The first weekend of meteorological autumn saw an increase in live races, with the results section of runABC South reaching double figures for the first time in many months!

One of the most prominent events was RunReading Riverside Half Marathon, starting and finishing close to Mapledurham House, an Elizabethan stately home with superb views of the River Thames, situated on the Oxon/Berkshire border.

In normal times, a visit to Mapledurham House would feature the 12th-century family house; St Margarets Church; Mapledurham Watermill and the impressive Archimedes Hydro Turbine, topped off with a delicious cream tea at The Coach House Tea Room. With public visits and tours cancelled for 2020, the location provided a spacious and safe race HQ (see aerial photo above) and with only half the 450 race limit in attendance, social distancing was guaranteed.

The race was a thriller, with only three seconds separating the top two men. Early starters Simon Lewis (Pontypridd Roadents, 1:13:14) and Courtenay Chessell (Swindon Harriers, 1:13:17) battled for victory after a rolling start that took up to two hours for the final runners, meaning the race was won long before the last group got underway! Local athlete Richard Price (Wargrave Runners, 1:16:22) was third.

The top three women were Sylwia Ward (Stubbington Green, 1:30:16) from the unattached Jitka Hall (1:32:01) and Rachel Dench (1:35:15).

The RunReading Riverside course is a single-loop, multi-terrain route beside the River Thames, with crossings at Caversham Bridge and Whitchurch Bridge. The race drew 212 finishers in 2:56:10 but there is still an opportunity to run the same course and claim a medal by entering RunReading Virtual before 30 September.

Race details and virtual entry at RunReading website here

Results of RunReading and other September races at runABC South race listing here  

Aerial photo of race HQ courtesy RunReading Riverside Half Marathon