So what about the race itself?  The men’s race was won in 2:31.30 by Jan Pichl of Salford, late of the Czech Republic.  Jersey’s own Claire Forbes defended her title in a new PB of 2:57.18.  Claire and Jo Gorrod are, amazingly, both knocking on for 40 and it’s high time that some young ones came along and tried to knock them off their perches.  What a great example they set. 

214 men and 102 women finished the full distance.  I was extremely interested that runners that I’m reasonably well matched with over 10k and half-marathon (Victor Gonsalves, Steve Meiklejohn, Lyndon Farnham, and one or two of the girls) came in pretty close to the four-hour mark.  My PB of 4:27 really looks due for revision and, if I’m going to bother to train for Edinburgh 2011 then I must plot a way to run faster than hitherto. 

I thought I recognised an old friend from the Jersey Half, Ig Naude a South African doctor, amongst the finishers.  Indeed there he is in the results at 4:14. 

230 relay teams finished = 1,150 runners, so with the ‘fun runners’ about 2,000 people were involved. 

The remarkable Anthony Lewis was a highlight for everyone – what an inspiration he is.  Running throws up so many similar stories.  Terry Fox is a legend that everyone has heard of – haven’t you?  If not here’s his remarkable story.  If you want another how about Adrian O’Connor from Kerry – read it and not be moved. 

When all the sums are done then the two lead charities, Jersey Hospice Care and Seeing Is Believing will hopefully receive a hefty cheque, another reason why we should all celebrate this excellent event.