Crazy Ultra and a Tale of two Marathons

**************PARKRUNS SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER*******

Rarely are runners' comments on Strava so aligned – it was definitely wet (continuous rain) muddy and consequently slippery at Cirencester again. So all the more credit to those who braved it (and the volunteers including Jos Randall).

No milestones or PB’s for our members this week, although Pam Wheeler placed 2^nd overall on an age-graded basis. The Leggate family were all participating. Hamish running with his dad Bill wasn’t far off his PB and sister Philippa running ahead of mum Kirsty did set a PB on her 10^th run.

Cirencester: 39 Clare Stickney 25.25, 43 Rachel Ranger 26.10, 55 Alan McAdam 27.08,63 Bill Leggate 27.43, 90 Rachel McAdam 28.40, 92 Brendan McCarthy 28.42,116 Pam Wheeler 31.23, 125 Ben Hilditch 31.56, 132 Kirsty Leggate 32.33, 185 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard Park: 148 Richard Edwards 28.42, 345 finished.

Gloucester City: 33 Paul Timms 23.31, 211 finished.

Stratford Park, Stroud: 27 Stephen Hale 27.15, 85 finished.

Chipping Sodbury: 57 Sophie Mason (J) 25.49, 253 finished.

 

***********DORSET COAST ULTRA – SATURDAY 6TH**********

In a bit of contrast to his usual Ashton Keynes and water park training routes, ultra specialist Dave Musgrave went to Dorset coast – here’s how he found it.

“CRAZY race. Murderous mudfest. Gale force headwinds for at least half of it. Plus the route took us on the beach outside swanage after 7 miles. The tide was in and up to the cliffs so we had to wade through waist deep sea for half a kilometre, and all the while chunky waves were breaking over our heads. So completely drenched with 25 miles to go. Luckily it was so windy that I dried off quite quickly. Game on for the Arc, I guess.”

Good luck in January for the Arc Dave - any others running that apart from Jo&Lara?

6 December 2025, Jurassic Coast Path, Worth Matravers to Swanage, 32 miles trail

1 Sean Wylie (unattached) 4.35.13  

24 Dave Musgrove (Cirencester AC) 6.37.09

67 finished www.endurancelife.com/dorset

SUNDAY 7^TH - A TALE OF TWO MARATHONS

How would you prefer your marathon?

(A)  Eleven laps of A flat tarmac but mostly supporter-free motor racing circuit near Chichester, with a few hundred souls running one of 6 different distances all in continuous rain and 11C, or

(B)  Dry, sunny with 30,000 other runners including elites, all pulled in by…..

“The iconic Valencia Marathon located in Spain, is among the elite destinations for world-class athletics. Now considered one of the most impressive and fastest marathons on the planet, ranking 4th 🚀. This is the perfect course to break your record (if you're a seasoned runner) or to start your marathon journey on an extremely flat route. This must-attend event takes place at a time when temperatures are ideal for running (between 12°C and 17°C), attracting thousands of runners from around the world 🌍, merging sport, culture, and stunning scenery into one fantastic experience.”

Those were the contrasting prospects for Brian Harris on the one hand and Charlotte Wilton and Stuart Fitzgerald on the other.

Both Brian and Charlotte had booked marathons earlier in the year, but both had also been laid off with bone-stress injuries. Stuart was all set to run the Capetown marathon when the event was controversially cancelled a few months ago, so was looking to put his training to use elsewhere.

Charlotte and Stuart went for option B.

Stuart went out fast, passing half-way inside 1:24, but in his own words “blew up” at 27km (mile 17) but fought to hold on and grind out a 2.54.51 PB improving it by about a minute. Congratulations on the PB Stuart – and a lot of us will empathise with the pain of a big positive split.

