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Ron races the train

Ron Seward travelled to Tywyn in West Wales to race the train.  The event started at 2:05 pm as the Fat Controller blew his whistle. The steam train made its way up the gently sloping straight track to Abergynolwyn before making its return.

Meanwhile the runners were tackling fields, hills, tracks, streams and bogs made particularly challenging after Storm Betty. The outward part of the run was definitely easier than the return and the train was often tantalisingly in view. However, for the final part of the run the train’s route was considerably shorter than that of the runners.  Nonetheless, 47 of the 500 starters outperformed the steam engine which completed its route in 1hr 48 minutes. Having taken a couple of tumbles and completely immersing himself in the bog, Ron completed the 23 km course in a (replacement bus service) time of 2:19:56 in 234th and third M70, being pipped to second by just two-hundredths of a second.

Seaton and parkrun tourism

 It was a bright, windy Saturday in Seaton with a very big turn-out for parkrun. Plenty of tourists joined the regulars with more than 300 finishers.  Second female was Debbie Whiston in 20:29, also second on age-grade in 77%.  Rich Hardy was fourth finisher in 19:20. Kathryn Thompson secured nice new PB in 32:10, respectively.

Tourism award for the furthest travelled this week goes to Chris Polley who did a hot and humid East Park parkrun in Singapore in an impressive 21:59. Tony Smith and Sam Miller did Glengariff parkrun in Ireland securing their G meaning they are just one-away from the full parkrun alphabet.  Meanwhile Carol Austin did Jersey Farm parkrun to nab her J leaving her also just one letter left.  Bec Davey also got her G at Great Yarmouth parkrun.

Yeovilton 5k

Four AVRs took part in the fourth of the Yeovilton 5k  summer series on Wednesday evening.  Matt Frost was first AVR in 22ndplace in an impressive 18:09 with David Cull securing a PB for his 18:54. Adrian Strawbridge was 53rdfinishing in 20:17, 12th M40, with James Ashforth, 72nd in 22:40.  There were 114 finishers on the night.  There are two more events in the series: Wed 6th and Wed 13th September with entry details here:

Triple celebration at Seaton parkrun

Aileen Heal celebrated her 150th parkrun, her 100th volunteer stint at Seaton, and four years cancer-free at Saturday’s parkrun.  She was joined by friends from the Tu-Tu tribe and was also tail-walker.  Run Director for the day, Susi Sadler presented Aileen with her 100 volunteer hat before the event got underway.

In the event itself Ritchie Durrant led for most of the course but was pipped on the pebbles by tourist, Kieran O’Hara who finished in17:32 with Ritchie just behind in 17:35.  Debbie Whiston was second female in 20:30 and Ron Seward was second on age-grade with 78% for his 22:59.

Saturday nights are made for …running!

Eleven AVRs were ‘out-out’ on Saturday evening competing at the Shave Cross mini marathon, a 5-mile fun run as part of an activity filled charity evening at Kitty’s Farm.

Rob Collier was sixth and Kerry Board was first vet female.

A Family Affair

It was a family affair at the Wessex 10k as four AVRs, the Seward family plus Bob Carter, ventured to Somerton on a windy Saturday evening. The course took place on the Somerset Levels, initially involving dodging large puddles, although these soon became impossibly watery obstacles. This was followed by a 1k climb just before the finish, pay back for the descent earlier in the run.

Ron Seward stormed home in 47.48, first in 70+ category, and faster than all the M60s, 27th overall.  Bob Carter in a season’s best of 58.48 was 84th; Fiona Seward in 1.01.09, third F60 and Shirley Salter in 123rd in 1.11.52, gamely finishing despite picking an injury.  A total of 138 runners finished the event organised by Race Nation .

A run around Exeter

Cory Schultz completed the Green Lantern self-navigated run around the Exeter ring, a just over half-marathon on the Green Circle clockwise around the city, through wooded valleys, meadows, bicycle lanes and the banks of the Exe.

He completed the 14.2 mile race, organised by Wild Running, in 2:12.59 coming in 21st place with 87 finishing the race, run on Saturday evening after the worst of the wind and rain.

Haselbury 10K

Four AVRs travelled to North Perrott in Somerset on Wednesday evening for the annual running of the Haselbury10k trail race organised by Crewkerne Running Club. Starting and finishing at North Perrott Cricket Club, the race uses varied and scenic off-road footpaths and tracks. The recent heavy rain made it heavy going compared to previous years, but thankfully despite rain earlier in the day the weather stayed dry for the race which attracted 134 finishers.

All finishers were rewarded with a bottle of apple juice pressed at a local farm.
Ian Kinnersley finished 30th 50.33; Kerry Board was next AVR in 39th  51.40, first F45.  Andy West was 45th in 53.16 with Richard Matthews in 72nd in 58.37.

Mumbles Centurian

Haydn Boehm completed a three-day triathlon on the lovely Gower Peninsula.  Friday’s 2k swim represented his longest ever, the 50 mile bike ride was during the height of Storm Antoni so very challenging while Sunday’s 20k run was along the beautiful coastline from Oxwich back to the Mumbles in much sunnier conditions.  Haydn finished 49th, a creditable 8th M40.

Seaton parkrun beats Storm Antoni

An early course inspection by weatherman and RD, Tim Sibley and ED, Carol Austin gave the parkrun the go-ahead despite the best efforts of Storm Antoni but it was still rough conditions for the runners, walkers and volunteers.  First female finisher was Debbie Whiston in 21:28; Janet Cullum was first on age-grade in 75% for her 30:00 finish and Andy West, followed his good performance in midweek, by taking third age-grade in 74%, 22:29.  It was no surprise that there were no AVR PBs given the tough headwind.

Congratulations to Emma Richardson who celebrated her 100th parkrun running with lots of AVRs, and new member, Baz Chandra who reached his 50 milestone.

Tony Smith and Sam Miller nabbed a Q for the alphabet challenge at a very wet Queen Elizabeth parkrun in Hampshire while Angela and Martin Kerr visiting old haunts took part in Linford Wood in Milton Keynes.