At this time of year, with Spring marathons looming, many a runner looks for races to make long training runs a little more interesting than a lonely plod.
Tom Morgan, with Manchester marathon on the horizon, completed the Farnborough Half Marathon today. Tom was delighted with his finish time of 1:58:46 which, whilst not close to his best for the distance, was really encouraging as his running plans have suffered a little recently after bouts of injury and illness. He was particularly pleased to finish strongly and pick up the pace in the last few miles to come home well inside two hours, a result he hadn’t thought possible. Surely a great confidence booster for Tom as he continues his training.
23rd January, Farnborough Half Marathon, 13.1 miles, road
1 Andrew Heyes (Unknown) 1.04.19 (1.04.17)
779 Tom Morgan (Cirencester AC) 1.59.55 (1.58.46)
1206 finished
Closer to home, a small group of club members took to the streets of Cheltenham for the annual Linda Franks 5 mile race. A lovely, low-key event put on by Almost Athletes, this was the first race in the 2022 Glos AAA Road Race series. There was great encouragement from a superb team of marshals all along the route.
Multi talented Karen Higuera showed that she isn’t just impressive on the hills and trails. After a tumble during a run earlier in the week left her pretty bruised and battered, Karen was just looking forward to completing the race, particularly after having pulled out of last years, postponed to summer and on a searing hot day in July rather than the usual January date. Her excellent 36 minute finish took first place in the LV55 age group.
Rachel Barrow was thrilled to squeak in sub 40 minutes for the first time at this distance and enjoyed it a whole lot more than the 30 degree summer experience.
Paul Barrow continued his disciplined run 2 minutes, walk 30 seconds strategy but definitely found a burst of speed when the finish line came into view. The extra oomph got him over the line JUST inside one hour!
23rd January, Linda Franks 5, 5 mile, road
1 James Denne (Gloucester AC) 24.59 (24.59)
85 Karen Higuera (Cirencester AC) 36.07 (36.00) – 1st LV55
116 Rachel Barrow 39.54 (39.44)
203 Paul Barrow 1.00.16 (59.59)
205 finished
Luke Campbell had an interesting time at the Chepstow Racecourse 5k. His third place finish in 17:31 is all the more impressive as the 5k runners were sharing the potholed course with the 10k and half marathon competitors. Congratulations Luke.
23rd January, Chepstow Racecourse 5k, 5k, trail
1 Max Kelly (Unattached) 16.19 (16.17)
3 Luke Campbell (Cirencester AC) 17.32 (17.31)
50 finished
Rosie-Jane Widdowson made her senior race debut today alongside dad James. The 5k event was a fund raiser for their local school and followed a very undulating route around the village of Chalford. Both were delighted with top 10 finishes and James, pleased to be back racing after two years of lockdown and injury, took the opportunity to don fancy dress and embarrass his daughter. And why not.
23rd January, Chalford Hill School Cold Turkey Trot, 5k, road
1 Jason Mawlam (Unknown) 19.14
7 James Widdowson (Cirencester AC) 25.20
10 Rosie-Jane Widdowson 26.31 – 3rd Female
35 finished
In parkrun news, Richard Edwards continued his tourism with a run at the spectacular Severn Bridge event. Also in foreign parts were Rachel and Gordon Jones at Minehead.
Ollie Campbell had a fine run at Coventry to take first place in a huge field of over 600. Nea Sneddon-Jenkins was first lady yet again at the more diminutive Tetbury event.
At Cirencester, Rob Brown in 4th and Brecht Grieten in 7th both ran new course PBs. It was also delightful to see the next generation of the Brown family running with such enthusiasm and smiles. There was good club representation on the volunteer squad.
22nd January, parkrun, 5k, trail
Lydiard parkrun
1 Michael Passmore (Unattached) 17.31
135 James Hunton (Cirencester AC) 27.46
287 Tom Purnell 40.42
319 finished
Coventry parkrun
1 Ollie Campbell (Cirencester AC) 17.19
605 finished
Leamington parkrun
1 Richard Merrell (Unattached) 19.22
89 Tristan King (Cirencester AC) 24.37
316 finished
Minehead parkrun
1 Ben Tull (Unattached) 17.41
21 Gordon Jones (Cirencester AC) 24.10
68 Rachel Jones 30.10
111 finished
Cirencester parkrun
1 Dan Owen (Unattached) 17.18
4 Rob Brown (Cirencester AC) 19.21
6 Ian Barrett 19.50
7 Brecht Grieten 20.13
22 Neil Morrissey 23.15
44 Brendan Mccarthy 27.07
71 Pam Wheeler 31.21
95 finished
Severn Bridge parkrun
1 Joe Langham (Unattached) 17.00
75 Richard Edwards (Cirencester AC) 26.18
187 finished
Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun
1 Jacob Mcadam (Unattached) 19.42
15 Nea Sneddon-Jenkins (Cirencester AC) 22.12 – 1st Female
39 Alan Mcadam 24.39
55 Rachel Mcadam 26.20
129 finished