Beastly but Fun

The Blackdown Beast, brilliantly organised by Honiton RC, is a ‘fun’ self-navigated run across 10 or 16 miles of the Blackdown hills starting and finishing in Dunkeswell.  There is a stop for mulled cider, tea and pasties in Smeatharpe to raise money for MacMillan’s as well as the option to call it a day there and take the minibus taxi back to the start.  Otherwise it is another 6 or 7 miles back via Upottery and Luppett.  Challenging, hilly and boggy after all the recent rain, a big turnout of AVRs enjoyed the event describing it as perfect Grizzly preparation!

It is self-timed without results but AVR’s Tim Lennon and Patrick Devine-Wright were the first back at the start.

 

Seaton parkrun – the one with the hot wind stream

The event started in a wickedly cold wind and, then, as predicted by Saturday’s Run Director, AVR’s Tim Sibley a change of wind direction led to a bizarre warm draught welcomed by volunteers and runners alike.

First home was Joel Seward in 17:12, sporting his sparkly new 100 milestone Tee after joining the 100-club last week.  Second finisher, and first on age-grade in 79%, was Ryan Snell in 17:45.  First female finisher was Debbie Whiston in 21:04 while Carol Austin was second on age-grade in 78% for her 24:59.

There was a PB for Baz Chandra in 26:48 and a special shout-out to Sarah Shepley who finished in 29:48, her first sub-30 since knee surgery following a bike accident in 2020.

Out on the road, Jon Day completed Sharpham Estate parkrun in Totnes  and Tony Smith ran Dinton Pastures parkrun near Wokingham.