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A weekend in the Lakes with a difference

James Green teamed up with Justin Nicholas from Climb Southwest to take on the 53rd Original Mountain Marathon, OMM in the Langdale Valley this weekend. A 2-day self-navigated, self-supported mountain race where runners are provided with a map with checkpoints at the start.

The weather was reasonably mild but very windy with heavy showers all weekend. After day one the pair found themselves lying 15th with a time of 8hr 8mins overnight. After a good rest in a tent hastily pitched between the showers they attacked day two on sore limbs moving up to 11th overall with a total time of 14hrs 49mins.  Just 24 couples completed this tough, endurance race in their category.

Herepath Half

Six AVRs crossed the border into Somerset for the multi-terrain Herepath Half-marathon, a circular race following the Staple Fitzpaine bridleway, a tough route with 1450 feet of ascent.  Lee Moran was first AVR home in 10th place in an excellent 1:39.51.  Eleanor Wood was second female to finish in a brilliant 1:58.40.  Andy West was 74th in 2:09.33 while Steve Lewis was first M70 in 108th in 2:23.53.  Suzie Blackett and Helen Holmes ran together to finish 122nd and 123rd in 2:34.   A total of 168 finished the race organised Taunton’s Running Forever Running Club.

A Canter by the Canal

Starting at the Tiverton Canal Basin and heading along the canal towpath for 6.6 miles to Sampford Peverell then turning to run back to Tiverton, Aileen Heal, Bob Carter, Ian Westwood, Louise Rawlins and Zoe Harp were among the 75 competitors for the flat Winding Paths Grand Canal Half Marathon.  Running together Louise Rawlins and Iain Westworth finished 35th and 36th in 2:13.30 with Bob Carter just behind in 42nd in 2:14.24.  Zoe Harp came 63rd in 2:37.56 with Aileen Heal, recovering from a foot injury, in 64th in 2:39.08.

 

 

 

A sticky Stickler

Jeremy Larcombe and his father, John travelled to Blandford Forum in Dorset for the The Stickler; a tough 10.1 mile multi-terrain race that starts with the infamous stickle path and includes more than 1500 feet of gruelling climbing.

In the wind and rain through sticky mud Jeremy Larcombe finished in an impressive 1.46 with John Larcombe finishing in 2.07.

Spooky shenanigans for Halloween

Exeter Halloween 5 organised by the City Community Trust runs along the River Exe starting and finishing at the Quay.  Matt Frost took third place in 30:17.70 with Darrell Farley 17th in 38:25.8 with 88 completing the 5m race.

Not content with one race, Matt also competed on Saturday evening at a 10k trail run Moonlit Meadow run organised by Channel Events. Run in the dark with just the use of head torches he was an excellent second in 42.36.

A trio of centuries 

Three AVRs celebrated their 100th parkrun milestone at Seaton on Saturday.  Kerry Board also finished third female in 22:07.  Darrell Farley and John Hocking also ran their 100th while Rik Tumber was third finisher (and first Zombie) in 19:16.

At Stopline Way Junior parkrun the children and volunteers came in fancy dress for Halloween with 20 youngsters taking part in the 2k run.

 Before a weekend of racing, a group of AVRs enjoyed a spooky Halloween fun run around Seaton in fancy dress –it is hoped this will become an annual event.  Big thanks go to Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard for organising it.

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.

Beautiful Bath inspires AVR quartet

Four AVRs travelled to Bath for the much-postponed half-marathon and were rewarded with some beautiful autumn sunshine setting off the stunning Bath architecture.  A very well organised race started in Queen Square with a three-mile loop followed by two x five mile loops finishing with a wicked 100m uphill.  Apart from that finale it was a fast, flat course and ideal for spectators with the looped format.

More than 6700 runners completed the 13.1 mile race with Matt Frost finishing an excellent 208th.  Just two weeks after completing the London marathon Matt wasn’t sure how his legs would be.  He also took a tumble in the first mile but managed to get into a rhythm to finish in 1:24.01, his second fastest half marathon.

Second AVR home was Tom Parsons in 1:48.30, in a superb PB.  After a hampered build-up with a hamstring injury, Carol Austin was pleased with her 1:50.00, sixth F60.  Ron Seward was 48th M65 with a time of 1:53.36.

Southsea success

Simon Dimmock was delighted with his sub-1:10 and an excellent 605th at the Great South Run, a popular 10-mile race along the seafront from Southsea to Portsmouth.  His 1:09.41 was just 15 seconds off his time last year despite a build-up hampered by knee problems.

Shaun Vinnicombe’s target was to finish which he did in 2:13.21.

A massive 20,000 runners completed the race which was won by Ben Connor in 47.19 with his partner Lily Partridge, on the comeback trail after a major foot operation, winning the women’s race in 54.29.

AVR dominate Seaton parkrun

At Saturday’s parkrun in good conditions despite a heavy shower as the event started, AVR’s Joel Seward was second finisher in 17:22 with Richard Hardy, despite an Atlantic flight this week, in third in 17:28.  Kerry Board was second female finisher in 22:14 with Eleanor Wood, a week after celebrating her 50th parkrun, coming in third woman in 22:44 with another outstanding age-grade of 90.54%.  Congratulations to Maxine Sweetman who ran her 150thparkrun.

Cardiff cross success for Innes

Local athlete Innes Fitzgerald continued her incredible 2022 with victory in the combined U17/U20 Cardiff Cross Challenge on Saturday.