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A Grand Day Out
There was an impressive turnout of AVRs at the Grand Canal Canter half-marathon in Tiverton on Sunday perhaps tempted by those extra championship points on offer. The flat course is run entirely on the Grand Western canal towpath starting and finishing in Tiverton with the turnaround at Sampford Peverell.
It was a beautiful sunny morning, although still a little misty at 8am when the first race began in which Georgie Ryan took part finishing in 2:08.59, a new PB, and 75th place. The second race, at the later start of 10.45am attracted another eight AVRs with first AVR home Jason Potter in fourth place and first M35 in a PB of 1:36.11 closely followed by Simon McClellan in sixth place in 1:39:18. Luke Freathy was 12th in 1:52.01 with Jo Orsman in 29th in 2:13.35; Bob Carter, 30th in 2:15.16; Cath Brenton, 38th in 2:33.59; Shuna George, 44th in 2:48.53 and Baz Chandra, 45th in 2:48.54, running in his ever half-marathon.
The Power of Ten(s)
Matt Frost took part in the Exeter City Community Trust Halloween 10 miler. Starting in Exeter Canal Basin, the flat and fast route took runners around the scenic route of the Exe Valley River Park with a five and ten mile option available. Matt chose the ten-mile race to use it as part of a marathon training run so did a 10-mile warm up beforehand. He was then aiming to run at planned marathon pace but ended up running in his words more like “a dream marathon pace” finishing fourth in an excellent 1:01:29. A total of 116 completed the 10m option.
Jeremy and John Larcombe took on The Stickler, a challenging ten-mile race hosted by the Dorset Doddlers, now in its 29th year. It includes three of Dorset’s highest peaks with more than 1500 feet of gruelling climbing, beginning with the infamous ’Stickle Path’. Runners ascend three locally renowned peaks along the beautiful Stour Valley: Okeford Beacon, Hod Hill and Hambledon Hill. The course is mostly on gravel tracks, with some stretches on tarmac and grass.
Luckily on Sunday it was a super sunny morning with the course dry in most places. Jeremy came in 128th in 1:32:42 with John 431st in 2:09:52. More than 500 completed the race.
Marathon Eryri
Back from completing two marathons on opposite sides of the world, Angela Kerr took part in her third marathon in two months at the beautiful and scenic Marathon Eryri in Snowdonia on Saturday. The demanding and spectacular route which encircles Yr Wyddfa – the highest peak in Wales – has made this iconic route one of the most popular races in the calendar. On a beautiful sunny day in Wales, Angela finished in 5:33.44, 593rd female, enjoying the stunning scenery as well as the 2590 feet of ascent!
Turkish Delight
Ragnhild Richards completed the Kaş half marathon in Kalkan, Turkey on Sunday. It was hilly and hot so she was pleased to finish in 2:16.32, just two seconds different to last year! She was also first, of two, F60.
Halloween Fun at Haldon
It was a spooky Friday night in the Haldon Woods and Louise Rawlins, never one to shy away from a dressing up opportunity, Aaron Rawlins and their son, Marley, took part in the Halloween Twilight 5k. With ghosts, spooks and zombies to distract and scare them they finished 33rd, 34th and 35th in 36:51.
Stonebarrow 10k
It was a beautiful autumn day for the final National Trust 10k of this summer with Tony Smith, Andy West and Sarah Day taking part in the slightly shortened route due to Landgon Woods being out of use but still providing spectacular views over Golden Cap. Purely for the enjoyment of the scenery and with no times this run is held on the fourth Sunday of the month, May to October.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
Conditions were perfect again in Seaton on Saturday with AVR securing both first finisher places and first on age-grade. Ritchie Durrant, first male in 17:13 and Kerry Board, first female in 22.21. Eleanor Wood was again first on age-grade with 91% for her 23:17. Simon Dimmock was second finisher in 18:30. There were PBs for Mark Parsons in 23:41; Nicola Guppy in 29:22; Helen Boehm in 29:26 and Shirley Goy in 30:43.
Further afield Paul Johns completed Riverfront parkrun in Newport; Jeremy and Liz Slade ran Arrow Valley parkrun in Redditch; Cliff Marriott took part in Thurrock parkrun in Essex; Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley joined the masses at the new Battersea parkrun while Patrick Devine-Wright, Rupert Pady, Karen Eyre and Tom Parsons enjoyed the new winter route at Killerton parkrun. Meanwhile David and Susi Sadler nabbed a U at Upton House parkrun and completed their 50th different location.
Mendip muddy madness
With the effects of Storm Ashley wiping out many events including the Great South Run it is a short round-up this week.
Storm Ashley was at its peak as AVR’s Karen Eyre and Rupert Pady took to the start line for the Mendip Muddle, a tough 20k multi-terrain race in the Mendip Hills starting at Blagdon. The route is described as scenic with a 420m climb and stunning views, a nature reserve, conifer forest and an iron age fort. However with the wind and driving rain and hail of Sunday runners just wanted to see the finish line. Finishing in an excellent ninth place, Rupert Pady was first M50 in 1:40.07 while Karen Eyre, despite feeling tired after organising the ColyTEN last week, also ran exceptionally well to finish eighth female and first F50 in 1:58.17. Both won a large tub of chocolates.
