As always when the club puts on a race, there was a huge team effort on Sunday to bring together the popular Chedworth Roman Trail. Having worked together with James Thomas, who knows this race inside out, Tom Payne took on the role of race director on the day.
The well-marked course through beautiful countryside was set up by Rupert Chesmore and Tim Ingham, with perhaps an extra deep and wide river crossing this year? A team of marshals was dispatched to designated points on the route, helped (?) by modern technology in the form of smart phones and WhatThreeWords (where am I?) Folding OS maps were also dusted off. The marshals attracted passers-by with all kinds of questions…..where can I get a cream tea locally, which way is the Roman villa please……….A gentleman there purely to support his wife, an Almost Athletes runner, just happened to have a hi vis vest in his car boot, which he happily donned and assisted on a particularly busy junction. The lovely community that is the world of running.
Jo Roberts oversaw the provision of cakes and hot drinks, a great fund raiser for the club, and something this race is renowned for.
With so many club members in the volunteer squad, just a handful were running.
First home for Cirencester, and 2nd LV50 was Wendy Nicholls. Wendy says “I really enjoyed the race. I started steady, ran very cautiously on the downhills…..the wheels came off after six miles due to my lack of miles. It was another step towards my fitness and getting competitive again. The water crossing was surprisingly deep!”
Finishing within a ten minute span shortly afterwards were Howard Ewan, Andy Hindson and James Widdowson. James said he couldn’t believe how much he enjoyed it!
Clare Tapley and Cathie Cowell cheerfully carried out the all-important tail runner role.
Tim Francis chatted with a runner who told him “I’ve done this race a lot and, even though it’s a long way for me, I keep coming back. It’s a great route and organised by a club who really knows what they’re doing”.
Thanks go to everyone who played a part in a successful day.
11th September, Chedworth Roman Trail, 10 miles, trail
1 Matthew Lock (Witney Road Runners) 1.04.54 (1.04.53)
25 Wendy Nicholls (Cirencester AC) 1.24.36 (1.24.34) – 2nd LV50
41 Howard Ewan 1.27.40 (1.27.34)
70 Andy Hindson 1.33.21 (1.33.17)
84 James Widdowson 1.37.49 (1.37.41)
189 Barbara Thomas 2.17.48 (2.17.35)
194 finished
Nick Wall and Martin Croucher headed to Newcastle for the Great North Run on Sunday. Both have completed the event multiple times before. But this time there was a very different atmosphere for everyone at the start line and for Martin it was a poignant experience for far more personal reasons. Nick sums up the day which had some added drama for him.
“The most striking thing was a huge picture of the Queen in profile on a black background stretching right across the dual-carriageway where the Great North Run starts.”
“They said it would be a sombre start to the event this year and, understandably, it was. Instead of the usual ’get them in the mood’ music, it was reflective. Conversations were more muted, too. One kind runner gave me a black loop of ribbon to pin to my vest, it was that kind of moment. There was a brief, inter denominational prayer, a minute’s silence then the National Anthem. No Red Arrows either.”
“Then the gun fired… suddenly the GNR came alive and it was every runner for themselves and the more traditional music to move you wasn’t far down the road - the sun came out, too.”
“Some 60,000 people took part and it was, as always, an awesome spectacle to look backwards and see a sea of faces disappearing far behind into the distance.”
“Handily, Martin Croucher and his uncle were also running in memory of Martin’s father, a keen GNR runner, so there was good, wise, friendly company before the start. They weren’t worried about a time, enjoying the run was reward enough.”
“That’s the thing about the GNR, as well as being the world’s biggest half, it’s probably the world’s most enjoyable, the crowds and music are fabulous, the (a little undulating) course is good with nice wide roads, plus, it’s point-to-point. Newcastle to the shores of South Shields (the sea view when you get to the last mile is breath-taking) and a great day out, I’d recommend it to anyone, put it on your ‘must do’ list if you haven’t done it.”
“My run? That’s a longish story, but the club putting me (along with others) through First Aid training earlier this year came in very handy around mile 7.”
Well done both and great credit must go to Nick for putting aside his own goal to assist another runner who found himself in real trouble.
11th September, Great North Run, 13.1 miles, road
1 Jacob Kiplimo (Nike) 59.33
12025 Nick Wall (Cirencester AC) 2.02.25
34259 Martin Croucher 2.55.07
Approx 60,000 finished
Some of us might just check out the local parkrun when on holiday. Not so Alex Banks. He was hiking in Switzerland when he happened upon an advertisement for the Tour Du Roc mountain race and thought “why not?” He sums up his experience.
“I saw the race advertised when we were hiking in Zinal and decided to enter (having done very little running and a very large amount of eating and drinking!)”
“It was an incredible course, with technical terrain, stunning glaciers, mountain scenery and brilliant atmosphere. The high point was +3200m which was certainly challenging as was the -1600m descent to the finish.”
“Learnings I took from the race - Swiss topo maps are excellent and a finish line drink of bouillon is surprisingly good!”
“I was 47th in 4.53ish.”
A very memorable holiday race indeed.
In parkrun news this week, there was a rare appearance from Jill Hadland who ran very well at Cirencester along with David Moss. Rachel and Alan McAdam tried out the famous ‘curly wurly’ Somerdale event. Look it up, it really is!
But parkrun of the week must surely go to Ruth Fulford. Ruth went to the Stratford Park Stroud event, a particularly tough one, with eyes on the FV70 course record. Her splendid 31.20 finish took three minutes off the previous record. Well done Ruth!
10th September, parkrun, 5k trail
Cirencester parkrun
1 Simon Richardson (Unattached) 19.16
23 David Moss (Cirencester AC) 24.08
31 Jill Hadland 24.34
120 finished
Somerdale parkrun
1 Jonathan Martin (Unattached) 18.34
100 Alan Mcadam (Cirencester AC) 26.38
101 Rachel Mcadam 26.39
202 finished
Stratford Park parkrun
1 Magnus Taylor (Unattached) 20.53
57 Ruth Fulford (Cirencester AC) 31.20
93 finished
New club member Gareth James ran the Forestry England Westonbirt 10k on Sunday. Unfortunately, there were a few issues with the chip timing and some results are not yet included in the list of finishers, Gareth’s being one of those. But the good news is that Gareth clocked a 54.55 finish, a new PB for him.
Very well done Gareth.
Another newly signed up member of the club, Tim Francis, did something quite spectacular a week ago. Tim, with great support from friends and family, headed to the Lake District and successfully completed the iconic Bob Graham Round. You can find lots of information online about just what is involved in this epic challenge and Tim has promised us a write up of his personal experience. That will be some read!
Many Congratulations to Tim.
Please send your news for inclusion to Rachel on rachelelisabethbarrow@hotmail.co.uk