A Sunday in Weymouth and Bath
Released On 16th Mar 2025
Weymouth Half. Full Results
From Jo: We were all excited to have entered the Weymouth Half Marathon 10 Year Anniversary, that was until we realised the race started at 8am, the roads were closed from 7am which meant leaving Yeovil by 6am, on a Sunday . Still we were all happy to see a cloudless sky & a bright yellow round thing shinning down on us. Oh, hang on, the wind chill (coming straight off the sea) made it feel like -3 !)
I got off to a good start but it wasn’t long till Andy Lambert & Matt Hill went racing past. Andy was hopeful he got a PB & we are waiting for the official times. Despite having to take a phone call from a boiler engineer on the way round, I just crept in under the 2hr mark. I am keeping the fact that I beat Ann Grace (just) over the line low key as yesterday I ran 3 miles & she ran 30 miles!! Great running Ann . Sarah Tobin came in a very short while after with a strong run. Sara Hawkins exceeded her expectations with a great time, especially as she has recently been unwell . Matthew Bambury did a very honourable Dad thing & ran with Lauren supporting her on her very first half marathon. She absolutely smashed it & even had a slightly premature sprint finish, but nailed it .
Also great to see Martin Alderman out in his Yeovil vest taking part in the Half Half
With the cold wind still blowing, some of us managed some photos (we had an epic fail at the start with not a single team photo ), & then went in for a hot drink to warm us up, with the exception of Ann & Matt who participated in a alcoholic beverage, but we will let them off after their efforts yesterday as well .
A lovely early, but bright chilly morning running around Weymouth, oh & don’t be fooled, it is not flat dispite them saying it is.
The Pie and Pasty Challenge Double. Full Results
From Ann: Today my self Bungy Williams and Matthew Bambury and John Curtis travelled down to Exmouth to do there pie and pasty challenge a 7 hour running event. It was a roughly 3.4 miles per lap, no marshals needed not even matthew bambury could get lost on this course . The event organisers Running Events Devon were amazing and lovely aid station. The course was along a disused railway line used by dogwalkers ,bikers and us today we seen plenty of people out in the sunshine and half way back you could even see the sea just. Matt bambury managed to do 16.41 miles and my self and bungy done an ultra and jc done a marathon. We got a lovely medal, pie of choice and a bottle of water.
From Lindsay: Stephen Warren and I travelled to Exmouth today for our next marathon. 4th marathon this year for me (3 for Steve) and number 15th in the bag in total. Lovely sunny day for the pie and pasty challenge with Running Events Devon . 8 laps there and back (or should I say up and then down, turn round at the turning point and then up and down again, 8 times lol. Weather was beautiful and lovely to see the sea on the left as you came nearer to the finish line but I'm sure McDonald's was also calling me on the right at the same time lol.. The cheese and onion pasty was yummy and the team at the aid station (Tim and Jenny) were great.. Waiting for the official results as my watch played up but think it's my second best time for a marathon (hoping for 26.40).
Bath Half
From Graham: Bath half marathon for us this morning, PB for Gill 1hr 21min 28sec, PB for me 1hr 25min 47sec, Jon 1hr 31min 12sec and Amy who is suffering from a cold ran 1hr 34min 32sec.
From Margarita: On a cold day it was off to Bath for the Bath Half Marathon. A undulating two lap course with a tough hill at the finish. Interesting to see Santa on the way round.
From Eleanor: Today Amanda Howard and I completed Bath Half Marathon. A race that we didn’t get to run in 2018 due to it being cancelled due to snow.
I never thought we would get to run it together with her Vasculitis and liver life threatening illnesses Amanda bravely has had to deal with the last few years. But today we jeffed it and she smashed it. The last few miles she really had to dig deep to see it through. I am so proud of this woman! She smashed it and we had a laugh along the way. Fabulous support on the route and a well run race. WE DID IT!
Half Marathon in Dorset
From Matt: RACE REPORT - Early alarms for our two train buffs, off to ride the Steam Train at Corfe Castle. Unfortunately, they have to run a half marathon from Swanage to get to the train first! So they lined up on Swanage sea front on a start line as busy as a tree full of crows, and just as noisy.
Steve lined up near the front, while Matt took up a less ambitious position and the start gun was fired. A short run along the front with an icy wind coming in from the sea, and then up White Cliff hill which warmed everyone up!
Old Harry Rocks were gleaming in the morning sun as runners poured over the headland and down into Studland where the organisers had set up a wiggly route through sandy heathland, just for the fun of it. I’m sure the lady who started with four layers on top, was soon stripping down as the sun beat down.
Looping back to Studland was a little confusing and Matt tried to steal a 2 litre tub of jelly babies at the feed station! Another hill loomed ahead as the course returned back over White Cliff hill. By now, the shorter distance races had merged and created a steady stream of runners that could be seen from hill to hill.
