Lots of us would be put off entering a race with promotional blurb including the words ‘Soak Up the Country Air, Just Don’t Swallow the Water’. Not our own Luke Campbell. The infamous Sodbury Slog was his latest challenge.
The race attracts a big field every year on Remembrance Sunday, with a two minute silence and the playing of the Last Post setting the scene for a memorable 10 mile adventure through the South Gloucestershire countryside from Chipping Sodbury.
Luke reports “I entered this race due to its reputation for very sticky mud and one very steep hill! We had to run through wet ditches, a sheep dip and a very boggy trench meaning my shoes became very heavy and filled with stones.”
“Fortunately, the distance passed quickly thanks to the amazing amount of support. At the start of the race all the spectators wanted to high 5 but, as time went on, people seemed a little less excited about my wet, muddy hand.”
“I crossed the finish line, got my medal, then washed off with a hose and bucket. Great race, which I would recommend if you like mud, grass and hills!”
Luke completed the course in just inside 1.15 in a very impressive 36th place overall.
13th November, Sodbury Slog, 10 miles, trail
1Edward Chuck (Dulwich Runners AC) 58.19 (chip time)
36 Luke Campbell (Cirencester AC) 1.14.58
1031 finished
In parkrun news, David Moss ran very well at Lydiard. Kate Sackett was first female at Stonehouse and Holly Willis was third of almost 300 female finishers at the enormous Poole event.
Ruth Fulford was in the New Forest and ran the Brockenhurst course in her new 75-79 age group. She finished 2nd in her category, almost unbelievably (and perhaps a tiny bit annoyingly) just 10 seconds behind the lady who was first!
At Cirencester, Ian Barrett was 5th. Jo Musk ran a tactically perfect race, sitting in and then sprinting through in the last 400 metres to finish 1st lady. Pam Wheeler was delighted to equal her best time this year and enjoyed the social side of parkrun too, seeing clubmates running and supporting.
Meanwhile at Tetbury, Rachel McAdam, with 441 parkruns under her belt over the last 11 years, surprised herself with her all-time parkrun PB, coming in just inside 25 minutes. Fantastic!
12th November, parkrun, 5k trail
Lydiard parkrun
1 Ben Cole (Unattached) 15.59
35 David Moss (Cirencester AC) 21.31
315 finished
Poole parkrun
1 Andy Leggott (Unattached) 16.49
52 Holly Willis (Cirencester AC) 20.26 – 3rd Female
689 finished
Stonehouse parkrun
1 Matt Hudd (Unattached) 17.48
14 Kate Sackett (Cirencester AC) 23.24 – 1st Female
56 finished
Brockenhurst parkrun
1 Daniel Clarke (Unattached) 18.40
95 Ruth Fulford (Cirencester AC) 30.07
157 finished
Cirencester parkrun
1 Rob Carmichael (Unattached) 18.13
5 Ian Barrett (Cirencester AC) 19.36
15 Jo Musk 21.46 – 1st Female
27 Paul Timms 23.34
41 Gordon Jones 25.16
75 Pamela Wheeler 29.06
84 Samantha Timms 30.05
144 finished
Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun
1 Tobi Loughlin (Unattached) 17.40
33 Alan McAdam (Cirencester AC) 24.34
38 Rachel McAdam 24.57
50 Brendan McCarthy 26.29
103 finished
Keep sending your results, stories and photos to Rachel at rachelelisabethbarrow@hotmail.co.uk