Road racing
After very strong runs in both London and Sydney marathons last year, Sophie Chudley has been training even harder over our winter, and it has just paid off handsomely. In the 10k Sun Run in Manly, Sydney (Australia!) she smashed her previous PB set way back in 2018 with an awesome 38.07 on a hilly course.
She was justifiably “totally stoked”, winning the LV40 category and finishing 11th lady in a field of over 7,000 runners. Her time also moves her up from 10th to 7th in the club all-time rankings. Congratulations Sophie on a fine run!
Another member who’s been training really hard over the winter is Dave Bell, and he was targetting sub 73 minutes for the rather less sunny and warm Dorney half marathon on Saturday.
On the flat and some would say uninspiring course (up and down the lake side a lot of times), he was comfortably ahead of the necessary pace, going through the 10-mile mark in an impressive (unofficial) 55:08 (only 3 club men have ever raced 10 miles faster). Unfortunately, stomach cramps out of nowhere meant he needed to use the facilities around mile 11 which cost him almost 90 seconds, although his 1.14.11 chip time was still good enough for a silver podium finish (and also faster than his last 4 HM races).
Fortunately Dave is philosophical - “these things happen so not too disappointed”. [Ed. - least it wasn't the 2005 London Marathon......]
Parkruns
Regular Thursday club runner Steve Hale is also in Australia, before going to New Zealand and then back to Australia for the Grand Prix, mixing seeing family and friends with some parkruns. Here's his report (Ed. he tactfully doesn't mention the 30C temperature)
“I’m hoping to get to one Parkrun in each of the South and North NZ Islands followed by Geelong and also Mildura in Australia where I’m undecided how hard to compete against my ‘twin’ cousin. Our pbs are pretty close, but he gets the home advantage. This morning’s run [Ed. in Melbourne] was interesting to run ‘blind’ - a single 5km loop - and no prior knowledge of the big hill in km4 but all navigated safely and in not too shabby a time. Of course, no chance to do it again; an interesting conundrum to set a target time but keeping to a 5minute/ km pace seemed to work out. Big thanks to the Thursday Runners for keeping me on my toes.”
Still abroad, but not quite so far, flying friends Paul Timms and parkrun super-fan Phil Davey both ran in Jersey, where Phil was pleased to get inside 25 minutes and also keep Paul in sight.
More local highlights
Rich Allen clocked up another win, this time at Tetbury
Andy Duff was pleased to record 20 minutes dead at a wet and cross-country like Lydiard park, finishing 12th in a field of almost 400, kindly crediting the club sessions for his improving speed.
And at Cirencester it was good to Simon Campbell back running, ahead of his daughter Annabel (but give her time ;-) ), and Kate Kilby again well clear in the lead on an age-graded basis.
1 February 2025, parkruns, 5km trail
Cirencester AC finishers (subject to updates):
Cirencester: 30 Simon Campbell 23.59, 55 Rachel Ranger 25.54, 57 Neil Broadley 26.15,61 Annabel Campbell (J) 26.35, 64 Kate Kilby 26.41, 95 Tom Morgan 29.24,117 Kirsty Leggate 30.58, 121 Pam Wheeler 31.40, 198 finished.
Tetbury: 1 Rich Allen 18.05, 43 Alan McAdam 25.09, 58 Rachel McAdam 26.59,80 Jocelyn Randall 28.46, 168 finished.
Swindon, Lydiard Park: 12 Andrew Duff 20.00, 171 Richard Edwards 27.44, 396 finished.
Gloucester City: 125 Amanda Naylor 28.57, 249 finished.
Berkeley Green: 204 Ruth Fulford 32.28, 280 finished.
Sharpham Estate, Totnes: 31 Ben Hilditch 25.25, 109 finished.
Jersey: 53 Paul Timms 23.48, 74 Phil Davey 24.45, 327 finished.
Frankston Nature Reserve, Melbourne, Australia: 37 Stephen Hale 25.21, 180 finished
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