Festive special - Ian's Advent challenge, Christmas runs and Luke's treat next Tuesday 30th

Firstly news from Luke Campbell of a one-off special session this coming Tuesday

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"Tuesday evening's festive run will be an orienteering event around Cirencester's Christmas lights. Runners/walkers will have 45 minutes to get to as many of the mapped points as possible and finish at The Crown by 19:15 (please stay for a drink afterwards if you can).

Maps showing the target points will be provided at the start, outside of The Leisure Centre. Tracking device (watch/phone) recommended! You choose how far you go in the time limit."

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24^th December – end of the Advent accumulator

Congratulations to Ian Barrett who successfully completed the challenge we reported on last week.

Here are his reflections on the experience -

“Run every day of advent, 300km in 24 days, that's doable right? And only 1km further each day, 1km isn't that far.

First the why? I'm not really sure. I had done this once before, that was a lockdown induced madness when working from home and looking for excuses to leave the house. This time I had office life to juggle, and a recent run history of barely 20km per week due to aches, pains and general malaise. A little motivational kick required, Luke Campbell provided it with a message suggesting at least some virtual company along the way.

Next the how? This can be divided into effectively 4 weeks.

Week 1. The easy bit. 1km to 7km. First, I decided walking was allowed. Those early days didn't feel worth getting kit on, a lunchtime walk was enough. Finding routes short enough was the biggest challenge at this stage.

Week 2. The routine bit. 8km to 14km. Before or after work, pretty normal weekday runs - just lots of them. Still commuting by bike a few days a week. And walk home the long way from the work party on Friday to make 12km. Meet up at Parkrun to break up Saturday. So far, so good.

Week 3. The logistical bit. 15km to 21km. Now midweek runs are 1h20 to 1h40. Either early starts or late finishes required while still working. It's dark, it's wet, it's not really training anymore. Another Saturday trip to Parkrun breaks up the first 20km day, but also adds to the aches for Sunday's first half marathon distance.

Week 4. The just do it bit. 22km to 24km. Finally finished work, less time pressure. Run/walk strategy employed to help with the aches. The first few miles each day feel ok, but that feeling doesn't last and the last few miles of each day are a struggle. Final day a tour of childhood streets and family visits before feet up for Christmas. 

Overall, it's a deceptive challenge, the distances and fatigue creeps up on you and it becomes relentless. It achieved a kick to my running motivation, I embraced running slow. I will hopefully gain some run fitness from it that I can carry into 2026. 

Maybe leave it a few years before the next one though. Maybe cycling next year?”

24 December 2025, Santa Claws 10km

Recent life-time member Keith Firkin finished 1^st MV60 in a trail 10k at Yattendon Estate near Newbury on Christmas Eve – photo below courtesy of David Wright.

1 Matthew Carter (Newbury AC) 38.06

47 Keith Firkin (Cirencester AC) 53.21 – 1st V60

281 finished

Boxing Day 5k run from Oakridge

Several Thursday runners pictured below (thanks to Nicola Wood for photo) were among the 34 who enjoyed a friendly social, with 2 and 4-footed marshals ;-). The winner was Ben 16 (?) in 17:40. Well done to the Timms for organising and to all those who braved the cold to start so promptly to try and burn off a little of any Christmas excesses.

***************************PARKRUNS********************************

Several events put on extra parkruns on Christmas Day, the nearest being Tetbury, but also at Pittville Park where more than 1,000 runners took part, including 5 sub 17 minutes.

Jonathan Higgs set a course PB at Tetbury, whilst junior Sophie Mason wisely took it slightly easier after running successively faster in every one of her 6 previous parkruns (although she was still more than 2 minutes faster than Christmas 2024).

Sorry but no fancy dress photos sent in for you to admire ;-(

Tetbury: 57 Paul Timms 22.49, 102 Jonathan Higgs 25.46, 124 Alan McAdam 26.36,129 Susanna Austin 26.47, 142 Sophie Mason (J) 27.13, 146 Rachel McAdam 27.27,157 Nicola Wood 27.53, 204 Amanda Naylor 29.30, 226 Samantha Timms 30.24, 358 finished.

Swindon, Seven Fields: 93 David Moss 25.48, 348 finished.

Cheltenham, Pittville Park: 147 Clare Stickney 22.45, 287 Isabella Stickney (J) 25.45,1049 finished.

Chippenham: 11 Ollie Campbell 18.45, 504 finished.

Frimley Lodge: 286 Tom Morgan 28.33, 748 finished.

On the normal Saturday after Christmas, 27th

Cirencester – Claire Stickney had the honour of being 1^st lady to finish. Also good to see Simon Campbell back parkrunning (accompanying his young son).

Tetbury – Jonathan Higgs improved his Christmas day time by 4 seconds to set another course PB in a fast field – the first 17 finishers all inside 20 minutes. Casey Vatcher ran for the first time with his wife Rachel and baby daughter -

Swindon – Rich Allen ran the fastest club time for the weekend and a course PB of 17.46, but was still only 3^rd behind two sub 17-minute youngsters.

Gloucester City – in another fast field, Kate Jacob’s 83% was the best age-graded run.

Harlow – Bill Legatte logged the only club win of the weekend in his 2^nd fastest time of the year. "Chilly, slippy underfoot in places, happy enough given the Christmas festivities! Got lucky as the guy who was leading missed the turning for the final small lap!" 

As a footnote to the Ciren Parkrun, with an extra 1 km logged afterwards, Jos Randall successsfully broke her annual mileage target of 1,000 - congratulations Jos!

Cirencester: 30 Clare Stickney (1st lady) 22.59, 47 Toby Conway (J) 24.44,

67 Rachel Ranger 26.25, 71 Alan McAdam 26.34, 74 Isabella Stickney (J) 26.44,

88 Susanna Austin 27.24, 106 Rachel McAdam 28.44, 124 Dorian Matts 29.18,

145 Jos Randall 30.14, 237 Ruth Fulford 39.26, 251 Simon Campbell 47.33, 254 finished.

Tetbury: 39 Paul Timms 22.51, 70 Jonathan Higgs 25.42, 135 Amanda Naylor 29.26,

141 Samantha Timms 30.23, 172 Casey Vatcher 32.40, 208 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard Park: 3 Rich Allen 17.46, 460 finished.

Chippenham: 37 David Moss 23.22, 228 finished.

Gloucester City: 14 Kate Jacobs 19.39, 41 Charlotte Wilton 21.49, 300 finished.

Harlow: 1 Bill Leggate 18.08, 127 Kirsty Leggate 30.32, 248 finished.

Sharpham Estate, Totnes: 9 Ian Barrett 21.23, 145 finished.

Trelissick, Truro: 33 Edward Knight (J) 24.37, 277 finished.