Four AVRs travelled north to take part in the increasingly popular Manchester marathon.  The UK’s flattest marathon, the 26.1 mile route starts near the famous Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, with the runners heading into the city centre then out to the superb of Altrincham before weaving their way back to the finish line opposite the stadium.

First AVR home was Matt Frost in an excellent 2:52.55, just outside his PB, in 445^th place.  Ian Kinnersley finished in a very impressive 3:38.58 taking more than three minutes off his PB, 30^th M60 and 4053^rd.  Jason Potter was next to finish in 6494^th in 3:48.08, a huge PB.  Vicki Wraight was 12314^th in 4:17.06, just outside her PB although delighted nonetheless.  More than 32000 took part in the event, now the UK’s second biggest marathon.

Sid Valley Ring Half

Conditions were good on Saturday for the Sid Valley Ring half marathon organised by Climb South West. It’s a tough but scenic course around the marked walking route with just over 2000 feet of elevation. Surprisingly, Adele Girdwood was the only AVR, coming in at 2:50:54, 56^th from the 96 finishers.

Seaton parkrun

There was another big turnout in Seaton with 260 finishers. AVR’s Joel Seward was first finisher in 17:41 with Luke Reed third finisher in 17:56.

Out on the tourist trail, Debbie Whiston was first female finisher at Lloyd parkrun in Croydon in  21:28  while Tony Smith ended up pacing at Barnsley parkrun expertly finishing in 22:50.  Bec and Simon Davey secured the U for the alphabet challenge at Upton House parkrun near Poole.  It was Alexandra parkrun, Moss Side, pre marathon for Vicki Wraight while Matt Frost completed Longrun Meadow on route to Manchester along with Diane Newton. Craig Tiley took part in Penrose parkrun and Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley enjoyed the promenade of Burnham and Highbridge.

On Easter Monday, six AVRs hopped over to Yeovil for the Easter Bunny 10k which starts and finishes at RNAS Yeovilton.  Fast and flat with eggselent racing conditions there were some quick times amongst the 200+ finishers.  The winners were Bath’s Michael Towler in 32:48 and Wells City’s Daisy Davies in 36:01.

AVR men, Joel Seward, Matt Hewer and Luke Reed, impressively came away with the first male team prize.   Matt Hewer also scooped first M40 for his 14^th overall finish in 36:32, a shiny new PB too, just pipping Luke Reed by one hundredth of a second, 15^th in 36:33 who took second M40.  Joel Seward, 12^th overall in 36:05 was the first AVR to finish.

Simon McClellan took fourth M50 in 43:34, 45^th overall with Aaron Rawlins 60^th in 45:58 and Louise Rawlins 119^th in a PB of 54:27.  All finishers received a lovey Easter bunny shaped medal.

Fast Friday 10k

In Exeter on Good Friday it was very much the morning after the night before with a swift course rejig to account for the effects of Storm Nelson. It was therefore a four-lap race with plenty of corners as well as the wind for runners to contend with.

First AVR home in 13^th place and third M40 was Terry Emmett in 35:14 just one-hundredth of a second ahead of Ritchie Durrant in 14^th in 35:15.  Rich Hardy was 35^th in 37:03, eighth M40;  Matt Frost, 47^th in 37:59; and Angela Kerr, 217^th, third F65 in 55:38.  There were 284 finishers in the race organised superbly well in challenging circumstances by City Runs.

Nelson prevents time trial and Seaton parkrun

Sadly the damage done to the seafront in Seaton from Storm Nelson on Thursday evening affected both AVR’s Good Friday time trial and Saturday’s parkrun with the debris from the storm and dancing beach huts causing the routes to be unsafe.

However a large group of AVRs ran a re-routed social 10k followed by coffee at The Hideaway on Friday.  Thanks to Eleanor Wood, Haydn Boehm, Cliff Marriott and Lesley Adams who stood in to lead groups.

On Saturday many AVRs joined with parkrun volunteers to support a general clean-up of the Esplanade during the parkrun usual time slot.  It is hoped that the event will be back to normal this Saturday.

Out on the tourist trail, Paul Johns and Jon Day tackled the beautiful but tough Woolacombe Dunes parkrun; Adrianne and Anthony Mullins enjoyed Lands End parkrun; Adele Girdwood ran Worsley Woods parkrun; Simon Dimmock took part in Portsmouth Lakeside and Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley ran Parke parkrun near Bovey Tracey.  Meanwhile Carolyn Nation nabbed her O for the parkrun alphabet challenge at Oaklands in Birmingham.

