Lakeland 50 Silver for Rob and Bill's flying start to his 50's
- brian17harris
- 1 hour ago
- 8 min read
*********************WARNING - BUMPER EDITION*********************
It feels like a bit like a Googlebox moment – despite many members being abroad on holiday there was still “loads of great running (not telly) this week” and not just at the weekend, so here is some of what you’ve all been up to in chronological order.
{unfortunately we didn't have photos for either of the "headline" performances, so Frampton it was...}
Monday - Frampton 10k
After a small club turnout for the county series race at Blaisdon last week, 3-4C lower temperatures welcomed a bigger contingent to the less challenging and ever popular Frampton-on-Severn course, hosted by Stroud AC.
Amongst those running was club ladies captain Kate Jacobs in her first road race for many months, having been training hard for and then recovering from the Man v Horse event.
Kate was delighted with her time of 38.37, which was slightly faster than last season when she was in the process of winning the Open County series. She would have liked to have caught the lady in front to make the podium, but had to settle for another LV45 age group win. Whilst a nice-looking medal was presented to all finishers this year (none last year), the underwhelming age group prize of a free entry to the Stroud 10k in October was perhaps a cost saving measure?
Behind Kate, Mike Hobbs just got inside 40 minutes but was disappointed. Having started at 38min pace after 2 km he knew it wasn't his day. “Stuck at it,but had nothing in the legs.Weather - warm, humid. I was gasping for a drink before the start!”
Brian Harris was keen significantly to improve on his 46min time the prior week at hot and hilly Blaisdon, “going public” (not quite in the Josh Kerr league) with his target to break 43 min. Having stopped looking at his watch after about 4k, given he was already at continuous maximum HR/effort, he was relieved (a) to overcome the desire to slack off and (b) make it over the line with around 15 seconds to spare. His next race is in August at Heddington 5k where is hoping to improve on his June time by up to 30 seconds.
Karen Higuera finished 2nd in her age group although she was slightly disappointed.
Paul Timms had 50 minutes in his sights, and smashed that, beating his South African nephew in the process, whilst Sam was just pleased to be able to compete and not be on call for work.
After a tough race, Pam Wheeler had her very own “Steve Redgrave moment”, vowing never to do a hot/warm evening race again. We’ll see – don’t worry Pam, we won’t shoot you ;-)
1 Will Lewis (Hercules Wimbledon) 31.06 (chip 31.05)
32 Kate Jacobs 38.39 (38.37) – 4th lady / 1st FV45
49 Michael Hobbs 40.00 (39.58)
88 Brian Harris 42.51 (42.43)
163 Paul Timms 48.30 (48.20)
181 Karen Higuera 49.55 (49.45)
415 Samantha Timms 1.07.31 (1.06.27)
444 Pam Wheeler 1.10.31 (1.09.01)
510 finished
Tuesday - Heddington 5k
After a surprisingly fast time in the Sizzler last month, Bill Leggate got off to a flying start with his first race in the V50 category, choosing the 2nd 5k of the Heddington 5k series events hosted by Calne RC.
Until this Tuesday, David Wright had held the V50 age records over EVERY distance.
The Heddington downhill, level and then finally uphill course, is tricky to pace – very hard to know how fast to take the first 1km in particular.
Bill’s finishing time of 16:53 broke David’s record of 17.10 that had stood since 2009. Whilst he was pleased to get under 17 minutes, he hopes there is a little more to come, if he can get some speedwork in.
Many congratulations Bill ! The other V50 records look really tough.
{Ed – DW still holds an amazing 20 club records, including the V55 and V60 records for every distance up to and including the half marathon.}
1 Ben Cole (Swindon Harriers) 15.11
6 Bill Leggate (Cirencester AC) 16.53 – 1st V50, club V50 record
171 finished
Friday – Phoenix Running’s Duckython marathon
With a rather unconventional taper approach (see Frampton 10k above), Mike Hobbs went to Walton on Thames for this 3rd marathon this year. It was a small event, but UKA registered so Mike’s 1st place means he can say he has indeed won a marathon! Here is his strava comment.
“It's flat, but with 8 out and backs of a 1.6 mile course, it means 16 u-turns. Add to that 16 times over a short steep bridge with offset gates at each end, it breaks up the rhythm. The course is multi terrain, mostly gravel, sharp stone or compact soil. I struggled to get fuel down, my stomach wouldn't handle it today. I went through halfway in 1.36, but had to slow a bit the second half.Weather - cloudy, mild to start, increasingly sunny and warm as the morning went on.”
Congratulations Mike !
SATURDAY 25th - Tywardreath Trotter, nr Fowey, Cornwall, 7 miles multi-terrain
Coming to the end of his month in Cornwall, Luke Campbell fitted in a non-parkrun race – here’s the organisers description
“A 7-mile multi-terrain race held on a mix of footpaths, bridleways and quiet country lanes. Based in the centre of Tywardreath, you’ll be supported all the way round by friendly marshals and local residents! Organised by the local Village Fete Committee, the Tywardreath Trotter is part of our village’s summer celebrations. All money raised goes to local charities. The race starts and finishes at the local pub and you’ll be welcomed back to the village by a large and enthusiastic crowd!
The course is a hilly one, with an initial lap around the village, before heading out into the local countryside. Since 2006 this race has been a firm favourite of the Cornish running calendar and is now part of the Cornwall Multi-Terrain Race Series.”
