Peaking at Parkruns and Advent Accumulation

Unsurprisingly, It was a very quiet week on the formal "racing" front, with club colours appearing at just one event we know of.

This Sunday, Gareth James ventured into the Forest (of Dean) for a Christmas tree run before he gets down to the serious business of training for the London marathon (he has the club’s place this year). Results are traditionally v. slow to emerge from the depths of the Forest.

G James, FODAC Xmas tree run 21.12.25

Sunday also saw the 21^st consecutive runs in the Advent Accumulator challenge undertaken by Ian Barrett and Annie Campbell (1km on 1st December...20km on 20th etc)

Annie “antelope” Campbell decided to "call it done" with a final half marathon distance run today (21st) –

“127km for the week ✔️ 3 weeks of advent challenge, decided today would be the final run. Was fun, would probably do it again”.

In old money that’s a fraction under 79 mpw, probably more than most of us have ever run in a week, and particularly impressive given her longest mpw this year before the challenge was around 35. Well done Annie - an mpw PB for sure. Maybe you'll have some company next year?

As far we know Ian plans to push on to the 24^th – good luck!. He incorporated a parkrun into his Saturday mileage, and enjoyed the beautiful view below on his way there

Elsewhere on the parkrun scene at Tetbury we had both a PB and a SB.

Rich Allen’s winning time of 17.24 was his 7^th 5k PB this year, nudging his age-grading up to a very strong 80.8%. That he knocked 3s off his previous PB set on the fast Severn Bridge course on the Tetbury trail is a measure of his progress this year. Congratulations Rich!

{Ed. I hesitate to call this just yet as a great end to his year, as there are still 10 days left and Rich is on great form….}.

Last week’s report included

 “congratulations to Paul Timms for 22.56 at Tetbury, making it not only his fastest 5k of the year, but by the merest whisker his best ever age-graded parkrun”

Well – DITTO this week. Paul took another 7 seconds off last week’s time for another season’s best. Great job Paul.

At Cirencester, Alan McAdam’s festive garb became the subject of a caption competition on the Thursday runners whatsapp group (not clear what the winning caption was....).

Festive parkrun Alan McAdam and elf-chasing pack

And finally, Liza Darroch kindly sent some feedback in from across the border in Swansea Bay

“Rupert and I ran the Swansea parkrun - very badly!! Having both been injured since Sept it was great to be running at all, and we totally recommend Swansea - wonderful flat there and back route along the side of Swansea bay. PS they had no less than 6 defibrillators on the course AND a portable one - is this normal for 5-600 runners!!”

Cirencester: 6 Kate Jacobs 21.28, 8 Ian Barrett 21.49, 14 Edward Knight (J) 22.35,26 Clare Stickney 24.15, 31 Alice Averies (J) 24.45, 52 Alan McAdam 26.23, 55 Jonathan Higgs 26.32, 65 Susanna Austin 27.00, 74 Rachel McAdam 27.41, 75 Dorian Matts 27.45, 79 Brendan McCarthy 28.02, 130 Amanda Naylor 32.24, 161 Ruth Fulford 38.59, 177 finished.

Tetbury: 1 Rich Allen 17.24 (PB), 8 Casey Vatcher 20.35, 44 Paul Timms 22.49 (SB), 142 Samantha Timms 30.03, 214 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard Park: 176 David Moss 28.41, 407 finished.

Chippenham: 3 Ollie Campbell 19.25, 220 finished.

Maidenhead: 203 Gordon Jones 30.27, 476 finished.

Swansea Bay: 487 Liza Darroch 39.17, 488 Rupert Chesmore 39.18, 506 finished

*******RUNNING EVENTS OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON*******

Here’s a selection of events coming up soon, some you can still enter, some just FYI – if you know of others please post details to the “Races” section of the club’s Whatsapp community.

Boxing Day - Oakridge 5k run.

It’s small, no entry required, times nor prizes given.  All family and friends welcome. We start at 09:00, finish and end at Oakridge Village Hall. The route goes around Oakridge, Waterlane and Far Oakridge. (courtesy Paul Timms).

27^th Saturday – 5 mile road race

ARC certified, free entry, donations to Samaritans. Starts at 10.30 am from Elmore Village Hall, GL2 3NZ

1^st Jan

·       5km road race  - other details same as 5 miler on 27^th December see above

·       Extra Parkrun at Cirencester

3^rd January

Good luck to our two XC relay teams at Gloucester, organised by Aaron Willis.