GREAT EASTERN RUN: Local ace Scott saves himself for the Frankfurt Marathon

Scott, who runs the Frankfurt Marathon in two weeks time aiming for a time of 2:15, had vowed before the start that he would stick to his target marathon pace, even if there was a scrap going on around him for the race win.

The Stamford-based Lincoln Wellington ace remained true to his word allowing the leaders to push on, and came home fifth in a far from pedestrian 66:53.

“We had a huge group of almost 20 runners early on, which whittled down to five by halfway said Scott.

“From memory we passed halfway in 33:32, so a tad inside my marathon pace but nothing too crazy. I had tried to keep the pace honest, as we kept slowing into the breeze.

“Probably around mile eight, Lucian Allison, Shane Robinson and Matt Bowser pushed on and were now running close to 4:50 per mile which just felt too hot for me.

“I sat off it with Tom Evans, but when he pushed on I just tried to relax into a decent pace and was surprised to see the clock show 66 minutes when I turned that final corner.

“I had a good target of Matt Bowser in the last mile, who was slowing with cramp, but he managed his standard sprint finish, which I wasn’t willing to participate in!

“I’m delighted for the race, it’s so good to see such a good group of runners in Peterborough, long may it continue!

“I’m pleased with it overall and it’s given me a nice confidence boost for Frankfurt as before the pace turned up it all felt very comfortable.”

Edgars Sumskis and Josh Lunn made sure that Scott’s title as ‘first local’ was no pushover, and on his debut over the distance the bearded Nene Valley Harrier Sumskis crossed the line sixth in a time of 67:07.

The lanky Latvian had suffered a knee injury the previous weekend, but after seven days of intensive physiotherapy his body held together until the finishing straight, and he crossed the line with an unusual part-limping and part-sprinting gait.

Former Nene Valley man Lunn, now running for Bedford and County AC, came home ninth in 68:37 with a niggly achilles tendon behaving itself on the day.

Jordan Foster knocked over three minutes off her previous best as she crossed the line as sixth lady and a very comfortable winner of the ‘first Peterborough-based female athlete’ prize.

The 27 year-old Nene Valley Harrier is also crossing the channel for a marathon in a fortnight’s time, when she will be pounding the streets of the Swiss city of Lucerne.

After finishing the race with a big grin on her face, Foster said: “I was really pleased with how the run went, even the heavy rain didn’t bother me too much, though I could have done without the strong wind!

“My goal was to run a sub 85, and I definitely didn’t expect to run almost two minutes quicker than that!

“Also it was really special being first Peterborough lady back home. I’m already looking forward to coming back next year and trying to defend my title.”

Lisa Marriott of Ramsey Road Runners was the next local lady to complete the race in 87:11.

Werrington’s Stephanie Parker with 89:34 and Caroline Woods of Yaxley with 89:40 both ran well, while Nene Valley Harriers teenager Megan Ellison clocked 95:02 on her debut over the distance.