5th July 2006 - Nonsuch Park Relays 4 x 2.2 miles
Open to clubs, businesses and all kinds of mix-and-match teams, the habitually low-key Nonsuch Park Relays this year provided a veritable fireworks display.
Real Runners Ltd fielded two quartets of top-tier middle distance athletes, including several European championship-bound internationals.
Now a household name, GB International Mo Farah opened proceedings for the Real Runners “A” team in lavish style, annihilating the men’s individual record by no less than 33 seconds, and clocking a truly remarkable time of 9:22.
Hot on the heels of his nail-biting 2nd place in last month’s European Cup 3000m, Farah this time stormed through the 3km point in a time close to 7:55 – quite a feat when you consider that a substantial stretch of the 2.2 mile course was made up of grassland and wooded paths!
Keen to consolidate Farah’s blistering feat, the remaining Real Runners “A” athletes – Mike Skinner, Mark Draper and anchor man Kevin Quinn – hurtled round the picturesque loop, coming home in an awe-inspiring 40:36 – a full 2 minutes ahead of the previous team record.
Led off by Tim Elsey, anchored by Jamie McCullagh and buttressed up with lightening middle legs from Andy Vernon and Tom Bilham, the Real Runners “B” team also made light work of the 2.2 mile course. Their 42:42 clocking was only narrowly adrift of the previous all-time team best.
“I know it’s quite rare to see 8 top runners, complete with matching vests, participating at this type of event”, explained Real Runners organiser and Managing Director, Kevin Quinn. “Open to businesses, the relay was quite simply a great opportunity to get all the Real Runners staff competing under one flag and promoting the company. It was also nice for all of us to compete in a low-pressure situation for a change”.
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