Pairs weekend, and a happy Liza
..........every running race featured had 2 members runing this week (remember, repeat after me Parkrun is not a race). [Post - publishing correction - Mike's last minute marathon was solo.]
Sorry not many pics this week - don't be shy in future guys......
Cotswold Water Park trail 10km, Saturday 12th
The weekend kicked off with our first pair of runners in a local 10k in aid of the water parks trust.
Tash Pauck was only just getting back to running after her 2nd baby, but ….
“A very last-minute decision 😅. Did substantially better than expected considering I hadn't run 10km yet. Lovely flat route around the Cleveland lake so perfect race to get back into the swing of things. :) “
Great run, Tash.
1 Bryn Sanson (unattached) 39.28
25 Natasha Pauck (Cirencester AC) 50.46 – 4th lady
84 Angela Hilditch 1.01.37
137 finished cotswoldlakestrust.org
Vitruvian Middle Distance Triathlon, Sunday 13th
Rich Allen was up very early on Sunday morning for the first leg of the Vitruvian Triathlon in Rutland. Whilst it was a BTF registered event, it also hosted the inter-services middle distance triathlon championships.
He was competing as his RAF alter ego Dickie Allen, for the first time in ther V45 category and in his only tri of the year produced an excellent performance to be the fastest services V45, and 3rd overall. His overall time was 4:44:07, placing him 54th/448.
Congratulations Rich and good luck with the marathon training ahead of Abingdon.
Worcester Half Marathon, Sunday 13th
Our next pair of runners was in the Worcester half - the first was Dave Bell
“Some days running is just hard... today was one of those days. Pleased just to finish and get round in sub 6min/mi as it felt really humid (93%). Disappointed to be a couple of minutes slower than I thought I might, but pleased I managed to keep going as it got tough at 10miles. Some work to do over the next 6 weeks before Stroud half.”
It was Dave’s first time racing a half in over 10 months due to glute injury earlier in the year. As he very wisely said on Strava.
“I think as runners we often measure success too much on the numbers and I need to remember to feel grateful for what I'm still able to do on the day”.
{Ed. This definitely struck a chord with me, and not just because I’m off racing with a glute issue.}
It was mission accomplished for a happy Liza Darroch – as she explains in her own words
“I needed sub 2.45 to qualify for next year's national England Masters Championship Half. I aimed for sub 2.35 and I finished in 2.31.21, so I am happy with that. Also, it was a significant negative split (thanks to pre-race encouragement from Martin Croucher) with mile 12 my fastest. So, I'm also happy with that and to beat the other woman who was also seeking qualification - but failed.
But mostly I'm just happy that it was one of the races that went well from start to finish. The sore toe and worrying knee both played ball on the day, no sore bits, not toilet stops, no real worries. I just kept going forward - mostly in drizzle but that was quite pleasant too.
It isn't a race I would recommend - they struggled to organise the 2000+ runners (Half and 10k) and we started some 10 minutes late. The route then dashed around the streets of Worcester like a demented spider. I've never run a race with so many SHARP corners. Sections around the racecourse and along the river were better, but only gave a short time to relax before the next series of twists and turns.
But it was a good day for me so I really shouldn't complain!”
Many congratulations to Liza for earning the right to wear her England vest again.
1 Thomas Blunt (Shrewsbury AC) 1.11.58 (chip 1.11.57)
28 David Bell (Cirencester AC) 1.18.21 (1.18.20)
1999 Liza Darroch 2.33.37 (2.31.21) – 1st FV75
2285 finished
Angels 10km, Sunday 13th
Despite being a Glos AAA race, there were only about 150 entries and 112 finishers in the Angels 10k, again just 2 of them from the club.
Bill Leggate had a great run for 2nd place – congratulations on another podium finish Bill.
“Ran solo the whole way and pleased that felt really strong despite the undulating course - managing a negative split (17.44 first half which included the main hill at 4.5k).”
Bill was also good sport enough to share this picture from James Smith of Severn AC
Pam Wheeler found it “ a lovely very low-key club race. Very mild and humid conditions, with refreshing and welcome light drizzle at 3km. Very undulating - in a nutshell another tough day at the office🏃♀️.”
Updated standings in the AAA raod race series haev not yet been pubished.
1 Charlie Worsfold (Western Tempo) 32.49 (chip 32.48)
2 Bill Leggate (Cirencester AC) 35.07 (35.05) – 1st V50
103 Pam Wheeler 1.09.08 (1.08.51)
112 finished
Continuing his recent long-term campaign to join “marathon man” Martin Croucher in the exclusive 100 club, Mike Hobbs planned to notch up another on Friday 11th at his new home course in Walton. However, an extra hard week at work took its toll. As Mike says, he felt like he had unfinished business …
“Two days after having to bail on a marathon at 21 miles due to tight stomach muscles I decided to have another go. I didn’t exactly feel fresh, so started conservatively and went through halfway in 1.38 something. I was able to pick it up towards the end and ran a nice negative split of just over 1.34. Weather - cloudy, but very humid out there.”
Mike’s time of 3:12:45 was almost an hour quicker than the 2nd place in a very small field of 11. Oh and “fluffy” refers to the soft toy offered to finishers.
{Ed. a remarkable albeit arguably bonkers performance from Mike – a negative split on very tired legs and still inside 3:15.}
PARKRUNS 12 September 2026
Dave Wright was first home for the club at Cirencester where he knocked almost 20 seconds off his PB to finish as best age-graded male.
It was also great to see Tony Shelbourn (V80) running again.
Kate Kilby again finished as fastest age-graded runner (83%), this weekend in Minehead to celebrate husband Andy’s significant birthday (they had a great time).
Cirencester: 15 Dave Wright 20.45, 29 Charlotte Wilton 22.14, 67 Stephen Hale 24.43,
93 Alan McAdam 26.10, 117 Brendan McCarthy 27.07, 135 Susanna Austin 28.17,
166 Tony Shelbourn 29.36, 279 Rachel McAdam 43.30, 309 finished.
Tetbury: 10 David Moss 23.44, 172 James Hunton 40.05, 205 finished.
Carterton, Kilkenny Lane: 12 Colin Tapley 22.20, 166 finished.
Bristol, Ashton Court: 206 Sophie Mason (J) 28.39, 437 finished.
Bath Skyline: 25 Luke Campbell 21.53, 274 finished.
Bridport, St Mary’s: 34 Paul Timms 24.12, 103 Samantha Timms 31.15, 151 finished.
Minehead: 38 Kate Kilby 25.10, 161 finished.
Colchester, Highwoods: 12 Martin Croucher 22.21, 126 finished.
Vingis, Vilnius, Lithuania: 30 Ben Francis 23.00, 280 finished.
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