Charlotte also made a great start, her 1:41 first half would have brought a PB which wouldn’t have surprised those who’ve followed her recent form. Unfortunately, tummy troubles took their toll around 15m -  

“Battled on through & finished. Not in a bad time but not the time I’d have loved. Still, it’s been an awesome training block after being injured. Onwards & upwards. Or perhaps I’m getting too old… 🤪. Epic marathon. Such a great course, friendly people & super fast (if you’re not ill!). 23 degrees as I crossed the line!”

Bad luck Charlotte, hope spotting Emile Cairess at the airport was some small comfort. {BTW Under 50 is definitely not too old, says the 64 year old editor}

1 John Korir (Kenya) 2.02.25 !!!!

4086 Stuart Fitzgerald (Cirencester AC) 2.54.51

13363 Charlotte Wilton 3.37.53

30546 finished

Brian chose to run closer to home at Goodwood. The temperature was close to ideal, but the rain and puddles on the track weren’t. With so little mileage and few long runs under his belt compared to normal he was unsure what pace to target, but decided to ignore the Strava prediction of 3:42 and settled for going off just inside 3:30 pace and seeing how long he could hold it. As it turned out, it was only at mile 22 that his pace slightly dropped off, but by then he had banked enough time to finish with almost a minute to spare, and a second half only around 2 minutes slower than the first.

Although unsurprisingly slower than last year, Brian was delighted to (just) preserve his streak of at least one sub 3:30 marathon a year since 2020.

Soaked to the skin but happy - B Harris after Goodwood marathon 7.12.25 - racetrack in background

Goodwood Marathon, nr. Chichester, 26.2 miles road

1 James Baker (Chichester Runners) 2.36.28 (2.36.26)  

34 Brian Harris (Cirencester AC) 3.29.25 (3.29.04) - 1st V60

63 finished

*************SUNDAY 7TH – OTHER RACES*****************

THE CHURN PROJECT’S SANTA RUN

Some of you may recall from last year this is a fun run in the Abbey grounds in Ciren supporting a great local charity. Seasonal dressing up is encouraged, although club colours as sported by Jo Musk (see below) fitted in nicely. Perhaps the club could field more runners next year?

Last year's inaugural event was a deluge – but not quite so bad this year, as Pam Wheeler confirmed - the rain held off for the early finishers but there was heavier rain later - overall a very friendly, well organised fundraiser, with perhaps around 200 runners .

Jo Musk was one of the adult members running -

“Re the Santa fun run. I don't have many run shots.  Anyway, it wasn't as wet as last year. Brecon switched and ran the 1k fun run as he had a swimming gala in Wales in the afternoon. I ran with the girls.

Brecon won the 1km by quite a bit.  Seren did very well and ran the whole way. I was very impressed given she's only 3. 

The first photo is her running back in with her friend who had fallen over and got left behind. The 3, all friends from nursery, all ran in together."

Brecon Musk on his way to winning the 1k by a long way

80% of the Musk family

Brecht Grieten was also there with his family (photo courtesy of Pam Wheeler).

The Grieten family, with ? Brecon Musk photobombing at the Santa Run

The Musks and Grieten

CASTLE COOMBE 10K

The “other” event on a motor racetrack involving a member on Sunday was this 10k, where Nick Wall was tail runner – no Ciren members ventured out to race in the rain.

Victory ‘5’ (79th edition), Portsmouth, 5 miles road

David Wright was in action in a fast 5-miler along the seafront in Portsmouth an event he’s run before.  

1 Lachlan Wellington (City of Portsmouth AC) 23.59 (chip 23.58)

229 David Wright (Cirencester AC) 33.47 (33.39)

699 finished www.portsmouthathletic.co.uk

Lastly in another Santa event, Barbara Thomas ran on the trails of Woodchester Park – a very quick time by the winner there.

7 December 2025, Tinkley Gate Santa Dash, Woodchester Park, 5km trail

1 Robert Poole (unattached) 14.44  

99 Barbara Thomas (Cirencester AC) 35.04

156 finished www.stroudac.eventrac.co.uk