength to strength. Nez must have surely loved running the closed roads on those all too well-trodden training routes on the Corniche. 7th AC for Nez who is always up there and having a great season in 3C colours.
So many stories on such a memorable day. Congratulations to Kevin Rosbotham Jovi Kevlar LR Helen Currie Toni Metcalfe Fady Atef Ejawy and everyone who participated yesterday on a day which shows the strength of Abu Dhabi Striders and of running in Abu Dhabi. We absolutely loved it!
