Video reaction: Jeff Pyrah
Wearing his Hastings AC vest, the 41-year-old produced a brilliant run to win the Sussex Championship after finishing fourth overall in 1:10:35.
He said: “I think I did exceed my own expectations. I wanted to do sub 71 (minutes) and I did 70-and-a-half so I’m pretty pleased with that.”
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Hide AdPyrah isn’t running any of the April marathons this year and instead prioritised the Hastings Lions Club-organised event yesterday (Sunday) morning.
“I felt quite strong today,” he continued. “I’ve focused on this one this year which is probably the reason I ran well today. I got into a nice little group of people I know and we ran together all the way to the top.
“Because I’m from Hastings (AC) that really helped. Everyone was cheering me on and I got away from them about halfway, and then it was trying to keep pushing all the way really.”
A former British orienteering champion and ultra runner, Iden-based Pyrah is a lifelong runner with a marathon personal best of 2:28. He and wife Sam Murphy run natural running store The Emperor’s New Shoes and coach Rye Runners.
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Hide Ad“I was brought up on hills and I really like them,” added Pyrah, who came eighth in last month’s Brighton Half Marathon and will be running a marathon in the Alps this summer. “I’ve been training on them in Hastings with some other Hastings guys so I was well prepared.”