The race, which attracted 137 finishers, forms part of the Somerset Series of 18 races from which runners must complete eight to be in the final standings.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
On Saturday the perfect conditions attracted another big turnout to Seaton with 280 finishers. Many AVRs completed the parkrun before, as part of or after a longer run clearly aware of Storm Ashley’s arrival on Sunday! First AVR home was Rich Hardy, second finisher, in 17:47 just pipping Harry McMahon into the third finisher spot in 17:50. Debbie Whiston was second female in 20:12. Eleanor Wood with an amazing 90% was first on age-grade for her 23:33.
There were PBs for Zoe Harp in 25:35; Helen Boehm in 30:51; and Shirley Goy in 31:05.
Further afield Kerry Board, fresh from her brilliant Chicago marathon last week, took part in Roosevelt Island DC parkrun in Washington, finishing fourth woman on her tired legs in 23:20. Luke Freathy took part in Durham parkrun while Craig Tiley completed Nothwich parkrun and Andy Goy ran Peter Pan parkrun in Hull. Closer to home, Patrick Devine-Wright and Rupert Pady did Killerton parkrun and Georgie Ryan and Steve Saunders enjoyed the fast Exmouth parkrun.
Thrills and spills at the ColyTEN
The conditions were perfect for the second year of the ColyTEN held on Sunday with the event once again a huge success thanks to the great organisation of Rob Collier, Karen Eyre and a big team of AVRs supporting them.
The 10-mile race began in the muddiest of fields in Colyton with runners crossing two rivers, tackling a number of tough hills into the woods at Morganhayes then returning via more mud to the finish at the Peace Memorial Playing Fields. AVR’s Chair Haydn Boehm rocked the MC role all morning and a host of AVRs and Colyton Youth Football members provided refreshments and huge support for the runners and spectators.
The race itself attracted nearly 250 runners with a big-turn out of AVRs amongst them.
The winners were Wayne Loveridge, Chard Road Runners, in 1:06.25 and Emily Cowper-Coles, Dark Peak Fell Runners in 1:10.43. Second male was AVR’s Rik Tumber in a superb 1:08.18 followed by a great battle between Matt Clist who held on for fourth in 1:09.49, and Rich Hardy, fifth in 1:09.50. AVR’s Debbie Whiston was an excellent third female in 1:17.51. Age group prizes went to Matt Clist, M45; Rich Hardy M40; Rupert Pady M55 for his 1:18.27; Eleanor Wood, first F60 for a brilliant 1:32.34; and Sue Hayes F50 finishing in 1:36.33, even after stopping to help a fallen AVR.
The prizes, handcrafted mugs and boxes of veggies, were presented by Jody Tucker, chair of Colyton Youth Football and Haydn Boehm, chair of Axe Valley Runners.
Full results are here.
My kinda marathon
Kerry Board and Angela Kerr completed the Chicago marathon in the windy city, one of the World Marathon Majors. On the day when the women’s marathon record was obliterated by Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich who won in an incredible 2:09.56, there were mixed fortunes for the AVR duo.
Kerry finished in a brilliant 3:31, 2645th female, 197th F45, 12021st overall. After just four weeks to recover from the Sydney marathon, Angela struggled from 30k but still dug deep to finish in 5:50, 141st F65, to achieve an amazing fifth marathon major with just one to go to complete the set.
A Royal Affair
AVR’s Lee Brooker and Emma Richardson travelled to the Capital for the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Starting in Hyde Park the route includes Green Park, Kensington Gardens, Buckingham Palace Garden, St James’s Park and the Mall, so covering much of the London marathon route but just the 13.1 miles.
Finishing as the 5257th male in 2:03.03 Lee Brooker was delighted with a shiny new PB while Emma Richardson ran her second fastest half marathon to finish in 2:19.23, 5195th female. More than 17000 completed the race.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
It was a quiet one for AVR in Seaton on Saturday due to the ColyTEN but there was a good turnout of volunteers and visitors including a family from Australia showing the joy parkrun brings across the world. Harry McMahon was first finisher in 18:03 and Helen Boehm continued her streak of PBs for her 31:04. Julia Conway celebrated her 50th milestone; Robert Kerr achieved his 100th parkrun and 100th volunteer milestone on the same day – great synchronisation; and a shout-out to Sarah Shepley for her 250th volunteer milestone achieved recently at Stop Line Way junior parkrun.
Tom Parsons popped over the border to complete St Mary’s parkrun in Bridport in the pouring rain along with Tracy Chapman; Andy Goy did Peter Pan parkrun in Hull; Paul Johns took part in Plym Valley parkrun while Anthony and Adrianne Mullins secured their U at Upton House parkrun. Jo Orsman ran Exmouth parkrun mid long-run and Patrick Devine-Wright was an impressive sixth at Killerton parkrun.