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We raced the tram… ..and the tram won!
The sun shone for the annual AVR race the tram event on Tuesday evening. There was a huge turnout with some opting to race the tram in teams of three or nine while others enjoyed a social run back from Colyton after the scenic ride through Seaton Wetlands.
The tram and the teams all left Colyton station at the same time with the tram back at base in Seaton in a very speedy 13.31 so this was the time to beat. The men’s team, The Trambusters, arrived home in an impressive 14.40 and the women’s team, The Thunderbirds also excelled arriving back in 18:24.
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Another 12 teams of three took part with each runner completing around 1.1 miles of the route. The Traminators was chosen as the best team name by the tram drivers to win a free drink at the bar. All the runners including some 40 who ran back as a social run enjoyed a drink and barbecue at Seaton Cricket Club prepared by a wonderful team of injured or non-runners. Huge thanks go to Seaton Tramway who provided the trams, drivers and sunshine for a cracking evening. A donation has also been made from AVR to Devon Air Ambulance on behalf of the tram.
Dalwood Delight for AVR
AVR’s Matt Clist and Karen Eyre were the winners at the Dalwood Fayre 10k on Sunday finishing in 40.45 and 53.36 respectively. A hilly, muddy and challenging course, especially after Saturday’s rain, the race starts and finishes at the Tuckers Arms in Dalwood. Runners enjoyed stunning views from the Blackdown Hills as well as around 3000 feet of elevation!
Joel Seward was second home in 42:58 and Eleanor second female in 55:03. Eleven AVRs took part amongst the 60 finishers. Organised by Ruby Red Running the results are on their Facebook page.
Down by the Riverside
It was a warm evening on Wednesday for the Exeter 10k River Run organised by City Runs. The fast, flat race attracts many speedy club runners with pacers provided. It runs alongside the River Exe and Exeter Canal with picturesque views across to the city.
Three AVRs took part: Matt Hewer was 38th in 38:43; Cory Schultze was 149th in 49:27 and Angela Kerr 226th in 57:17, third F65. More than 300 took part.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
There were 248 finishers at Seaton on Saturday with Ritchie Durrant first finisher in 16:50 and Debbie Whiston first female in 20:37 and third on age grade with 77%. Luke Reed was second home in 18:37.
Steve Maclure in 25:52 and Helen Boeham in 32:23 secured PBs. Congratulations to Sam Miller, the current volunteer coordinator, who reached her 100 volunteer milestone on Saturday.
Further afield there were double celebrations in Stockholm where Diane Newton celebrated her 75th birthday at Haga parkrun with her 75th parkrun – that is meticulous planning!
Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard braved the atrocious Scottish weather completing Lews Castle parkrun; Paul Johns was in Llanelli and did Sandy Water parkrun; Georgie Ryan took part in Eastville parkrun while Ian Smith ran Nonsuch parkrun and John Whitaker completed Bolton parkrun.
Down by the Riverside
The very popular Otter River and Rail 10k race meanders along the River Otter and old railway line providing beautiful views across the Otter Valley. Starting and finishing in Tipton St John it is relatively flat using public footpaths and rights of way which can be muddy especially this year! Thankfully the rain held off during most of the run with runners enjoying the sunshine on Saturday morning.
There was a huge turnout of AVRs amongst the 230 competitors. The winners were Colin Densham of South West Road Runners in 38:41 and Ellie Dominey in 42:37. First AVR home was Simon Dimmock in 44.40, especially impressive as he had already run Seaton parkrun earlier in the morning!
AVR’s Eleanor Wood won the F65 category prize finishing in 39th in 49:19.
A special mention must go to Nicky Lincoln and Becky Wills who finished their first ever 10k following their recent graduation from the club’s “Couch to 5K” programme.
Full results are here
Yeovilton 5k
On Wednesday evening, nine AVRs made the journey to the fourth in the series of six 5k races in Yeovilton looking for points for the club challenge as well as a good opportunity for a fast 5k on this flat course.
Eleanor Wood was first F65 in a brilliant 22:54 with Angela Kerr second F65 in 27:09. Dawn Carrah took third spot in F55 in 24:48. Karen Eyre and Kerry Board were fourth and fifth F45 in 21:21 and 21:30 respectively.
