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Speedy September
Yeovilton 5K Summer Series
Wednesday evening saw the last in the 5K Summer Series at Yeovilton. The course is fast and flat, providing an ideal opportunity for PB-running and therefore attracting some very speedy individuals. Race number six, in September, didn’t disappoint. Matt Clist (16:15) was 10th overall and first in his age category, running a 5K PB. Karen Eyre (18th Female, 100th overall, 20:31) took nearly 30 seconds off her PB from last weekend’s parkrun and was third in her age category. Other results included Max Richardson (37th, 18:01), Lee Moran (60th, 18:48), Adrian Strawbridge (89th, 20:04), Rob Collier on pacing duties (93rd, 20:19), James Ashforth (97th, 20:28), Richard Jackson (103rd , 21:29), Richard Matthews (143rd, 22:22) and Jacqui Stokes (33rd Female, 147th overall, 22:39). There were 207 runners, 72 of them female, overall.
A full set of results can be found here: https://www.timingmonkey.co.uk/results/Yeovilton24/Race6/
Beautiful Bath
Thomas Parsons returned to his hometown for a speedy and successful weekend. The Chippenham Half Marathon is a relatively fast and flat course running through the streets of Chippenham and visiting local villages through scenic country lanes. Tom ran a 13.1 mile PB in 1:47.35 – nearly 1 minute faster than his previous PB. On Saturday, just before the Chippenham half – making his PB all the more impressive – Tom took part in the Bath Skyline Parkrun, finishing in a time of 22:36, while enjoying scenic views of his hometown.
AVRs down under
TCS Sydney Marathon and 10k
Angela Kerr took part in the Sydney marathon on Sunday as part of the Abbot World Majors Marathon Age Group Championships. The marathon is only in its second year and is a candidate city for the majors and no wonder, it has to have one of the most scenic routes with runners starting by crossing Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House. After some brilliantly consistent pacing for the 26.2 miles Angela finished in 4:43.15, 66th of 124 F65. More than 20,000 completed the marathon.
Carol Austin and Lesley Adams completed the 10k which also included running over the bridge then around the newly developed Barangeroo with stunning views of the Opera House finishing in the Botanical Gardens. Carol, returning from a knee injury, finished in 52:11, third F60 from 142 while Lesley finished in 1:08 with more than 6000 completing the 10k.
parkrun
“The best things in life are 5K, free, friendly and fun”.
This weekend, in Seaton it was sunny too with little wind providing good conditions for fast running. Matt Clist put in another sterling performance as first finisher in 16:47, 10 seconds short of a Seaton parkrun PB. Ryan Snell made it an AVR 1-2 in 17:38, 12 seconds short of his PB. AVR were second, third and fourth in age-grading too with Matt in second (84.51%), Ryan in third (80.43%) and Debbie Whiston in fourth, and first lady (20:10, 79.50%). Anthony Mullins (24:15) set a new PB as did David Whelan (27:22) and Shirley Goy (31:57).
A full set of results can be found here:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/seaton/results/latestresults/
A little further afield Karen Eyre (21:47) also continued her golden thread of runs with first lady at Killerton out of 123. She was also fourth on age grade (79.95%) and 11 seconds off her Killerton parkrun PB. Well done to teammate Richard Pady (20:32) too.
A full set of results can be found here:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/killerton/results/latestresults/
Meanwhile, further afield still, parkrun tourism was underway with Andy Goy bagging a W on the east coast seafront at Withernsea Promenade parkrun with his fastest time this year (30:05) in the absence of pebbles!
Furthest afield Angela Kerr and Carol Austin took part in Centennial parkrun prior to their races on Sunday. Using part of the marathon route it was a good opportunity to check it out for Angela the day before her marathon.
A quartet of halves
Craig Tiley and Matt Frost travelled up to the north-east for the Great North Run, the biggest half-marathon in the world. Conditions were very wet on Sunday for the 43rd running of the event. Starting on the (closed) motorway in the city of Newcastle, heading over the famous Tyne bridge, the runners finish with a flat two mile stretch alongside the beach at South Shields. Matt, back in his homeland, had an excellent run finishing in a PB of 1:20.16, 311thwhile Craig finished in 19,844th in 2:07.40.
More than 60,000 started the race which was won by Kenyans, Abel Kipchumba in 59:52 and Mary Ngugi-Cooper in 1:07.40. Marc Scott was second male in 1:01.12 with Eilish McColgan fifth female in 1:07.45.
Richard Hardy took part in the Surrey half-marathon which starts and finishes in Woking using closed roads and hence attracting a strong field of 2700 finishers. He finished 63rd and seventh M40 in 1:18.40.
Mark Spraggs ran the New Forest half marathon, a scenic multi-terrain flat and fast race in the national park, famous for its ponies. The event gives the runners far reaching views across the Forest. He finished in 1:50.14, 314th of nearly 1400 finishers.
Sue Hayes ran the Blackdown Hills Trail half completing it in 2:16.01, 50th overall and an excellent sixth female, third F50. The event started at the Taunton Racecourse taking runners onto quiet country lanes, hills and trails with great scenery across the Somerset levels and Blackdown hills.
Volcano on Dartmoor
AVR’s Jess Board took part in the Dartmoor Volcano Race at Scorriton on Saturday organised by Outer Edge Events. The 10.5 mile race takes the competitors to the red volcano lake on the edge of Dartmoor. The route is undulating across the top with a huge marshland and bog and then a longer steadier incline to the highest point at around mile eight. A faster two-mile steep downhill follows to the finish down the same hill which makes runners appreciate how steep it was!
