{Ed - Fewer members were out formally racing this weekend, but plenty were taking advantage of the mild conditions to enjoy 13-14 scenic trail miles on Sunday morning, either solo or in small groups. And two more weren't running as usual on a Sunday morning, but rather playing/Last Posting at local Remembrance Services.}
Update to last week’s report
In my haste to share the historic news of the ladies’ team wins in the county road race series, I originally omitted to mention Kate Kilby’s 3rd place LV60 for the year, and underestimated James Widdowson’s final standing – he did hold onto 2nd in MV50. These corrections were unfortunately notified just too late to catch the local paper’s print deadline, but it was still gratifying to see our story featuring the ladies team fill the whole back page of the print copy. I wonder if their sales ticked up a little bit?
Also, when the results tables were published by Glos AAA, they showed second-claim member Andy Kilby (1st claim with Dursley RC ) had finished 3rd in his MV65 category – so no awkward question as to who’s taking who to the awards ceremony in the Kilby household – well done both Kate and Andy!
Offroad racing
With family living nearby, new member Jack Bonnick took part in the Sodbury Slog on Sunday, described by its organisers thus
“The Sodbury Slog is quite simply not for the faint-hearted. Forget roads – they’re for wimps – this is a lung-busting, trainer-ruining, hill-climbing, multi-terrain challenge held over and through some of South Gloucestershire’s most stunning countryside. Mud is not optional! Attracting around 1300 runners from all around the globe, the race is run each year on Remembrance Sunday.”
Jack confirms it was indeed a slog – “very boggy but good fun”. He finished an impressive 12th out of 975 runners in a time of 1hr 07, and would recommend it as a very well organised event for those potentially thinking about doing it next year.
Road racing
In very different conditions, way down the M4, Dave Bell took on the half marathon distance at the pancake flat and usually fast Dorney Lakes course, scene of many a PB according to the race organisers (Ed. to be fair, they could be right, this was where I ran my own marathon PB).
After some inspirationally tough training (“solid” in his own words) Dave was originally hoping to beat the 75-minute mark, but felt good from the start so soon revised that downwards. He was really pleased with his pace consistency (almost metronomic - 12 of the 13 miles were within a 5 second range per mile). His time of 1:13:05 earned him 2nd place, and would surely have been sub 1:13 but for the six “dead” turns that the HM course now includes. For the Garmin nerds amongst you, Dave’s finishing time was only 12s off the Garmin race predictor figure. Oh, and his best time since 2019, showing you can keep old father time at bay if you work hard?
Parkruns
Most members ran at the two local courses this week, apart from Phil Davey not at all local, in Germany. Tetbury attracted a few more club runners than usual, {rachel}
In Cirencester, Rich Allen upgraded his 4th from last week to finish 1st in a large field of 194. Some our older runners did well too, with Pam Wheeler, Gordon Jones and Ruth Fulford all in the top ten on an age-graded basis. But before they get too carried away, its worth noting RSE's remarkable supervet Sharon Smith's score of just over 90% was more than 15% ahead!
10 November 2024, Dorney Lake Half Marathon, Windsor
2 David Bell (Cirencester AC) 1.13.05 (1.13.05)
9 November 2024 Parkruns
Cirencester: 1 Richard Allen 18.38, 18 Casey Vatcher 21.39, 33 Paul Timms 23.53, 57 Rob Tuttle 25.37, 59 Gordon Jones 26.07, 101 Pam Wheeler 29.05, 109 Jocelyn Randall 29.41, 128 Amanda Naylor 30.26, 135 Kirsty Leggate 31.24, 161 Ruth Fulford 33.51, 194 finished.
Tetbury: 37 Stephen Hale 25.55, 50 Alan McAdam 27.21, 62 Rachel McAdam 28.16,82 Ann Sherrington 30.09, 92 Martin Croucher 30.42, 180 finished.
Oberwald, Karlsruhe, Germany: 31 Phil Davey 25.15, 104 finished.
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