A Run through the Forest
Released On 6th Sep 2024
Vale of York Half Marathon
From Rich: A trip to Yorkshire to visit family this weekend, my brother and nephew talked me into entering the Vale of York half marathon. As we arrived in the pouring rain I was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea! But just before the off the rain abated and stopped completely 10 minutes in to leave near perfect conditions. I knew the course was dead flat and was advertised with PB potential. By pure coincidence I started next to the 1:40 pacer and thought I’ll see how long I can stick with him, to my surprise race went really well and felt good managing 1:39:15 beating my previous best by 3mins 30secs. All in all a successful day and a first time sub 2 hour PB for my brother too.
New Forest Marathon
From Ann: Wow wow wow I managed to do the newforest marathon in just under 4 hours gobsmacked and so proud of my self never did I think that would happen. We done an amazing warm up then we went to the start in waves and we were off and so was the rain for most of the run so that wasn't fun,but the scenery was amazing there were hills but not to bad it is an amazing marathon great food music ,things for the kids to do and a well deserved massage after plus a pint ,oh I nearly forgot I got to see the horses close up and in the distance running, amazing is all I can say about the whole day.
The Great North Run
From Jo: I don’t know why but there is something about this race that always makes me want to come back. Everyone is so friendly, even the hotel put on refreshments for us runners!! Like last year, I did the short (but packed) train journey from Darlington to Newcastle. Surprisingly I even remembered the walk to the bag drop, runners hub & start!! I bumped into Holli Mari & Jon Foxon in the very long toilet Que. luckily for me today I timed it right & didn’t have to Que for too long!! While waiting in the starting pen it was great to meet up with Rachel Hayton. We first met on this exact same route 7 years ago!! We thought we may be lucky with the rain but we weren’t!! The heavens opened as we stop stared to the start line, so by the time we started we were rather wet!! This route is so well supported & as I ran out of energy in the final miles I took on board both beer & ice pops from the crowd 🍺❄️. I even managed to do a bit of networking on route getting in a selfie with a couple of unsuspecting sweeper drivers from Sweeptech, the company Triss Samuel works for. Thanks also to those who messaged who spotted me on the TV. Not my best look & not my normal sprint finish Robert Adams but I was exhausted 🤦♀️🤣
Only one thing left to do now - enter the ballot for next year 🤣💚
Weekend Running
From Mags: Couple days of rain could only mean one thing for the trail gang... mud! Full Monty route is getting nice and squishy for all those of you who entered the race.
From Tim: Cavity trays gang conquered going up Woodhouse Lane. We started with five of us and all of us made it to the top. We'll done all and it was only just over the 10k advertised. The weather was foggy but muggy and the rain held off. Sharon will hopefully be back next week.
From Lesley: Thankfully no rain for our Sunday run this morning. We ran from Mudford Rec and kept to roads to avoid mud after the last few days of rain . Well done everyone for running (well plodding in my case) up Primrose Lane. Coffee and Helen's lovely lemon meringue cookies at the cafe afterwards.
From Mark: Sunday Run in Alison's group. Nice run from the rec including Stone Lane to Mudford, and back via Primrose Lane.
From Dom: Todays outing was to the edge of Dartmoor for the 10.5 mile volcano run. A 2 mile uphill start, the iconic volcano lake, bogs, more bogs (after a 'test' by Michaela it turns out they can be almost waist deep!), river crossings, incredible views, more hills, a great downhill finish, and a great medal. A truely amazing trail route.
Park Runs
From Jo: Had a fantastic morning with Fiona Gaffney at Pontefract parkrun. This is a great course with no mud Robert Adams!! Pretty flat course, one lap around the horse race track & then a smaller lap around the lake.
From Simon: Sole club representatives at a comfortable Parkrun.
From Ann: An amazing turn out of Yeovil Town RRC members, it was my first time at frogmary park run, the course is really nice a lot of mud after all that rain a few small hills and quiet a lot of fog but totally enjoyed it, thank you Lesley Nesbitt and Tony for taking me.
From Adam: Brockenhurst Park Run this morning at Wilverly Plain. An undulating course on gravel paths through the forest.
From Ali: Brockenhurst Park Run this morning at Wilverly Plain. An undulating course on gravel paths through the forest.
From Trevor: 150th Parkrun done at Seaton.
PUB RUN – SHEPTON BEAUCHAMP – (5TH SEPTEMBER 2024)
From Mark: There were only two of us in the not so fast group tonight (JC and myself), plus Guy and Ann in the faster group, and Phil going alone. Maybe the threat of rain put people off going out tonight?
For a change, I decided on a different route. Leaving the pub and running north eastward, we ran up to West Lambrook, and beyond. At New Cross, we turned left, and ran along New Cross Hill and into Stembridge. At the Rusty Axe pub, we turned left and ran up the lane towards Burrow. We passed the cider farm, and iconic hill to the right with the trees on top. Reaching Burrow brought back memories of past more adventurous pub runs, where we seemed to go all over the place years ago.
Having left the map behind due to possible rain, I memorised the route, which just meant keeping to the left, until we came out at New Cross again. Alternatively there is a network of lanes giving 3 other possible routes back, but I just kept it simple. So the last leg from New Cross, was back the way we came out.
After, the food was good. Thanks Phil for organising.
