Halloween 10-10-10 and the 30k solo run 2019

Overnight rain left an overcast and breezy morning which was much appreciated by those who were up before the roosters and ready to run the 30km route, and those who were breaking the distance into 3 legs of 10k each.  As we had moved the start and finishlines, this year was the first time we were running the course in a clockwise direction.

Leg 1 – Runners started on Queens Highway next to Fosters supermarket and headed towards Tukka, passing through to Gun Bay, then through East End, where the first water stop (Daryl and Dana Rankine) was located opposite John McLean Drive. Leg one continued along Austin Connolly Drive passing the Blow Holes where the first 10k (6.2 miles) was completed, the checkpoint being manned by Marcelo Magalhaes and Ronaldo Custodio.

So, on to the race itself. Right from the start it was last year’s winner Abraham Whittaker who wanted to prove 2018 was no fluke and he set the pace whilst the other runners backed off a little and allowed him to do his thing. By the end of Leg 1, Abraham was the first solo runner passing in 41:25 and well ahead of the next runner Jay Harihar (45:04). Hugh Anderson and Graham Blyth crossed 10k together in 45:51 with Conrad Proud a further 16 seconds behind. In the Ladies race Martine Fitzgerald was first past in 53:44 with Charlotte Cloette next in 54:21. Pam Abbott was third through in 56:26.

In the 10-10-10 relay, James Crooks (345 AC A-Team) was clear of the rest and through in 40:46. Abraham was also leg 1 runner for 345 AC Ace Squad who were next through with Barry Phelan (Mover for Life Inspiration) third though. Laura Hicks (345 AC MDR Gurls) was first female in 46:07.

Leg 2 – The relay runners handed over the baton to Leg 2 runners whilst the 30k runners continued through. Leg 2 headed in the direction of Bodden Town. Another Water stop (Rosa Ritch) around 13.7k would have been welcomed before runners turned right up Frank Sound Road. Passing the school where Ashley McLean owned the 17k water stop and continued for 3k to the 20k checkpoint when leg 2 ended and of course the leg 3 runners began. Marita Superville and Theo Kelly controlled this checkpoint.

Abraham continued his dominance and although Theo confirmed he did pass through the checkpoint, for some reason his chip did not record and we do not know his split. Graham had the official quickest leg 2 in 44:51, which was a minute quicker than leg his first leg. Conrad also took a minute of his first leg time as he went through in 45:01 for leg 2. Hugh Anderson’s first two legs were virtually the same keeping them him in contention. Martine extended her lead in the ladies race with Charlotte keeping fairly close order in second with Pam still in third.  

The quickest Leg 2 was Levy Superville (39:55) who was the person to break 40 minutes in any leg today and extended the lead of 345AC A-Team. The second quickest time was Tiffany Cole (41:59) who not only extended the lead for 345AC Gurls, but broke her own leg 2 course record. Brandon Dale (Easier Said than Run) had a decent run in 43:24. Not sure what happened with Paul Williams handover to Winston Sobers but the baton did not record so am unable to confirm their splits, although they were very much in contention.

Leg 3 – the course continued up Frank Sound Road and turned right to Queens Highway and grateful the water stops were much closer together thanks to help from Pat McCallum, Mike and Sarah Godfrey, Yendy Gonzales Antanika Ebanks, Lindsay Blair and other members of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps who also assisted as the race safety marshals and mush appreciation goes to Major Levy and his team of eager volunteers. The last leg is often the toughest as it is hotter and this morning runners were pushing into a strong head wind, so no records expected on the last leg today. Finishline assistance from Zayda Rankine and Michelle Bodden.

No problems for Abraham (2:11:50) who not only won by 4 minutes, he smashed his time from 2018 by almost 5 minutes. Very impressively, Conrad continued to run quicker and at first glance I believe he is the only runner to have ran faster each 10k, which confirms he paced his run perfectly as he came home in 2:15:54, a time that would have won last year. Graham found the last leg a bit tougher going but held on for third place in 2:19:45. Martine, Charlotte and Pam maintained their places in the ladies race for first to third respectively.

In the team race, Juan Pablo Valerio had the fastest time for 345AC A-Team as each of this team had the quickest run of each leg and easily won in 2:03:42. Second fastest Leg 3 was Wyatt Bodden for 345AC Ace Squad (44:04) but not able put his team on the podium as he came in fourth although it was close for 2^nd to 4^th as Easier Said than Run were second thanks to Tom Cowling (45:58) and Winston brought home Inspiration for third spot.

Ava Hider moved 345AC Gurls further ahead as they romped home in 2:19:09, which breaks their own course record from 2018 so well done to Laura, Tiffany and Ava. Next all-female team was Movers Conquerers (Mercyline Chemutai, Megan Webb-Sanders and Melanie Johnson). The Ivory Coasters were third place so well done to Angeline Li-Laing, Catherine Clarke and Peeta Sandhu. The Ivory Coasters were also third corporate team as they all work at Smiles Dentist. Intertrust (Vikram Dookhy, Leon Rhule and Brian Eden) were second whilst Bacaro Restaurant employees were first corporate team.

Adam Godfrey and Charlotte Kerr won the 5k so well done to them. The full results are detailed below. Thanks as always to the sponsor KRyS Global with support from Morritts and CayBrew (Red Bull and water). Huge thanks to all those who volunteered and I have mentioned many above – apologies to anyone I missed, but you can give yourself a pat on the back.