May was a month of comebacks and breakthroughs – from a hard-won half marathon after a disrupted spring, to a marathon PB that had been a long time coming, to one of the best race atmospheres in London running. Here is the full round-up.
Nick Grobler – Ranelagh Half Marathon | May 2026
A really great one to see after a frustrating few weeks.
Back in April, Nick had an unlucky trip out to the US for the Boston Marathon, picking up a stomach bug in the days leading into the race. Despite trying to muscle through and race on empty, it just was not to be. After taking a few weeks to reassess, we decided against jumping straight back into another marathon block and instead shifted the focus towards some shorter races over the summer.
Ranelagh showed just how strong that Boston training block actually was. Nick ran 1:17:45, with incredibly consistent splits from start to finish – a brilliant way to bounce back after the disappointment of a few weeks earlier. Excited to see where we can get to over these shorter races in the months ahead.
Jodie Pearlman – Southern Athletic League 3000m | May 2026
What a run from Jodie at the Southern Athletic League 3000m.
She clocked 11:47.79 – a massive 40-second PB from the last time she tackled the distance a few years back. It is always special to see that kind of improvement reflected on the clock, and this one was well deserved. What made the performance even more impressive was that her fastest kilometre of the race was the last one. Closing out a race that way, when so many athletes are fading, takes real strength and discipline, and it is a brilliant indicator of the fitness and racing smarts she is building. There is clearly a lot more to come from Jodie.
Elise Brockhurst – Salzburg Marathon | May 2026
What a day for Elise at the Salzburg Marathon.
After a tough one in Berlin back in September – dealing with scorching conditions that made it nearly impossible to run to potential – Salzburg was a completely different story, and Elise had her day. 3:11:05. A massive 13-minute 14-second PB. Over a minute negative split. 2nd in her age group and 11th overall. The numbers speak for themselves.
What makes this result so special is the context behind it. We have been putting in consistent, focused training over the past few months, and this performance was the culmination of all of that hard work. Berlin was a reminder that sometimes the conditions just are not on your side – Salzburg was the reminder of what happens when everything comes together. So well deserved, Elise. This is just the beginning.
Sarah Borland – Hackney Half | May 2026
A brilliant day at the Hackney Half – one of the best race atmospheres around.
Sarah ran a fantastic 1:52:06, only a few weeks out from the London Marathon and still building back. A great sign of things to come.
Jessie Benson – Hackney Half | May 2026
Jessie clocked 1:49:41 at one of her favourite races of the year. Hackney always brings the party, and Jessie brought the performance to match.
Tim Farrell – Hackney Half | May 2026
Tim ran a great 1:48:46 – a local race and a much more enjoyable day out this time around.
Three very different athletes, three great performances on the streets of Hackney, and a proud coach watching the hard work show up on race day.
Train With a London Running Coach in 2026
May was a reminder that progress does not always come in a straight line – sometimes it is a comeback after illness, sometimes it is a PB years in the making, and sometimes it is simply showing up and enjoying the race. Every athlete’s journey is different, and that is exactly why the coaching approach is always individual.
Whether you are chasing a PB, getting back into running after a setback, or training for your first race – as a London running coach with an MSc in Performance Coaching, I combine sports science, structured training, and personalised support to help runners at every level reach their potential.
Get in touch via the contact page – let us talk about what we can build together.