Windy Weymouth
After Saturday’s thunderstorms there were a number a puddles to negotiate during the Weymouth 10. The course consisted of an outward run along the promenade followed by two toughs loops around the hills of Bowleaze. Runners then retraced their steps along the seafront, albeit into a tortuous headwind
Ron Seward finished 62nd in 1:23:40 coming away with the MV70 trophy.
In his first event as an AVR, Darrell Farley, finished in 1:26.33 (72nd). A total of 154 runners took part in the event, organised by Egdon Harriers.
Turkey triumph
Ragnhild Richards ran the Kas half marathon in Turkey, a stunning and hilly road race around the marina and out on the peninsula. She was pleased with her time, 2:16.30 which was a 16 second improvement on three years ago and secured her first F60+, although she confesses she was the only F60+!
Celebrations at parkrun
Bob Carter celebrated his 50th parkrun at Seaton on Saturday along with his 50thvolunteering stint. Niall McNeice completed his 100th parkrun after being struck with an injury a few months ago while on 99. On Saturday he ran with wife, Natalie, who is also on the comeback trail after a couple of serious leg injuries.
Steve Lewis nabbed a PB in 25:37 while first finisher was AVR’s Richard Hardy in 17:09.
Tough conditions for the off roaders
Richard Hale was one of 30 finishers in the 7-mile Ponty Plod race in South Wales, a multi terrain race with the usual steep hills, wet, muddy and stony tracks and gullies to navigate. He finished 12th overall taking first 1st MV70 spot in 1:20:35.
Even further north, James Green tackled the Buttermere Shepherds Meet, a 5k ‘out/up and back’ with 2000ft of climb that summits Robinson from Gatesgarth farm at the head of the Buttermere valley. The weather was torrential and blustery.
Here he describes the experience: “The 20-minute flog to the summit was straight forward enough. There was a short jog at the start and a painfully slow jog for the final 150 yds to the summit but the rest was rarely more than a hike with intermittent clasping at bracken with my hands to maintain the momentum. I started nearer the back in a field of about 80 runners. Once into the proper climbing I grew in confidence to finally arrive in fifth spot at the top. With the preservation of my limbs for next week’s OMM in mind, a ‘conservative approach’ to the descent saw me drop back to 13th. I can most definitely recommend the thrill of an event like this. The descent was bonkers, even at my conservative pace and left me with a crooked grin despite falling several times in the gorse. I’ll be back for another one!” Best of luck in the big one next week James.