And here is Luke’s
“The most brilliant race. Started easy after looking at the course profile. Overtook 24 people by mile 3 and another 8 in the second half. Only needed to have taken 14 more to win…Excellent up and downs and trails and steps. Very well organised. Plus free beer! First place speed is a joke.”
With over 800ft of elevation in just over 10k, (compared to say Frampton <150 and Blaisdon <350) Luke’s comment about the winning time being 10 minutes faster than him is understandable. Well done on a top 5% finish Luke.
1 Tom Morton (Newquay & Padstow AC) 38.10 (chip 38.09)
15 Luke Campbell (Cirencester AC) 48.33 (48.30)
330 finished tywardreathtrotter.wordpress.com
SATURDAY - PARKRUNS
Despite fewer runners overall there were some noteworthy parkruns this week, particularly two wins by our ladies
Helena Sexton set a new parkrun PB of 19.04 at the fast Tetbury course (Power of 10 doesn’t have any road 5k times for her, so a 5k PB too) age-graded >77%.
At the Lydiard Park event, where she found the surface a little dodgy in the very dry weather, Kate Jacobs ran 19.19, not far off her best and a fantastic 85% plus on an age-graded basis
Also at Lydiard, Clare Stickney clocked a course PB behind husband Tim, and was able to meet up with recent mum Corinne Clark, who’d only planned to do one lap but ..... managed the whole 5k (inside 29 minutes). Great to see her back running so soon.
Well done also to Casey Vatcher for a course PB at Cirencester, and Steve Hale who was only 8s off his PB at Tetbury.
Cirencester: 11 Casey Vatcher 20.27, 15 Toby Conway (J) 21.33, 83 Alan McAdam 25.50,131 Susanna Austin 27.20, 142 Brendan McCarthy 27.56, 147 Rachel McAdam 28.20,306 finished.Tetbury: 9 Helena Sexton (1st lady) PB 19.04, 49 Paul Timms 23.30, 56 Stephen Hale 23.51,189 Ben Hilditch 31.17, 190 Angela Hilditch 31.19, 282 finished.
Swindon, Lydiard Park: 12 Kate Jacobs (1st lady) 19.19, 47 Clare Stickney 21.48 PB,190 Corinne Clark 28.45, 490 finished.
Cheltenham, King George V Playing Fields: 79 Ben Francis 31.50, 121 finished.
Marlborough Common: 107 David Moss 34.10, 148 finished.
Three Brooks, Bradley Stoke, Bristol: 244 Ruth Fulford 35.18, 309 finished.
Witney: 20 Martin Croucher 21.32, 256 finished.
Minehead: 6 Edward Knight (J) 20.11, 180 finished
Sunday – Lakeland 50 Ullswater to Coniston
The 50 and 100 Lakeland events are some of the most famous in the ultra calendar, so it’s quite something to run them, let alone almost win it – here is Rob Forbes account of his run
“Having picked up a late entry to the iconic Lakeland 50, I went in without major expectations given the lack of hill training. I was therefore delighted to pace it so well, despite regular cramping from halfway, and come in a narrow second. Sadly, the cramps and poorly planned nutrition and electrolytes (ran out with 10 hilly miles to go!) meant I missed a great opportunity to take the win. Still, can't complain as it's a competitive field and missed out to a nice guy who I ran most of the race with as we picked off those out front. Legs properly wrecked now, not helped by a night in the back of the car! Not sure I've completely rediscovered the ultra-love after a couple of years out but might try another....”
Sadly, Rob had to dash off for a family commitment soon after finishing so there is no podium photo to record his great achievement. His time was 7 minutes faster than last year’s winner and surely has to be in the mix for performance of the year 2026?
Good luck with the recovery Rob, and many congratulations.
1 Ry Webb (La Sportiva UK) 7.44.29
2 Rob Forbes (Cirencester AC) 7.45.40
1386 finished lakeland100.com
Sunday – Uffington White Horse Gallop, Ridgeway, Wantage, c13 miles trail
It wasn’t the first time that Anna Stewart-Hodges had run this trail half-marathon which was “hilly, with stunning views”. With 1100 feet of elevation, I think we can agree with “hilly”.
1 Dave Jones (Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC) 1.32.11 (chip 1.32.10)
34 Anna Stewart-Hodges (Cirencester AC) 2.01.37 (2.01.31)
107 finished whitehorseharriers.uk
Sunday - Cote de Granit Rose, Brittany, 10km
Our only overseas race this week saw David Wright (our results coordinator) enjoy the following scenery – as the course literally passes his house, it wasn’t really an option not to run it!
“The Pink Granite Coast, a landscape like no other
Stretching between Trébeurden and Perros-Guirec, the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast) unfolds over some ten kilometres of Brittany’s most spectacular coastline. Its signature: huge blocks of pink-hued granite, sculpted by wind and sea over millions of years. That striking colour comes from the rose-tinted feldspar crystals within the rock — a rare and iconic granite found on only a handful of shores worldwide.
At sunrise or sunset, when the light sets the boulders aglow, the sight is unforgettable. This is the backdrop you’ll run through… and one your family can explore all weekend long.”
Sounds beautiful. Doesn't mention that it is very hilly too! There is also a 20km version of the race which David has done a few times, if you are ever in the area.
1 Joseph Haioun (France) 30.31 (chip 30.31)
175 David Wright (Cirencester AC) 45.42 (45.36)
1405 finished
Comments