The 36^th edition of the Grizzly was certainly one of, if not, the muddiest yet.  After months of heavy rain the conditions underfoot were treacherous although thankfully the runners, volunteers and spectators enjoyed sunshine and blue skies on the day.

AVRs had yet another hugely successful day both as the lead organisers and in the race itself.  The biggest shout-out must go to Race Directors, Andy West and Steve Haines along with the Grizzly Committee for their superb organisation during many months of grafting behind the scenes and on the day itself which ran like clockwork.  In addition big thanks to all the AVRs who supported the event with marshalling throughout the course, the huge start and finish area operation, and across the weekend at Race HQ and the Grizfest event.

The weekend began with a very large parkrun, clearly attracting many visitors with more than 400 participants.  In the afternoon, 260 children took part in the Grizfest races not deterred by the pouring rain and chilly wind; clearly some hard-core Grizzly runners in the making! Congratulations to all those who ran and to Karen Eyre and her team for the superb organisation.

Sunday surprised everyone with the sun shining by the race start at 10.30am.  The course was the hardest most runners had ever seen, even those with many Grizzlies in the bank.  Despite the tough conditions, more than 1300 completed the gruelling 20-mile Grizzly route including a huge number of AVRs.

AVR’s Emily Cowper-Coles was the female winner on her Grizzly debut using all her fell running experience to absolutely fly in and finish in an incredible 2:37.25, 12^th place overall.  First home was last year’s winner, Exmouth Harriers’ Sam Kelly in 2:20.36 with Matt Clist the first AVR in an excellent 2:32.49, seventh overall and second M45.

Joel Seward was second male AVR, 19^th overall, in 2:41.43 with Tim Lenton just behind in 20^th in 2:45.01, second M50.

Second AVR female was Debbie Whiston, also making her Grizzly debut, seventh female and second F45 finishing in 3:04.57.  Kerry Board was third female AVR in 3:43.39.

Other age-graded AVRs in the top three were Eleanor Wood, first F60 in 3:53.08; Graham Newton first M70 in 3:52.05; Patrick Devine-Wright, third M50 in 2:49.49; and Karen Eyre, third F50 in 3:51.03.

But, of course, the Grizzly isn’t just about times, it’s often mind over matter or a celebration just to get round.  And very often it is the support of other runners that can make all the difference.  Lindsey Freathy only decided on Saturday to run the full Grizzly inspired by the video of a previous race at the HQ. She was supported all the way round by Alan Morbey and Steve Lewis.  She sums it up perfectly, “They could have gone a lot faster but were so kind to help me, natter and enjoy the scenery.  I am so thankful to them, it is what makes AVR such a special club.”

Of course there also aren’t many races where you’re offered a beer on the return journey or where you run through a pub during the course!

In the Cub race, Harry McMahon, new AVR member and just 17 romped home in 1:06.54. Second AVR and third overall was Ritchie Durrant in 1:12.39.

AVR’s Emilie Brock was second female, first F40 and first female AVR to finish in 1:20.13. Second AVR and second F45 was Sue Hayes in 1:29.47 with Lou Tucker third AVR female in 1:30.22 and second F40. The female Cub Race had been won by Caroline McAleese in 1:15.27.  More than 630 completed the race.  Other top three age-graded AVRs were Ron Seward, first M70 in 1:42.44; Jase Potter, second M35 in 1:32.44; Kevin Feeney second M70 in 1:54.51; Janet Cullum, second F70; Simon McClellan third M55 in an excellent 1:27.24; and Barry Follett third M60 in 1:38.11.

Running together were Aileen Heal and Jools Elsom with Liz Curley and Angela Morgan, both graduates of a recent ‘Couch to 5K’, showing once more the offer and depth of support the club provides throughout the year.

The full Grizzly and Cub results are here

Weymouth Half

Diana Burn completed the Weymouth half marathon on Sunday in 2:27 and using it as a training run for the London Marathon.

Under the Lights at the Exmouth 5

Last Wednesday evening the final of the City Runs organised “Under the Lights” series was a 5m race in Exmouth.  Matt Frost was 13^th in 29:50; Ian Kinnersley 23^rd in 33:50 and second M60; Eleanor Wood 32^nd and second F65 in 37:45; and Ron Seward, first M70, 33^rd in 38:57.  All contributed to a third place team finish for AVR.