On the men’s side, Rich Hardy was third M40, 16th overall in 16:49. Rupert Pady finished fifth M50 in 20:06 just pipping Simon McClellan who was sixth M50 in a PB of 20:24. Other AVRs were Adrian Strawbridge in 19:47 just a second off his PB and James Ashforth finishing in 21:02.
The next event is on Wednesday 14th August.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
Conditions were perfect at Seaton on Saturday morning with 233 finishers at parkrun. Harry McMahon was second finisher in 18:38 celebrating his 100th milestone. Simon McClellan in 20:32; James Hawker in 22:32; Mark Parsons in 25:25; and Shirley Goy in 35:50 all achieved shiny new PBs. Alison Hayward, a stalwart member of the parkrun core team, also celebrated her 100th parkrun.
Further afield, Pam Goddard and Cliff Marriott completed Chippenham Playing Fields parkrun in Monmouth; Gill and Jon Day ran Sharpham Fields parkrun near Cheddar; David and Paula Cooke enjoyed the “curly wurly” course at Somerdale parkrun; and Dave Hutton and Sue Chambers did Bolberry Down parkrun near Salcombe.
Sadlers Saunders Surprise!
Susi and David Sadler took on the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon over the weekend. It’s not a marathon but a two-day self navigation event with overnight camping. Runners have to carry all their camping, wet weather and emergency gear as well as food for the full weekend.
The route is a secret until the morning of each day and then participants navigate with map and compass (no gps on watches or phones allowed!) between set points (but no set route) with an electronic control at each checkpoint.
The scenic route around Wansfell Pike, east of Ambleside, included trails and paths and everything in between them with mountainsides, rivers, ghylls and bogs to cross. Lots of bogs it turns out! But after a warning of winter conditions from the organisers the weather turned out to be dry and sunny providing incredible views across the Eastern fells of the Lake District.
David and Susi completed all 11.8 miles with 3600 feet of ascent on Saturday and more than 10 miles with around 2000 feet of elevation on Sunday to finish 69th overall and 34th mixed couple in their first attempt at this challenge.
Quantock Beast
Karen Eyre had a very successful, if tough, visit to Somerset for the Quantock Beast on Sunday. Starting in the beautiful setting of The National Trust’s Fyne Court estate the race is just under 10k with more than 250m elevation gain. Runners enjoyed the stunning Quantock Hills scenery from the route which included woodland trails, fields, track and country lanes. Karen was an excellent fifth female, 20th overall and taking the first F50 prize finishing in 53:21. There were 76 finishers.
Run Exe 5k
Four AVRs travelled over to Exmouth on Wednesday for the latest in the Run Exe 5k summer series run on fast, flat roads.
In a race that saw the first 18 finishers in sub-17, Matt Frost was first AVR home in 37th position in 17:52. Ian Kinnersley was fourth M60 in 21:57, 107th overall with Eleanor Wood third F65 in 23:17. Unfortunately Ron Seward turned his ankle so was unable to finish. The race forms part of the InStep Devon series with the next event taking place on Tuesday 6th August.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
At Seaton parkrun on Saturday Debbie Whiston celebrated her 300th parkrun by finishing first female in 20.22. Second to finish was Ritchie Durrant in 16:53 with Eleanor Wood top on age grade with an impressive 90.4% for her 23:27. David Cooke reached 200 parkrun events and Helen Boehm and Shirley Goy achieved PBs of 32:44 and 35:52 respectively.
Out on the road, Sam Halls and Rob Collier took part in Mura di Lucca parkrun in Italy picking up their first country flag and an M for Sam’s name challenge. Tim and Amie Sibley completed Fell Foot parkrun in Cumbria; Jon Day did Plym Valley parkrun; Iain Westworth ran Penryn Campus in Cornwall while Pam Goddard and Cliff Marriott took part in Westmill parkrun in Ware. Rik Tumber and James Ashforth completed the tough but beautiful Parke and Alan Sealey ran Itchen Valley parkrun.