Before news of results this week, a lovely success story.
Some weeks ago, Nick Wall floated the idea of running a course to help new runners, or those returning to running, to complete a Couch to 5k training plan. The idea was to work through the plan together with a weekly group run on Tuesday evenings and support and advice in between times via WhatsApp.
After a flurry of activity saw posters and flyers printed and distributed around the town and beyond, Nick had recruited seven new runners and a willing handful of club members to help out.
Conditions weren’t always easy, with some ferociously hot spells of weather along the way, but on Saturday the group (all of them had stayed the course) completed their first 5k run at Cirencester parkrun! Every one of them, each accompanied by a club member and, in one case, leaving that club member for dust, finished with a real flourish and a smile.
Congratulations to Claire, Eleanor, Annabel, Kirsty, Helen, Adam and Nadya (who completed her parkrun the previous week). We really hope to see you at future parkruns and club training sessions.
Thanks and well done to Nick, and all who contributed over the weeks, for getting the group together and, more importantly, keeping them together and enthusiastic until the end.
Jo Roberts, Lara Tompson and Jill Hadland completed the Midnight Marathon, an out and back course on the South Downs Way. They started at 9pm and finished at 3am and Jo reports that it was lots of fun, just as you would expect from these three, and the impressive medal made all the effort worthwhile.
The organisers, Second Wind Running, describe the course as well marked and easy to follow with plenty of aid stations and checkpoints. Perhaps a good choice for those considering a night run for the first time.
13th August, Midnight Marathon, 26.2 miles, trail
1 Christopher Maclean (Unknown) 3.56.35
106 Jill Hadland (Cirencester AC) 6.00.20
107 Lara Tompson 6.00.20
108 Joanna Roberts 6.00.20
155 finished
James Widdowson, keen to test his 5k pace after changing his training regime, took to the country roads of Wiltshire for the Heddington 5k. This was the last in a series of three races on this fast and flat course hosted by Calne running club.
James was very pleased to take nearly a minute off the time he achieved last time he ran this distance.
He reports “I’ve been wondering if I’d find a replacement for the old White Horse 5k in Gloucester and this was it. Charming location, finish at a pub, so flat it’s net downhill. As for the run, it was that classic time trial feel of pace vs ability to maintain that pace for the rest of the race! Great progress and very nearly pleased with the time!” Well done James.
Someone else who had great success at the Heddington 5k was Ollie Campbell. Ollie was the winner of the second race in the series on 19th July as reported on at the time. Ollie was listed in the results as in the Senior Male category but isn’t 20 until November. His superb time of 15.56, run on one of the hottest days in memory, earns him a new club U20 record. The record was previously held by Chris Illman.
Congratulations to Ollie.
16th August, Heddington 5k, 5k road
1 Jake Stephens (Chippenham Harriers) 16.10
44 James Widdowson (Cirencester AC) 22.43
93 finished
On Wednesday evening Brian Harris, Ruth Fulford and Barbara Thomas headed to Haresfield for the Gloucester 5k, the latest in the Gloucestershire AAA Road Race Championship series.
With each of them doing very well in their respective age group categories they were all keen to earn points to secure or boost their positions.
Brian was not fully recovered from an injury but decided, after advice, to risk the short race and started cautiously slowly. He was able to catch up with most of the other competitors in his MV60 age group without too much discomfort although had to stop and walk the last minute or so. He distracted himself from his aching muscles afterwards with the free cup of cider on offer, two sausage rolls and a bar of chocolate.
The current standings in the championship, with two races to go, can be seen on the athletics4u website. Brian tops the table in the MV60 category, Barbara is presently 3rd in the FV65 age group and Ruth looks to have the FV70 prize in the bag! Also looking good for possible top three finishes are Liza Darroch, Karen Higuera and Rachel Barrow.
The remaining races are the Angels 10k and the Guy Fawkes 5.
17th August, Haresfield 5k, 5k road
1 Jack Bancroft (Bristol & West AC) 15.34
49 Brian Harris (Cirencester AC) 21.17
100 Ruth Fulford 29.19 – 2nd LV70
101 Barbara Thomas 29.45 – 3rd LV65
112 finished
Another flat and fast road race on offer from Calne Running Club this week was the Compton Bassett 5, a five mile event on a route devised to tempt those chasing a PB.
David Wright took part and another fine performance from him with a 34.37 finish earned him 2nd MV60.
21st August, Compton Bassett 5, 5 miles, road
1 Michael Towler (Avon Valley Runners) 26.21 (26.21)
32 David Wright (Cirencester AC) 34.39 (34.37) – 2nd MV60
143 finished
In parkrun news this week there was a good club turnout at Cirencester to support the Couch to 5k group. Rob Tuttle is also enjoying parkrun as a way to build back after injury. The club was also very well represented amongst the volunteers, vital in keeping parkrun going.
Elsewhere, Ollie Campbell was 2nd overall at Chippenham, Wendy Nicholls was 2nd female at Lydiard and Rachel McAdam was delighted to be 3rd female finisher at Tetbury. Further afield, Dave Musgrove had a top ten finish at Torbay Velopark and Brendan McCarthy enjoyed a run at Conwy whilst away for a family wedding.
20th August, parkrun, 5k trail
Lydiard parkrun
1 Gareth Venables (Unattached) 18.31
23 Wendy Nicholls (Cirencester AC) 21.05 – 2nd Female
283 finished
Torbay Velopark parkrun
1 Kurt Taylor (Unattached) 14.50
8 David Musgrove (Cirencester AC) 18.30
149 finished
Chippenham parkrun
1 Ethan Pierce (Unattached) 17.20
2 Ollie Campbell (Cirencester AC) 17.55
188 finished
Conwy parkrun
1 Morgan Kendall (Unattached) 17.38
129 Brendan McCarthy (Cirencester AC) 28.03
267 finished
Cirencester parkrun
1 Aiden Johnson (Unattached) 19.53
28 Paul Timms (Cirencester AC) 23.27
63 Rob Tuttle 26.39
85 Samantha Timms 29.01
106 Rachel Barrow 31.22
124 Lorna Harris 33.48
145 Gary Wood 37.14
153 Rachel Jones 38.40
155 Kate Sackett 38.57
158 Paul Barrow 40.33
161 Nick Wall 41.35
162 Liza Darroch 41.38
170 finished
Marlborough Common parkrun
1 Doug Wilkie (Unattached) 17.47
30 David Moss (Cirencester AC) 26.27
98 finished
Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun
1 Paul Shea (Unattached)18.31
20 Alan Mcadam (Cirencester AC) 24.35
25 Rachel Mcadam 25.21 – 3rd Female
72 finished
As always, a reminder to send news of your efforts to Rachel at rachelelisabethbarrow@hotmail.co.uk Stories and photos to accompany results are really welcome.