The route is then pretty flat, or at least that’s what Matt thought, until it was realised that it was up-down-up-down-up-down all the way. However, one “down” was very steep uneven steps, and an “up” was almost as bad as the Stickler hill!
At last, Corfe Castle was in sight, but its either small or a far away, and didn’t seem to be getting any closer. The route now was smooth grass, and paces were increased as the target came closer. One more steep downhill, a short rise, and there’s the finish with our train pulling into the station!
The results are yet to be ratified, apparently the winner was a woman who broke the men’s half world record, so that can’t be right, but Steve was slightly “disappointed” to only come 23rd overall, and 3rd in age category, whilst recovering from an injury last weekend! Meanwhile Matt strolled in back in 137th from a field of 350 or more, so pleased with that.
And then finally…the best bit. Back to Swanage on the choo-choo Steam train!
Not sure why more runners from YTRRC aren’t doing this race. It’s a bit pricey, but well worth it on days like today. Absolutely beautiful scenery all the way, with a buff, zero lager, soft drink and nibbles as freebies, and a really nice medal. Both Matt and Steve are looking forward to next year!
Easter Bunny 10k
From Tim: Easter Monday morning 21st April.
Hi all, one of our big club events and we are getting ready and as usual we will need your support. We will need marshals. If you are available please comment and put a preferred spot if you like.
Your support is much appreciated.
Weekend Running
From Linda: June Moule and I decided to do a slower and shorter run this morning and we did 9 miles. Very hilly. Those hill reps helped a lot! Lovely day with lovely company. Had the end had a catchup up with Lynne Tea and David Mears. I'll put my big girls pants back on next week and join the inbetweens.
From Kevin: Duathlon today down at Torbay Velopark. Run 5k - Bike 19.5km - Run 2.5k. Happy with 1st 60 + old man home award.
From Ali: Sunday 10K social run this sunny morning. Lovely to be out in the countryside today. Well done to the girls that did their extra miles.
From Sharon: A small but perfectly formed group running from Cavity Trays this morning. Varying distances from 9 to 18 miles. A beautiful morning to be out in the sunshine albeit a bit chilly at times. Great running from all and as always, great company.
From Helen: Beautiful sunny morning for our 12.25 miles of the Yeovil Half route well done all…good pace and company rewarded with a very sweet kinder cookie pie after.
From Donna: Solo 10k to see if I could still do it. Only ran 3 to 4 miles this year and often breaking away from club run. It's OK to be slow in this lovely club. Saw Catherine Rands who said the 10k running pack will also be available from track night, cow and apple and frogmary parkrun other than track night on 28th not sure when she will be at others.
From Amanda: Beautiful morning for 12.25 mile Jeff, well done everyone.
Park Runs
From Jo: The things we do for a Parkrun letter!! This weekend was all about the letter “J” as we all travelled to St Albans for Jersey Farm parkrun. We travelled up Friday (some of us Paul Gilbie stopping at Fleet for our carb loading!!) once we settle into the travelodge we headed out & about around St Albans where we discovered the cathedral was beautiful. We then found a great pub where some of us participated in a cocktail . We then went out for a really lovely Italian meal, thanks Lesley Nesbitt for booking for us. The Parkrun this morning was great, very chilly but lovely in the sunshine. Oh, & it wasn’t my fault I got a big cheer for my first ever Parkrun - I was only holding my hand up to take a picture . After a shower we then went out for the traditional breakfast where we were all relieved that Helen Nesbitt got her French toast!! St Albans is lovely, we wondered around the market & after a couple of random purchases from us all, we made are way back home. Another lovely Parkrun weekend with smashing company.
From Chris: Well, I'm in the 25mins bracket now. Official time of 25:31. Just got to get rid of the 32 to get my goal of sub 25! Good park run today in Riverfront, Newport, tarmac and paving, there and back course. Lovely river to run beside with some nice bridges. Bit of congestion at start with a couple of tight turns, but then settles into space for racing and over taking, sorry, I mean moving up... A good amount of park runners, over 400 today.
From Taryn: Hi for the late post, Tony missing from the pic. Well done all on a cold loop of frogMary this morning. A 300th or celebrated this morning- cake was good Thank you Margaret. Mel and Kay paced me around the Frogmary Green Farm parkrun. Well done all here and else where. Good luck at Bath and Weymouth tomorrow all and all other miles too.
From Terry: Roundhay Parkrun Leeds then visit to York for the Shambles.
From Sarah: Helped bring a little one into the world at 5:45, fed the ewes, did a bottle feed and just made it to Porthcawl Parkrun in time (happy with 24:31, 1st Female VW60-64 and 78.49% age grading)...all before 09:30.