Jess describes it as the hardest thing she has ever done finishing 94th in 2:22.57. She was very pleased to have completed it after returning from injury and felt the cool medal made it worth the pain!
Seaton parkrun and beyond
Seaton Esplanade became a sea of colour on Saturday as AVR, Louise Rawlins celebrated her 50th birthday and completed her 50th parkrun. She is a key member of the core team at Seaton and Stopline Way Junior parkrun and also reached an incredible 150 volunteering stints on Saturday. Many AVRs celebrated with her in their tutus.
With conditions excellent for running, many AVRs achieved PBs, some helped by a team of excellent pacers. First finisher was Joel Seward in 17:20 followed by Harry McMahon in 18:17. Second female was Debbie Whiston in 20:10. Third female and second on age-grade in an excellent 83% was Karen Eyre in a shiny new PB of 20:57. Other PBs were Simon McClellan in 20:17, Mike Wadsworth in 21:20; James Hawker in 22:00, Rob Harp in 22:10, Mark Parsons in 24:27 and Sue Hodge in 25:53.
Out on the road Andy Goy ran his 333rd parkrun at his 222nd at Peter Pan in Hull, his previous home event. Carolyn Nation secured her G at Goe parkrun in Wales; Sam Miller took part in Seaford Beach parkrun in Newhaven; Fiona Seward ran Chester parkrun; Pam Goddard did Heartlands parkrun in Cornwall; Steve Speariett ran Pomphrey Hill parkrun and Jon Day and Paul Johns did Ashton Court parkrun both in Bristol with Rupert Pady completing Margate parkrun.
And finally …
Well done to Alan Morbey and Steve Lewis who swam more than 12000 m around the Isles of Scilly on Sunday.
Congratulations also to Tony Smith who completed the 100k South Downs Way walking from Eastbourne to Arundel over two days raising funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Not only did he walk 100k over two days he continued his “run streak” with a mile run each evening – that is dedication.
PBs, points and a debut half
A group of AVRs took part in the Bridgwater half marathon on Sunday, a flat, fast road 13.1 miles going inland from the town with a wicked 5k out and back to finish.
First AVR home was Ryan Snell in eighth place and an excellent second M40 in 1:18.57. Dawn Carrah was second F60, 195th overall, in 1:56.57 while Jacqui Stokes smashed her PB finishing in 1:43.07, 91st place. Lee Brooker completed his first ever half marathon coming in 302nd place in 2:13.23. A big field of 439 completed the race in good conditions.
As well as looking for PBs, AVRs were able to secure points for the club championship as a half marathon is one of the ‘open’ events.
Full results
Woodbury Common Trail 10k
Six AVRs travelled over to Woodbury Common for a trail 10k on Sunday. Eleanor Wood was second female and first F60 in 56:49. Graham Newton was a brilliant first M60. Zoe Harp was a huge 13 minutes faster than last year finishing in 1:07.59. Rob Harp (58.02), Pam Goddard (1:16.41) and Rachel Hiscock (1:21.27) completed the AVRs with Cliff Marriott injured so helping the organisers on the day.
Full results to follow.
City to Sea
James Hawker completed the very tough mostly trail marathon starting at Exeter Quayside and finishing at Babbacombe Down near Torquay. He finished in an excellent 37th in 5:22.36 with 140 completed the run organised by Winding Paths.
Ann Coston and Ragnhild Richards chose the half marathon option following Ann’s recent injury. They decided to enjoy the run and treat the event as a ’nice day out’. They finished in 47thand 48th in 3:15.43 after part running and part walking the route which goes from Dawlish Warren to Babbacombe Down.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
The sun was back out this week so there was, as expected, a big turnout at Seaton for parkrun event number 334.
AVR dominated the female first finishers and the age graded podium with Debbie Whiston first female home in 20:11 and Karen Eyre third female finisher in 21:15. On age grade Eleanor Wood was first with a massive 90% for her 23:30 followed by Karen Eyre, 82% and Debbie Whiston 79%. Mike Wadsworth was fourth on age grade with 77% for his 21:39 which was also a shiny new PB.
There were also PBs for Rob Harp in 22:27; Mark Parsons in 24:45; David Whelan in 27:38; Rebecca King in 32:14; and Shirley Goy in 32:36.
Furthest for parkrun tourism this week were Louise and Aaron Rawlins who completed Zegerplas parkrun near Amsterdam.
For all other AVR tourist parkruns from last Saturday the results are online here
Spanish (not) parkrun
Not a race but a bit of fun with AVR on tour! Anthony and Adrianne Mullins on holiday in Spain and with no parkrun there so on Saturday morning they joined a local running club, Los Bandidos (The Bandits) based in Mojacar, Costa Almería.
They all ran 5k out and back along the beautiful Paseo del Mediterraneo, starting at 8am as the sun was rising, followed by coffee and doughnuts in the local cafe.
And finally …
Congratulations to Innes Fitzgerald who was fourth in the stacked 3000m final at the World Athletics U20 Championships final in Lima, Peru on Saturday in a PB of 8:57.01.
Also, good to see Jake Smith back racing and on the podium in second place at yesterday’s Vitality Big Half in 64:07. He was using the race as preparation for the Berlin marathon at the end of the month.