W/e 8th March - fairly quiet but PB's for Mike and Holly

It was a relatively quiet week for racing, with just 3 road races on Sunday 8^th March, although lots of members were out at the weekend putting in long training runs as part of their Spring marathon preparation.

One of those building several races into his marathon plan is Mike Hobbs, and he’s on a bit of a roll! In his third race at least this year, this time at the Dorney Lake course (Ed. I know it well – great for a PB attempt if the wind isn’t too bad) Mike, who is in the mid – V50 category clinched a new lifetime PB of 1.23.10, averaging 6.21 min/mile.

“Worked hard for that. Four laps with a slight headwind/ tailwind on each of the long straights on each lap. I started to fade on the last lap, but otherwise, I was really happy with that.”

Many congratulations Mike on proving again that we CAN get faster as we get older – we’re looking forward to seeing how London M goes for you.

Mike Hobbs after his HM PB of 1:23:10 at Dorney Lake 8.2.26

Dorney Lake Half Marathon, Windsor

1 Daniel Pettit (Les Croupiers) 1.14.00 (chip 1.13.56) 

10 Michael Hobbs (Cirencester AC) 1.23.18 (1.23.10)

206 finished www.runthrough.co.uk

A lot of Wiltshire and Avon club runners turned out for the Spring 10 miler at Chippenham, along with a few from Cirencester and other Glos clubs. Joyce Matthews was 2^nd in her V50 category, in what may have been her first 10-mile race?

{Ed - the unfortunate recent/ongoing merger of Power of Ten and Run Britain databases means that not all the data that was previously accessible has so far reappeared.}

Chippenham Spring ‘10’

1 Simon Nott (Calne RC) 52.20 (chip 52.19) 

117 Joyce Matthews (Cirencester AC) 1.11.34 (1.11.23)

174 Keith Firkin 1.16.59 (1.16.45)

730 finished www.icompete.co.uk

You’re used to reading about Gary Wood running the Chester Marathon, and this weekend he was running there again, but over a shorter 10k, supporting his wife Hazel in what was her first ever race. She was following a run-walk strategy that Gary enthusiastically endorses after using it successfully for his last marathon. They were really pleased with her time of 1:17, which was very comfortably within the cut-off of 90 minutes that Hazel had been worried about.  {Ed. I’ll await a new member application ;-) }

Chester 10km

1 Matt Crichton (Swinton RC) 31.15 (chip 31.14) 

7083 Gary Wood (Cirencester AC) 1.26.04 (1.17.06)

************PARKRUNS 7th March**************

Arguably the parkrun performance of the weekend, and in less than perfect conditions, was Rich Allen knocking some 8 seconds off his Ciren course PB, in the process finishing just 2 seconds behind someone 20 years his junior.

Congratulations also to Holly Stewart-Hodges (JW11-14) who also set a new PB (she has so far only run at the Ciren course), beating her time from last August by a comfortable 25 seconds. She has some way to go to catch up her mum Anna, but time is on her side ;-)

Also at Ciren, Clare Tapley was in week 7 of an 8-week “return to running” plan, involving a mixture of “easy” running and some walking. She was slightly disappointed not to duck inside 40 minutes, but hopefully will have another chance next week, which would be her 50^th Parkrun (coincidentally Rich Allen is also on 49 and Amanda Naylor on 149). Good luck next time Clare – great to see you back running.

Parkrun regular & Club president Pam Wheeler also had a good run, with her best time since last September making her the fastest club lady this week on an age-graded basis.

Elsewhere, Susanna Austin was on her way to the Edenbrook parkrun when it was cancelled, but a last-minute diversion to the Sandhurst Memorial event got her there with minutes to spare. She sent this picture of her negotiating a "water feature” complete with floating bollards, but thought it was a great little trail parkrun.

Susanna Austin at the water feature - Sandhurst memorial Parkrun 7.2.26

Ian Barrett continued his parkrun tourism but also wrapping up the PR in a workout – this week it was 3 x 1-mile efforts then PR then east to total just the 11 miles. {Ed – Ian and I are among 7 members down to run the Fission 20 miler next weekend, notwithstanding it being on Mothering Sunday….}.

Finally, perhaps a new parkrun angle for future weeks - your "best" puns involving the course name?

Kicking us off this week was club chairman Luke Campbell who didnt want Age but wanted Speed at Wantage (he was just a bit slower than last week's sub-20 minutes). Can you do better? {But please don't burn excessive CO2 just in search of the name....}

Cirencester: 2 Rich Allen 17.47 (Course PB), 8 Toby Conway (J) 20.32), 24 Colin Tapley 23.05,29 Anna Stewart-Hodges 23.13, 41 Holly Stewart-Hodges (J) 24.38, 44 Rachel Ranger 24.47,59 Jonathan Higgs 25.37, 67 Alan McAdam 26.16, 99 Rachel McAdam 28.34,112 Pam Wheeler 29.22, 133 Amanda Naylor 31.40, 134 Kirsty Leggate 31.41,151 Richard Edwards 33.50, 182 Clare Tapley 40.02, 209 finished.

Tetbury: 28 Stephen Hale 24.45, 37 Paul Timms 25.23, 44 Ben Hilditch 25.45, 119 Samantha Timms 32.37, 187 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard Park: 98 David Moss 25.11, 387 finished.

Evesham: 6 Ian Barrett 19.40, 210 finished.

Wantage, Grove Fields: 3 Luke Campbell 20.20, 116 finished.

Sandhurst Memorial: 44 Susanna Austin 26.19, 150 finished.

Clevedon Salthouse Fields: 298 Martin Croucher 31.47, 422 finished.