Island’s super-fast staff nurse

From last Thursday to Sunday, athletes across both islands were out clocking up solo time trials over one mile and five miles to contribute to club teams in a unique ‘relay’ duel.

An 88% grading factor for females helped shake up the competition and sure enough James, who has made great strides under the coaching of Lee Merrien, ended up the top scorer over both distances.

She helped the Sarnians clock a cumulative 2hrs 9min. 5sec. time across their top six one-mile and top four five-mile counters.

Jersey, meanwhile, covered the equivalent distance in 2-14-44.

In a close contest, both islands shared the leading time in the one-mile opener as Guernsey teenager Chris Bain and Jerseyman James Faudemer ran 4-27 apiece.

Guernsey then went one-two in the five-miler through Luke Williams’ 24-52 and Lee Merrien’s 25-27, with top Jerseyman Faudemer coming home in 26-04.

But Guernsey Athletics’ generous gender adjustment meant that James, who clocked actual times of 4-57 and 28-11, eclipsed the top male performers from each club.

The formula deemed her times equivalent to 4-22 and 24-49.

The 39-year-old staff nurse, who became a veterans’ Hampshire cross-country champion earlier this year, was understandably pleased with both races.

‘Running solo was challenging, particularly in the five-mile run as when it starts to feel tough, you don’t have anyone around you to focus on and help you in those latter stages,’ she said.

‘I think the virtual racing initiative has been great for being able to test ourselves with no scheduled races. It has helped keep us part of the athletics community despite being unable to train together and it was really motivating seeing everyone upload their runs.

‘It was also a great idea to keep up with inter-island competition whilst respecting current restrictions and gave us an additional motivator to run fast.

‘It is quite a different experience planning your own route, ensuring you comply with the elevation rules and making sure your GPS correctly records your distance. It makes you appreciate the race officials that normally do all that for you.’

Meanwhile, from his Wales base, a similarly full of praise top man Williams reflected on his mixed but overall impressive week.

‘I was not going to do the five-mile but I was not happy with my mile, so I thought I would give the ‘five’ a go,’ he said after his 4-31 mile time fell six seconds adrift of his target.

‘25min. was the goal – 25 dead was what I was aiming for. It would be nice if there’s a 10K race soon, because I think I’ll PB.’

‘It was really good, really well organised and really easy to upload your result and get everything in.’