Four AVRs took the short trip to Exmouth for the Bradley’s 10k on Sunday.  Starting on the seafront runners headed to Orcombe Point before turning and following the beachfront back to the start point and repeating for a second lap.  The flat course, run on hard surfaced footpaths and the lovely sunny spring day meant perfect conditions for the 150 competitors.

Joel Seward came in an excellent third place in 35:49 with Ritchie Durrant hot on his heels just six seconds behind finishing in 35:55 for fourth.  Next up was Luke Reed in fifth, first M40, in 37:31.

Lee Brooker was 72^nd in a massive lifetime best of 53:53.

There is another running of the race, organised by LM Events, in the autumn.

Mud Glorious mud!

Seaton parkrun

With the cliff falls still affecting West Walk, the three-lap course was used again this weekend.  First female finisher was Debbie Whiston in 20:47 with Kerry Board second in 22:56. Eleanor Wood was first on age-grade with 89% for her 23:50 with Ron Seward second on age grade in 79% for his 23:26.

Out on the tourism trail were Dave Hutton and Sue Chambers nabbing their V for the alphabet challenge at Victoria Docks; Ian Smith and John Whittaker took part in Gunnersbury parkrun; Bec Davey ran Dolgellau in Wales; Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley completed Stewart parkrun in Middlesborough while Shaun Vinnicombe completed the very picturesque Llanhydrock parkrun in Cornwall.

Organised by Sidmouth Running Club, the Four Trigs is another low-key, challenging multi-terrain race with an obscene amount of climb involved!  Approximately 28km, runners chose their own route that must include the four Trig points at High Point, Beacon Hill, Buckton Hill and Weston Cliff.  This year’s event was started by five-time Olympian and the 2014 European 10,000m champion, Jo Pavey.  The race raises much needed funds for the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young.

The race, which provides ideal preparation for the Grizzly, was won by last year’s winner, Exmouth Harriers’ Sam Kelly.  There was a good turnout of AVRs with Tim Lenton finishing third in 2:30.37 and Patrick Devine-Wright just behind in fourth in 2:32.16.  Kerry Board was third female in an excellent 3:17.04.  Rob Collier came in seventh, improving on last year’s time to finish in 2:41.42.  Others who ran the challenging self-navigated route in pairs, were Ian Kinnersley and Eleanor Wood who finished in 3:33.37; Jeremy Slade and Andy West in 3:48.20; and David and Susi Sadler, who were delighted to reach all four Trigs this year, in 5:36.52.

British Masters Championships & Chichester 10k

Three AVRs travelled to West Sussex for the British Masters 10k Championship which took place at Goodwood Motor Race Circuit near Chichester.  AVRs team of Carol Austin, Ann Coston and Angela Kerr took second team prize in the F55+ category.  First AVR home in 562^nd place was Carol Austin in 46:54, sixth F60.  Ann Coston was 704^th finishing in 50:11, 18^th F55 while Angela Kerr was ninth F65 in 917^th place overall in 55:46.   More than 1200 runners completed the fast, flat race with the first five finishers in sub-31 minutes.

 Seaton parkrun

There was another bumper turnout at Seaton parkrun on Saturday with the good conditions and pacers helping six AVRs to shiny new PBs.  Tim Sibley came home in 20:18; his marathon training clearly paying off!  Adrian Strawbridge in 21:01; Suzi Blackett in 24:40; Ben Morgan in 25:36; Lee Brooker in 26:54; and Shirley Goy in 42:29 were the others celebrating PBs.

First home was Joel Seward in 16:59 with second finisher Rich Hardy in 17:42. First female finisher was Debbie Whiston in 20:20, also second on age-grade with 79%, with Ron Seward third on age-grade with 78% for his 23:37 finish.

Congratulations to Kevin Feeney who completed his 350^th parkrun as one of a number of AVRs on pacing duties.  Carol Austin, Saturday’s Run Director, completed her 200^th volunteering stint at Seaton parkrun.

On the road, Georgie Ryan smashed her parkrun PB by nearly a minute at the fast Exmouth event finishing in 28:50.  Matt Frost completed Denton Dene parkrun in Newcastle; Alan Sealey Itchen Valley Country Park parkrun while Liz and Jeremy Slade completed Southsea parkrun.